Okanagan Wildlife Control: Myths About Mice

Dealing with a rodent invasion on your property can be a harrowing experience. Mice are challenging to capture and eradicate for non-professionals, and they can quickly increase their number by birthing five or six litters every year. With their propensity to spread deadly diseases, mice should not be handled by untrained residents. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we provide wildlife control in Okanagan safely and humanely. To understand the behaviour of mice and which rumours are untrue, you can examine these sections.

The Myths About Mice

Although mice are incredible scavengers that can tear up your home and easily evade capture, their acrobatics and rodent psychology have led to mythical attributes that rarely reflect the truth. As pest control experts, we’ve heard them all, but here are some of the most common myths.

Mice Love Cheese

According to cartoons, movies and television programs, mice love cheese and go to great lengths to obtain the delicacy. Commercial mouse traps include instructions that suggest putting a piece of cheese on the target area to catch the rodent, but mice are not as fond of cheese as you think. Mice can feast on virtually any food, but they prefer grains, and they’re more likely to chew through a bag of crackers than disturb your imported cheese. Mice do not seek out food high in fat, and they’re capable of extracting nutrients and water from grains for a balanced diet.

Mice Do Not Have Skeletons

Although mice move through ¼ inch openings and squeeze under refrigerators, the myth that mice are invertebrates is untrue. Mice have cartilage and bones like other mammals, but their body structure allows them to perform amazing acrobatics. They do not have collarbones, and their flexible spines enable them to squeeze into tight spaces. Mice and rats test a small opening with their noses to determine if they can crawl through. If the nose fits in the hole, the rodent travels through effortlessly.

Seeing One Mouse in Your Home Is Not a Big Deal

One myth that can spell trouble for any homeowner is the rumour that one mouse is a solo operator. Some residents believe that mice only hunt for food at night, and a single mouse spotted in the daytime is a desperate loner on the verge of starvation. While mice are nocturnal creatures that are active at night, they’re also extremely curious and unafraid to venture out into the daylight to raid your goodies. If you see a mouse, it’s unlikely to be the only one in the house. A nest full of healthy mice is probably lurking in an interior wall or attic space nearby. When you see a rodent, contact the professionals immediately to prevent an infestation from getting worse.

Rodents Can Grow Larger Than Cats

Although seeing a rodent on your property is alarming and repulsive, some residents exaggerate the size of the animal after the sighting. Mice and rats cannot grow larger than your cat even if they’re well-fed in your home. Their fast metabolisms keep them from getting overweight and prevent them from living longer than a year.

Mice Cannot Swim

Mice prefer to travel on land, but they’re excellent swimmers. They can swim and tread water effectively until they reach dry land. Using a water hose to flood a rodent’s habitat is unlikely to injure or kill a mouse.

Preventing a Rodent Infestation

Mice removal is not a task for the average homeowner. Rodents can bite, scratch and carry several diseases that have life-altering consequences. Before risking an injury or infection, you can call Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control to remove the pests safely without toxic chemicals or inhumane traps. Contact us today for an evaluation.