Plague of Mice Spreading

Householders are facing a plague of mice this summer, heightening the risk of disease.

Warmer winters, the prevalence of rubbish on the streets and homeowners renovating their houses are all causing mice numbers to escalate at an alarming rate.

New figures have revealed that homes and businesses with mice problems increased by eight per cent compared to last year.

Although there is no accurate way of counting the number of mice, it is the second year in a row that calls to deal with infestations have climbed substantially, which can be used as a reliable indicator that mice numbers are soaring.

The most affected areas are town and city centres, especially where rubbish is put out in bin bags rather than metal wheelie bins. In addition, the increased use of central heating and the popularity of home renovations – creating ever-wider cavities within stud walls and false ceilings – are making homes and offices the perfect habitat for wild mice.

Homeowners are often unable to deal with the problem with a seemingly endless array of traps, poisons and deterrents on sale. People think a bowl of poison or a mouse trap will do the trick. But mice like to move around.

A single mouse spotted in your kitchen is usually a male foraging for its family – and a sign that there are many more hiding beneath the floorboards or behind a false wall.

The major issue with a rodent infestation is the serious health hazard that they pose to anyone coming in contact with their urine. Mice have the potential to spread diseases just as much as rats, as they cannot control their bladders and hence urinate continually.

The best ways to keep mice out of the home is to make sure that no food is left out, all holes are blocked up, and the temperature of each room is kept down.