You’ve just spotted a mouse darting across the floor of your home in Lakewood, Colorado, and now you’re asking yourself an unusual question—should I keep this mouse as a pet? While it may feel like a unique idea, the reality is far different. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we’re here to explain why keeping a house mouse as a pet is not just a bad idea, but also why calling professionals for humane wildlife removal is always the best course of action.
A wild mouse may look harmless or even a bit cute, but its presence in your home poses significant health and safety risks. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Why Keeping a Wild Mouse as a Pet Isn’t Safe
It might be tempting to catch that tiny mouse in your kitchen and try to domesticate it, especially if you’ve seen people on social media doing the same. However, there’s a big difference between wild mice and domesticated pet mice bred specifically for homes.
- Health Risks – Wild mice can carry diseases like hantavirus, salmonella, and leptospirosis. These pathogens can spread to humans through their droppings, urine, or even by directly handling the animal. Keeping a wild mouse as a pet puts both your family and your other pets at risk.
- Behavioral Challenges – Unlike domesticated pets, wild mice are not socialized for human interaction and are likely to bite, scratch, or attempt to escape at every opportunity. They can also be highly stressed in captivity.
- Shortened Lifespans – Stress and an unnatural environment can significantly shorten the lifespan of a wild mouse. It’s neither humane nor practical to force a wild animal into a domesticated setting.
Overall, keeping a house mouse as a pet isn’t just impractical—it’s unsafe and unfair to the animal.
2. It’s Rarely Just One Mouse
Here in Lakewood, wildlife flourishes in every neighborhood, from Green Mountain to Belmar or even closer to Bear Creek Lake Park. While spotting one mouse may seem like a minor problem, it’s rarely an isolated incident. Mice are social creatures that thrive in groups. If you’ve seen one mouse scurrying around your home, the truth is, there are probably more hiding nearby.
Mice breed rapidly, with one female giving birth to up to 60 offspring in a year. They create nests in dark, secluded spaces such as attics, walls, and basements—places often unseen until the infestation becomes severe. This is why professional wildlife control is so essential. Venturing into crawl spaces or trying to dismantle walls on your own not only risks your safety but also doesn’t guarantee the mice have been fully removed. Without a comprehensive, humane approach, these pests will return before you know it.
3. The Perils of DIY Wildlife Removal
For many Lakewood homeowners, the first instinct on spotting a mouse may be to Google “how to remove mice yourself.” While DIY approaches might seem more affordable initially, they rarely lead to effective or humane solutions. Here are some of the risks involved:
- Incomplete Removal – DIY methods like blocking entry points with temporary materials or relying on store-bought repellents often fail to address the root of the problem. Mice are incredibly resourceful and can squeeze through holes as small as a dime.
- Exposure to Health Hazards – Cleaning up droppings, nests, or urine-soaked materials without proper protective equipment exposes you to the diseases wild mice carry.
- Unintended Consequences – Without professional knowledge, it’s easy to accidentally separate a mother mouse from her babies. This not only increases the likelihood of more mice returning but also creates unnecessary suffering.
At Skedaddle Wildlife Control, we believe homeowners shouldn’t have to put themselves in harm’s way. That’s why we’re here to help.
4. How Skedaddle Wildlife Control Can Help
When you choose Skedaddle Wildlife Control in Lakewood, you’re choosing a team committed to safe, effective, and humane wildlife removal. Here’s what sets us above DIY attempts:
- One-Way Doors – Our one-way door systems allow mice to exit your home safely but prevent them from re-entering. This ensures that all active pests leave your property without harm.
- No Toxic Chemicals – We prioritize humane techniques over toxic repellents or hazardous methods. You won’t have to worry about harsh substances impacting your family, pets, or the environment.
- Comprehensive Services – Our team inspects your home thoroughly to identify all potential entry and exit points. Once the mice have been removed, we’ll seal up these areas to prevent future infestations.
- Tailored Expertise – With years of experience in Lakewood and surrounding neighborhoods such as Applewood and Sunset Park, we deeply understand the local wildlife dynamics. We’re familiar with how mice and other wildlife interact with homes in the area, giving us a unique advantage.
Getting rid of mice isn’t just about removing the ones you see—it’s about ensuring that your home remains mouse-free for good.
5. Wildlife in Lakewood is Closer Than You Think
Lakewood offers an incredible mix of suburban life and access to nature. Whether you’re hiking around William Frederick Hayden Park or relaxing by Addenbrooke Park, it’s no surprise that wildlife thrives here. Unfortunately, the same natural beauty that we all love also means that Lakewood homes are particularly susceptible to wildlife intrusions.
From brand-new developments to older homes, every neighborhood in the city faces the risk of wildlife finding their way inside. Mice, in particular, are adept at sneaking indoors. Once they do, they make quick work of finding food sources, nesting materials, and comfortable hiding spots in your walls or attic.
That’s where Skedaddle comes in. We’re proud to serve homes throughout Lakewood, keeping neighborhoods safe and comfortable by protecting properties from unwanted wildlife.
6. Why Professional Humane Removal is Always the Right Choice
When it comes to handling mice in your home, doing it yourself is rarely the safest or most effective option. Working with a professional wildlife removal company like Skedaddle ensures that:
- The animals are treated humanely.
- Your home is thoroughly inspected for entry points and vulnerabilities.
- Effective, non-lethal techniques are used that prioritize long-term solutions.
- The risks to your health and safety are minimized.
Attempting to remove mice on your own not only increases the chances of re-infestation but also risks unnecessary human-animal conflict. Settling for quick fixes won’t provide the peace of mind or secure results you’re looking for. With Skedaddle, our proven methods ensure that you can live comfortably without worrying whether the problem will return.
7. Protect Your Lakewood Home Today
Spotting a mouse in your house shouldn’t lead you to think about making it a pet—it should prompt you to take action. By choosing humane wildlife removal from Skedaddle Wildlife Control in Denver, you can have confidence knowing that you’re keeping your home safe, your family protected, and the wildlife treated ethically.
If a mouse (or several) has decided to make itself at home in your Lakewood house, our team is ready to help. From Applewood to the Green Gables neighborhood, we’re here to ensure that your property stays free of unwanted visitors.
Don’t wait until a small issue becomes a major problem. Contact Skedaddle Wildlife Control today, and we’ll take care of your wildlife concerns with professionalism, compassion, and lasting solutions.