Is there any mammal as simultaneously feared and celebrated as the mouse? There are countless beloved fictional characterizations of the little creatures, and while they are undeniably pretty adorable, the real-life examples can cause a great deal of stress in the home and pose a threat to the health of you and your loved ones. The same can be said about rats. 

With the increase in local residents participating in activities like raising chickens, gardening, backyard bird-feeding, and composting, so too increases the opportunities for rats, mice, and other vermin to use your property as a primary source of food. This ultimately makes your home and the immediate area surrounding it a literal breeding ground. Here are some quick tips on how you deal with a current vermin infestation, what issues mice and rat infestations may cause, and how you can prevent future infestations from occurring. 

How do I Exterminate Mice and Rats in Portland, OR?

First, if you discover vermin like mice or rats in or around your home, don’t hesitate to call a professional, like Aspen Pest Control. And time is of the essence! Mouse populations can grow quickly, so if you don’t act in a timely manner, an already unnerving situation can become quite stressful. (Under the right conditions, a single mouse population can grow to 200 mice in just a month!)

What’s more, there are a number of health issues that can be caused by mice and rats, including those associated with asthma, food poisoning, and other diseases that affect both people and pets. They cause these issues not by biting (possible but very uncommon), but through their urine and feces, both of which are produced in abundance. So what should you do? 

When we treat mice infestations for folks like you all over the Portland areas, we use a combination of extermination methods to provide the best, most thorough results. We find that by using a mix of specialized traps, baits, and exclusion techniques, we are able to get on top of the rapidly growing mice population, a crucial step in controlling this type of pest. After the nest (or nests) are reduced, we use specially placed and baited traps to prevent future growth, and, soon enough, your mouse situation is a thing of the past. And don’t worry, we won’t leave you with the remains of the mouse situation to deal with on your own. Our bait typically causes mice to die away from the home, and in the instance some do not, we gladly provide A-to-Z vermin extermination services.  

Rats are no less difficult to deal with. As highly intelligent creatures, they tend to notice and avoid new items in their environment. If rats are baited improperly or if their traps are incorrectly set,  they’ll likely ignore them altogether. Mice can sometimes be dealt with effectively by the homeowner, but when it comes to rat infestations we highly recommend hiring a professional to achieve the best possible outcome. Knowing exactly what baits and traps to use, where to place them, and how to properly dispose of them once the infestation has been eliminated is just some of the knowledge required. 

At Aspen Pest Control, we use the newest, most-effective bait and trapping techniques, mimicking common feeding materials and placement to produce optimum results. And, just like with mice and any other pest that requires it, we’re happy to dispose of any and all remains. 

So while you know that we’re here to serve you in whatever pest control situation you’re facing, we also know that sometimes you need to take measures into your own hands with pest control before you can call on professional help. With that in mind, here are a few ways you can help tamp down your vermin problem.

• Remove their access to resources. Mice, rats, and other pests don’t need a lot to survive. The standard bearers of food, water, and shelter are basically all they need in order to create a thriving nest for themselves (and a throbbing headache for you!)
• Review the exterior of your home regularly. Is your home properly sealed? This is one of the most common and easiest ways for mice to enter the home. (Not to mention the energy efficiency implications associated with a poorly sealed home.) 
• Seal any breaches found in the home. We’d encourage you to speak with a professional from your local home building supply or hardware store so you’re certain that you’re using the right materials in the right way. We know it’s quite common for folks to use a combination of steel or copper wool and caulk. Caulk covers the sealing portion of the situation while the steel or copper wool is much more preventive — mice are unable to chew through the wool as it gets caught in their teeth.
• Don’t ignore the small holes — seriously! It’s surprising, but even holes as small as the size of a quarter are big enough for mice to pass through. 

Common Places to Find Mice Entering your Portland, OR Home

• High and low. Mice are able to set up shop in all sorts of places — eaves, rafters, crawlspaces, garages, and similar spaces that keep them protected and out of harm’s way.
• The foundation. It’s common for a home’s foundation to slightly crack due to settling. It’s also common for those cracks to grow over time and for mice to take advantage of the opportunity! 
• The fireplace. And the chimney. A fireplace can add a wonderful atmosphere to a home. It can also provide all sorts of ways for pests to enter the home. An open damper or cracks in the mortar between bricks is all it takes for mice to gain access to your attic and other parts of the home. 
• Broken window seals and doors. All sorts of issues can be caused by doors and windows with broken seals, including a perfect way for mice to enter your household. We’d recommend checking these periodically, especially after seasons of extreme temperature change. 
• Where utilities enter the home. Check access points for dryer and floor vents, cellar doors or accessible crawl spaces. Even small spaces where utility lines, electrical cables, and plumbing are routed into the home can cause an opening large enough for a mouse. These are areas where the use of copper or steel wool might be advised. 
• Remove excess debris and foliage. It’s hard to stay on top of yard maintenance on your property, but an excess of debris, plant-life, and even things like firewood being stacked too close to a building creates the ideal environment for nesting. 

Remove their Resources — Remove the Mice or Rat Infestation!

Ensuring your home is properly sealed and that your property isn’t overrun with excessive debris is just half the battle when it comes to preventing mice and rat infestations. You’ve cut off their access to shelter, but what about other resources?

Do you have pets? Bird feeders? Lawn seed? Chicken coops and feed? Do you use outdoor composting materials? Using sealed containers and keeping them indoors (where appropriate, of course) for all of these potential food sources is key in keeping rats and mice disinterested in your home.

Similarly, we recommend keeping your trash and recycling bins sealed tight as well. If you are a composter, make sure to mix your composting materials regularly in order to increase decomposition while warding off continued pest infestation.

If you’re experiencing a mouse or rat infestation, Aspen Pest Control is here to help you! Our rodent extermination methods are child and pet friendly and have been proven to be effective through the years. When Aspen Pest Control treats a rodent infestation, results are always 100% guaranteed. Contact us today for your pest control needs!