As summer is coming to an end and the weather starts to cool down, rodents like mice are likely to start making their way into outbuildings such as garages and sheds.
One of the most obvious signs this has happened is spotting mouse droppings. So what should you do if this happens?
Look out for other signs
If you have an active mouse infestation, there are a number of signs that will confirm your suspicions.
• Unusual odours (similar to urine or a damp, musky smell)
• Holes in materials that weren’t there before
• Rodent nests
• Scratching noises, especially at night
• Gnaw marks on furniture or tracks on the floor
Try to eliminate the problem quickly
It might be tempting to delay calling pest control as the mice aren’t actually in your home. Rodents can be just as problematic in garages and sheds as they can be inside however. They can build nests in wall insulation, chew through electrical wires, expose you to potential health problems and they are of course highly unsanitary. What’s more, it’s only a matter of time before they do make their way into your nice, warm house.
Seal any holes
Mice can fit through very small holes so do a thorough search of your garage and shed. Patching compound or wood plus caulk can be used to seal up any holes bigger than ¼ of an inch. Fitting a bristle or brush to the bottom of any doors can also help prevent mice squeezing through small gaps.
Avoid using a poison
Spraying a repellent or laying down poison is often people’s first thought when they spot the signs of a mouse infestation. We don’t recommend this for a number of reasons however.
If you have young children or pets, they may come into contact with the poison and ingest it themselves. Even if the mouse does eat the poison and dies, you don’t want your pet to eat it because it could poison them too.
The Campaign for the Responsible Use (CRRU) of rodenticides also means that there’s a particular way these chemicals must be used in order to minimise their exposure to wildlife and other non-target animals. You can find out more about this here and it explains why you should always use a professional pest controller when dealing with chemicals.
Remove any food sources
If you use the garage or shed to store pet food, bird feed or supplies for yourself, ensure they’re well protected. Tightly sealed in a metal container is the ideal solution because mice can chew through plastic and cardboard.
If mice infestations are a common problem for you, it’s a good idea to stop storing food supplies in outbuildings because it’s simply encouraging them to return.
Call pest control
The best thing to do if you spot mouse droppings in your garage or shed is to call pest control on 0800 328 9354 or complete our online enquiry form.
Here at Prokill we offer a free, no obligation audit where we can determine whether or not there is an outbreak and the extent of it. Should you wish to proceed with our services, our qualified technicians will be able to effectively remove any rodents as well as instal the appropriate proofing systems to avoid future outbreaks.
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