Customer Finds Mice in Their Home in Rumson, NJ
I was servicing a homeowner in Rumson, NJ who purchased a home protection plan with Cowleys. We offer a variety of plans with different coverage options. With these protection plans, homeowners receive periodic visits throughout the year where we inspect the home and the surrounding exterior for infestation issues (often finding problems the homeowner was unaware of!) and perform preventative perimeter treatments. Also, with these plans, the homeowners are able to call us anytime to treat infestations of a whole slew of covered pests at no additional charge. Covered pests include a wide variety of insects as well as rodents.
During my inspection, I came across a wide mouse entry point around some piping. The mice had left behind a huge amount of droppings. These droppings create more than a mess. They are a serious health hazard. When the droppings are dried out or disturbed, airborne particles can be released that contain dangerous pathogens, including hantavirus, which causes a serious respiratory condition known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).
To definitively resolve a mouse infestation, it is critical to locate and seal all of the rodent entry points. Otherwise, even if you manage to get rid of all of the mice inside your home, more will follow. For long-term rodent control, you must stop the flow of mice getting inside your home by identifying and sealing all of the rodent entry points. Here, I patched the area with chew-proof copper mesh and added a secondary barrier of silicone caulking for good measure. Now, this secret mouse “tunnel” is permanently closed for business, and this homeowner will no longer need to deal with overwintering mice trying to enter his home as outdoor temperatures drop.