Mice Control in Edison, Somerset, Lakewood, NJ

Mice are more than just a nuisance. They can damage your property and affect your health. Mice chew through wires, eat drywall, damage insulation, leave behind droppings, make noise, and even die inside your walls.

Cowleys Pest Services will thoroughly inspect your home, identify and seal entry points, setup and remove traps, and provide preventive solutions to keep the rodents out of your home. If you live in Mercer, Ocean, Monmouth, Somerset, & Middlesex County, schedule your free inspection today for fast help with your mice control problem.

How can Cowleys help with a mice problem?

The most effective approach for addressing mouse control issues is exclusion. Seal entry points with materials like 1/4 inch hardware cloth, sheet metal, or metal wool, paying special attention to holes roughly the size of a pencil's diameter. Perimeter trapping can also be effective in preventing indoor population establishment. Store pet foods and other items inaccessible to mice, and eliminate water sources that attract them, such as in garages.

For deer mice already inside, employ baited and unbaited snap traps, glueboards, anticoagulant rodenticides, and tracking powders. Their inquisitive nature makes trapping straightforward.

Given the increased concerns about hantavirus, it's vital to swiftly eliminate deer mice populations within structures. Remove dead rodents, nests, and droppings promptly.

What's the difference between a house mouse and a deer mouse?

The two most prevalent mouse species in New Jersey are the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) and the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), with the latter being abundant throughout the state, particularly in Mercer, Ocean, Monmouth, Somerset, and Middlesex counties.

While a mouse may seem like a mouse to homeowners witnessing one scurrying across their kitchen floor, it's crucial to discern between field mice and common house mice. Understanding the differences in their biology and behaviors is key, as pest control strategies vary accordingly.

Field mice and common house mice, though both rodents, are distant relatives with distinct characteristics. Deer mice, slightly larger in size, typically have larger eyes and often exhibit two-tone coloring, with darker hues along their backs and white coloring on their abdomens and limbs. This bi-coloration sets them apart from house mice. Known for their agility, deer mice are adept runners and jumpers, earning them their name. They tend to be more energetic compared to the relatively docile house mouse.

Deer Mouse (Peromyscus manicalatus)

The deer mouse is slightly larger than the house mouse and lives in weedy fields and grassy prairies. The deer mouse is about 3 inches long and weighs about an ounce. Brown with a white belly and white feet, the deer mouse has large, bulging eyes, big ears, and a short-haired, bi-colored tail as long as its body that is dark on top and white underneath. Deer mice feed on seeds and berries and burrow under rocks, boards, and haystacks. Deer mice are rare home invaders but may seek shelter when construction destroys their habitat, preferring undisturbed areas like attics.

The deer mouse is nocturnal and is most active at twilight. Winter activity takes place mainly under snow rather than on its surface. This semi-arboreal species climbs well, can swim, and may forage in shallow water. Deer mice usually walk or run, but when pursued, deer mice leap.

White-Footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus)

Also known as the "wood mouse," the white-footed mouse shares many characteristics and is often confused with the deer mouse. Named for its distinctive white feet, the white-footed mouse is light brown with a white belly and large eyes and ears. About 3 inches long, it weighs just under one ounce and has a narrow tail half its body length. White-footed deer mice feed on seeds, nuts, insects, and plants. Good swimmers, the white-footed mouse lives in marshes and wooded areas, nesting in underground burrows and often invading empty summer cottages. When food sources dwindle in autumn, these rodents may forage in garages.

Field Mice and Diseases

Why should you care whether you are dealing with a field mouse or house mouse? In one word: Disease! Field mice are vectors of serious, potentially fatal human diseases including hantavirus, Lyme Disease, and other diseases such as ehrlichiosis and babesiosis.

What is hantavirus and why should I be worried about it?

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is an acute illness caused by a virus (hantavirus). It is associated with a high fever that rapidly progresses to acute respiratory distress syndrome and shock. Humans are infected when they inhale dust that contains dried contaminated rodent urine or feces or when the dried material becomes in contact with the eyes, nose, mouth, or open skin. It would be a safety precaution for homeowners protecting their family to assume that the droppings and urine of field mice are contaminated with the HPS virus. Field mice in one’s home is a serious health hazard.

What can a homeowner do to avoid contact with mice?

To protect against the HPS virus, the homeowners need to actively support the efforts of the wildlife technician. Keep a clean home, especially in the kitchen with food covered in rodent-proof containers and food particles removed from dishes, counters, and floors. Keep a tight-fitting lid on garbage and discard uneaten pet food at the end of the day. Fortunately, the virus has not been shown to infect cats and dogs.

Field Mice and Deer Ticks: The Deadly Duo

Field mice are the primary carriers of the disease-transmitting deer ticks. Here in New Jersey, Lyme disease is contracted via the black-legged tick that feeds on infected mice and then transmits the bacteria to humans when they latch onto humans for their next blood meal.

Where are the danger areas?

In urban, suburban, and rural areas, patchy woods harbor higher Lyme disease risks. These fragmented areas, common in Mercer, Ocean, Monmouth, Somerset, & Middlesex County, have reduced large predator populations, allowing small animals like field mice to thrive. Smaller forest patches, often less than three acres, host three times as many ticks, with a significant portion being infected. In these areas, up to 80% of ticks carry Lyme bacteria, along with other diseases like babesiosis and anaplasmosis. White-footed and deer mice play key roles in the tick's lifecycle, contributing to human suffering in New Jersey and other East Coast states.

What is the breeding season for field mice?

The breeding season is from late March through October, and each female produces 2-4 litters. After a gestation period as short as three weeks, a female gives birth to an average of 5 or 6 young. They disperse to establish their own home ranges soon after being weaned. Young deer mice become sexually mature at 35-60 days, and females may produce litters by the end of their first summer. Mortality of young is high, and even adults seldom live more than a couple of years.

Why hire a Pest Control Professional?

Infestations of the mild-mannered house mouse are often handled by the same pest control professional who deals with termites, ants, and other insect infestations.  Field mice infestations, on the other hand, are a completely different ballgame. Their behavior, nesting habits, and reproductive cycle are a unique issue.  Wildlife removal technicians, the same people who handle squirrels and raccoons, are often able to more expeditiously handle field mice with their specialized knowledge of their specific behaviors and habits. In the pest control business, one must know thy enemy since the most effective protocols for removing a particular pest must be based on the behavior and biology of that pest. There is no one size fits all approach when especially it comes to getting rid of these little crafty rodents known for their cunning stealth and maneuverability.

If you suspect a mice control problem, call or contact Cowleys Pest Services online today for a free inspection and estimate. We work throughout New Jersey, including Somerset, Edison, Lakewood, and surrounding areas.

Looking for a price? Get a no cost, no obligation free estimate.