Ajax Wildlife Control: Can Mice Get In the Home Through Your Plumbing System?

Mice can be a small and sneaky but serious presence in your pipes. A mouse can enter your house through a hole no bigger than a dime. If mice removal is a concern for you, read below to learn about how mice get inside, why they may be living in your plumbing, the dangers they pose, and the professional services we offer to prevent this from happening again. 

How Do They Get Inside? 

A mouse's body and skeleton are very flexible. They can easily wriggle their way through tiny spaces to find warmth, safety, water, and food. Keep in mind the difference between mice and rats. Rats are generally larger, heavier, and have a more stocky build. Because of this, a rat would not easily fit into your plumbing system, but a mouse definitely can.  Any gaps surrounding the pipes near your sinks, washing machine, drain lines, or other plumbing will create an opening for a mouse to enter. 

Why Do They Go In That Way?

Like all animals, mice prefer the path of least resistance en route to finding a safe space to rest, have babies, eat, and sleep. They also want to avoid detection by predators and threatening animals – humans included! So if they can avoid high-traffic areas where dogs and humans often congregate, they will.  They are also attracted to the water source that may accompany pipes and plumbing. Double-check any outdoor pipes that may be dripping. This is a classic reason for mice to hang out in and near your pipes. 

How Do I Know if There Are Mice in My Plumbing? 

One piece of evidence might be mouse droppings behind your toilet, under your sink, or near your bathtub. If the mice are not already inside your house, however, check for clogged or slow drains. A mouse may be building a nest downstream inside your pipe. 

Is It Dangerous To Have Mice Inside My Home? 

In addition to their destructive potential (mice will chew through almost anything to file their teeth down), mice carry bacteria and diseases that can make you or your pets sick. According to the CDC, Hantavirus is a commonly transmitted illness that can come from mice. In humans, Hantavirus develops into Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). HPS causes fever, severe muscle aches, fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, diarrhea, and vomiting.  Another reason to be concerned about mice in your home is that their ability to chew through wires can cause fires. When a wire is severed, electricity still attempts to jump the gap between the two segments. This creates sparks that can ignite dry wood and cardboard. When fires are attributed to "unknown causes" it could easily have been a mouse that chewed through a wire. 

Humane Mice Removal and Wildlife Control in Ajax 

 At Skedaddle, we have over three decades of experience and a number of effective strategies for dealing with mice in your plumbing. We will not poison or trap, as this does not permanently solve the problem, and likely leaves dead rodents under your floor or crawlspace. First, we will assess the mice's entry points and seal them off permanently. Next, we will clean and clear any signs of contamination. Finally, we will use a combination of screening and wildlife exclusion sealant to ensure that you will be rid of the mice for good.  Above all, do not attempt to remove mice yourself! They can bite you, or disappear further into your home, making them harder to catch later. Schedule an appointment on our website, or give us a call. Trust the professionals to give you peace of mind.