Photo Album: Mouse control in Matawan, NJ home

Recently, I was sent to a home in Matawan, NJ to resolve a mouse infestation. The homeowners contacted Cowleys after finding the most common and earliest sign of mice — mouse droppings. Mouse droppings are small (an eighth of an inch or so), which is not surprising, considering that these rodents weigh less than an ounce. These granular pellets are tapered at both ends and look like dark grains of rice. A single mouse can produce upwards of 75 droppings daily. This homeowners found droppings in their basement and on top of their storage bins.

So many places mice could enter this home.

Mice can contaminate food and kitchen counter surfaces. Also, there droppings contain dangerous pathogens and, when dried out and disturbed, microscopic airborne particles can be released that transmit hantavirus and other serious diseases.

Nicely excluded.

Copper mesh to provide a barrier to entry.

Mice entry in gap.

Mice often enter homes through gaps or cracks around the foundation, first making their way into the basement or crawl space. From there, these nocturnal rodents travel in wall voids throughout the home.

Another exclusion area.

I carefully inspected the basement to find any openings through which the mice could gain access into the home. I found several large openings in the concrete that was more than enough for the rodents to come and go as they pleased. Mice only need an opening about the size of a dime to enter a home, so to locate their potential entry points requires a systematic and methodical inspection

Sealing the areas and placing bait stations.

I treated the openings with a dust that attaches to their fur. When they groom themselves and ingest the product, they soon die. Just as important, I sealed the openings to prevent more mice from gaining entry. I also placed interior rodent bait stations around the sill areas to catch those mice that may still be lurking around.

Exclusion plus rodent bait station.

Making sure mice know they are not welcome here.

We found tons of mice droppings.

I also look for droppings and rub marks to indicate how they are moving about.

Found multiple entry points.

Next, I focused on the home's exterior perimeter. Here, I came across a large hole that looked to be an access area for cables and other wires to be run into the basement. Often, there are gaps around wires and pipes entering the home. These spaces are common rodent entry points into homes. I patched this hole to prevent mice from gaining entry. With the entry points sealed and the applications to deal with the mice already in the home, it won't take long for this infestation to be resolved. Mice are not harmless and these infestations need to be timely addressed.

Closing up this gap.

With any mouse infestation, it is critical to not only eliminate the mice in the home, but to locate and seal their entry points. Mice are overwintering pests. They seek out the warmth and comfort of our homes to escape the harsh outdoor elements. We offer them shelter and more than enough food debris to keep their bellies full.