Pest control
Mice
Description
The House Mouse is generally dusty grey with a light coloured underside. The head and body of the mouse measures between 70mm and 95mm, with a tail measuring as much again.
Adult mice can be confused with juvenile rats, but two main features distinguish them:
- a juvenile rat has large feet and a large head relative to its size
- an adult mouse has smaller feet and a smaller head.
If you see a mouse out of doors, it's likely to be a field mouse (also known as wood mouse). It's a distinct species from the house mouse, and it will not invade your home. It may seek shelter in a shed or garage, but it finds its food in the open air.
Mice can breed rapidly, and in optimum conditions a female can have a litter of around 6 every 40 to 50 days. The potential to cause problems is therefore vast.
Signs of an infestation
The most obvious indicators of a mouse infestation are:
Droppings
Mice are virtually incontinent and can produce between 80 to 120 droppings per day, depending on their diet.
So, if you have a problem, it could just be one mouse!
Droppings will be scattered wherever mice have been. The droppings are usually black, spindle shaped and measure around ¼” (6mm) in length.
Damage
Mice gnaw simply to keep their teeth in good condition, therefore look for signs of teeth marks.
Also, look for any holes in the skirting and floor-boards, especially where pipes enter as mice move around in ceiling voids and cavity walls.
In addition, check the outside of your property for broken wall vents, pipes passing into the interior walls etc.
How to treat
One of the simplest ways to get rid of mice is with traps. The most common of these is the break-back trap.
There are also “live catch traps” that will trap a mouse without killing it. If you use one, you should release the mouse a good distance from home. If you don’t, it could find its way back in again. We do not use these traps as our aim is the eradication of the mice.
Another common method is to use a rodenticide, generically called poisons although many are anti-coagulants.
Various mouse baits are on sale to the public. However they can be expensive, and may not rid your home of mice if you under-dose or don't know how they got into your property.
If you buy rodenticides or traps, you must follow the manufacturer instructions carefully.
During your treatment, ensure that the mice do not get to any of your food, and that pets, especially dogs, cannot get to any bait you have put down. Keep the packaging, and if you think your pet has eaten any of it, take the pet and the packaging to a vet immediately.
How the council treat
If you decide to use the Council service, we will give you a Safety Data Leaflet. It lists the essential information you will need, such as our contact details and the product used. During the treatment, keep this leaflet in a safe place should you need it.
All products we use are approved for both indoor and outdoor use under the Control of Pesticide Regulations 1986 as amended.
The boxes we use are designed specifically for mice only. We install bait boxes in safe and secure locations, so please do not move them. If you move them we may cancel your treatment.
Important: this bait is for your property only. Do not pass any bait to neighbours etc. We cannot accept any responsibility should you do this.
If mice are found elsewhere during your treatment then we can, if necessary, place additional boxes. However we tend to concentrate on affected areas or nearby.
During your treatment, ensure that the mice do not get to any of your food, and that pets, especially dogs, cannot get to any bait we have put down. Keep the safety leaflet we provide. If you think your pet has eaten any bait, take the pet and the safety leaflet to a vet immediately.
Our treatments normally last at least three to four weeks regardless if any bait has been taken or sightings of mice reported.
However, if you have been getting any takes, once we have had at least two visits with no bait taken, sightings of mice or any other evidence, then we will end your treatment. We will remove the boxes and any bait still in them.
Please remember that all the boxes and bait are the property of Midlothian Council.
Preventative measures
Important: We do not carry out proofing repairs to private, privately rented or Housing Association properties.
Some simple steps to prevent entry of mice into your home:
- Ensure any gap beneath an external door is less than ¼” (6mm). A rough guide is if you can get a pencil under a door, then a mouse can enter. You can fit a bristle strip/draught excluder to prevent this.
- Block off any holes in the fabric of the building paying particular attention to areas where pipes enter, broken wall vents and air bricks.
- If you have any creepers growing up the outside of your property, be aware that mice can use these to climb to roof level.
Before blocking anything off, ensure you are mouse free in case something could be trapped inside.
As part of your treatment we will also check your property, particularly the exterior, to see if we can find potential access points. If we find any, the following will apply:
Council tenants
On your behalf if we find any access points into your property or internal issues, then we will report these to the appropriate council team for their attention.
Housing Associations
As with council tenants, we will pass our recommendations to your association.
Before engaging us to do a treatment for you, check with your association whether you are responsible for paying for it.
Private rented properties
It will be your responsibility to pass on our findings to your landlord. Please do not neglect to do this.
Before engaging us to do a treatment for you, check with your landlord whether they will pay for your treatment. They may advise it is your responsibility to pay.
Private properties
If you engage us for a treatment, we will advise you of our proofing recommendations. However it is up to yourself to carry out these recommendations should you wish to do so.