A single mouse can be a handful by chewing on electric wiring and house supports and spreading disease through urine and feces. Furthermore, mice typically do not remain solitary for long. They can give birth to approximately eight babies at a time every 21 days. Prompt rodent removal can stop an infestation before it has a chance to grow, but it is better to prevent one in the first place, if possible. One of the places in your home where mice are most likely to be is in the basement.

Why Do Mice Like Basements?

Mice are burrowing creatures by nature. In the wild, they like to make their homes underground. A basement satisfies their natural instinct to make subterranean homes while offering additional benefits that their own burrows do not provide: Greater protection from predators and easy access to food. When a basement is unfurnished, people may not go down there very often, which is good for mice because they like to make their homes away from human activity. Basements also provide a consistent temperature that is neither too warm nor too cold. This may not be the case with other unfinished areas of the house, such as the attic.

How Long Do Mice Live?

Mice typically live for about a year to a year and a half. However, this doesn’t mean that you can wait out the infestation until the mice die off. First, if mice die behind the walls or under the floorboards of your home, they can produce a dreadful stench, and you may not be able to reach them. Second, mice can spread dangerous pathogens through their urine and excrement. If you breathe them in, they might make you sick. Third, female mice become sexually mature after about six weeks, so not only could a single mouse produce at least 20 litters during her lifetime, but all her female offspring could start producing litters of their own after about a month and a half.

How Do They Gain Access to Your Basement?

If there are cracks or holes in the floors, walls, or foundation of your home, mice may be able to get through. You may be able to prevent them by finding and sealing these holes. Be vigilant in searching and sealing because mice can fit through very small openings. As long as the gap is at least the width of a dime, mice can squeeze through by compressing their bodies. Expansion foam fills in holes and blocks smells that may draw mice inside, while steel wool prevents them from chewing through. These materials can be used together to seal up openings and prevent mice from getting in.

What Else Can You Do To Prevent Mice in Your Basement?

In addition to sealing off the openings they may use to get in, there are other things you can do to make your basement less attractive to mice:

1. Don’t store food in the basement. This includes things such as birdseed or pet food that people don’t eat but mice do. Mice in the basement typically visit the kitchen to forage for food, so make sure this room is clean.
2. Remove any water sources in the basement. Repair any leaks and fix any drains so that the water doesn’t have a chance to puddle.
3. Clear away clutter. Get rid of any old boxes, bags, papers, or anything else that you have stored in the basement that you no longer need. This deprives mice of hiding places and nesting materials, making your basement less comfortable for them.

Why Should You Call Truly Nolen for Professional Rodent Removal?

Professional pest control in Georgetown is preferable to do-it-yourself methods that typically only provide short-term solutions. We use removal methods that are proven effective and keep you and your family safe. We work with you to prevent future infestations. Find out more about our rodent control services.