Our Approach to Mice Control
What are the risks of mice?
Mice can cause
Disease and illness such as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS),Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV) by exposure to their droppings and urine.
Can cause damage to your home and property value . When mice travel, they urinate and defecate, and this can soil insulation and drywall. Mice also gnaw to maintain their teeth, and if they chew a wire, it can cause a fire.
Why are there mice in my home?
Mice require food, water and shelter to sustain themselves. Very rarely do mice exist solely inside the home.
The primary reason for mice to enter the home is for shelter from the cold, especially in our harsh Canadian climate.
When mice are found in the home, it is because there is a structural flaw on the exterior of the home allowing mice entry.
How can mice be removed from the home?
Mice can be eradicated from the home with our two fold approach.
Mice bait stations are used inside the home, to kill the population of mice.
Exclusion/repairs around the exterior of the home to prevent mice entry.
In addition, the bait used in the home can act as a monitor, to identify areas of high activity, and reveal unseen mice entry points around the exterior of the home.
What if mice cannot be adequately excluded?
With the correct monitoring, it is always possible to identify where mice are coming in.
But sometimes, it can be cost prohibitive to repair the entry point (for example, if garage door is heavily warped, or if exterior structure is severely damaged).
Or sometimes, the mouse entry point may be on an adjoining/connected property (for example, mice in a townhouse).
Under this circumstance, it may be helpful to install exterior rodent bait stations outside the home, regularly bait the interior of home, and block off any interior gaps to keep mice out of sensitive areas of home (kitchen, living area etc).
What about mice in my business/restaurant/storefront?
Controlling mice in a business adopts the same principles as in a home, control and exlusion.
In a business:
1. The exterior is baited with exterior rodent bait stations (stations are hidden away from where customers and foot traffic can see)
2. Interior mice bait stations are used in less sensitive areas (for example in a warehouse, where no customers or food products to be potentially contaminated by mice are present).
3. Physical traps, such as tin cat traps, glueboards or snap traps are used in discrete locations within or nearing sensitive areas ( for example, near food production, in customer areas).
4. Exclusion. This can include replacing weather-stripping on bay doors, sealing gaps around pipes into adjoining businesses.
5. HACCP reporting to maintain health and safety compliance. This includes record-keeping on all pest control devices including any activity shown, and written reports on sanitation of business, and recommendations to maintain a pest-free environment.
