If you’ve been hearing the pitter-patter of mice feet scurrying behind your walls, you are probably running to find the nearest mouse trap to get rid of your intruder. But the question is, do mouse traps really take care of your rodent problem?

If you’ve been hearing the pitter-patter of mice feet scurrying behind your walls, you are probably running to find the nearest mouse trap to get rid of your intruder. But the question is, do mouse traps really take care of your rodent problem? Often times, the sound behind your walls, or even in your living quarters, is not the sound of just one mouse, but possibly several mice, or a mouse infestation. The St. Louis pest control pros at Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions would like to offer you tips to get rid of mice and prevent them from spreading diseases to you and your family and causing structural damages in your home.

Not only are mice in Missouri a major nuisance pest, they spread diseases that can leave you and your family ill, cause structural damage to your home and they even pose fire hazards. Mice are known transmitters of diseases such as Hantavirus and Salmonella which can be harmful, or even potentially fatal in some cases. By coming into contact with contaminated things such as trash, then running across your floors and counters and leaving urine and droppings on the way, these pests are not sanitary. As they build their nests in your home, whether in the attic, storage rooms, or crawl spaces, mice also cause a lot of structural damage through their incessant chewing. In the case of chewing through electrical wires, mice pose a serious fire hazard for your home.

So as you run for the mouse trap to avoid the destruction of a rodent infestation, you may wonder if that is going to be enough. The answer is no. Although when used properly mouse traps can catch an intruder or two, generally, if there’s one mouse in your house, there will be more to follow.  Many times people do not use mouse traps correctly, placing them in inappropriate places, like the middle of the room. The bait you choose can also be an important factor, because if mice aren’t attracted to it, you won’t be catching any.  Mice are smarter than you may think; when running around in your home, they discreetly run along the floor boards in order to prevent getting caught by any humans or other predators. Mice infestations, no matter how small or large, are not a do-it-yourself fix, simply because they are difficult to catch and they are so unsanitary that a professional pest control company should be the only ones handling them.

For any Missouri homeowners who are wondering what the rodent control experts will be able to do to rid their home of mice, Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions has a rodent exclusion plan that is ideal for any type of residential rodent problem. In the case of an infestation in your home, our experts will:

• Inspect and identify the areas that are infested by rodents.

• Identify the conditions in the home that are welcoming rodents and also come up with solutions to keep them out.

• Seal off the points that rodents are using to get in and out.

• Install traps and bait when needed.

These integrative techniques will not only get rid of an existing mouse problem but they will prevent a new problem from arising. Because our St. Louis pest control technicians are always dealing with mice problems, they really know how to efficiently and effectively treat for them, taking the worry and stress off of your shoulders as a homeowner. If you would like to get more information on mice infestations, or if you have identified one in your home, contact the St. Louis rodent removal pros at Rottler today.

This blog was originally published on February 4, 2012, but we have updated it to reflect the most recent and accurate information available in helping you combat frustrating rodent problems.