Mouse infestations in Anaheim are a troublesome occurrence that can significantly impact the comfortability of your home. Worse yet, they can also leave behind mouse poop that can quickly prove to be hazardous to the health of you and your home’s residents. If you can’t identify mouse droppings, the issue is even more dangerous; as they can quickly pile up if you don’t take care of the problem quickly.
Identifying Droppings
Mouse droppings are small pellets that are dark brown. They are normally pointed at the ends and span approximately ¼ of an inch in length. Fresh mouse droppings may have a different color than droppings that have been sitting for a while. While fresh droppings are typically darker and shinier, older droppings will appear to be dry and the color will be faded. If you see droppings that are larger, from ½ an inch to ¾ an inch, those likely belong to a rat rather than a mouse.
How Many Droppings Can Mice Produce?
Mice in Anaheim can produce a lot of droppings in a single day. In fact, the National Pest Management Association reports that the average mouse produces between 40 to 100 droppings per day. Rats, on the other hand, will produce 20 to 50 droppings on a daily basis. With this in mind, you can determine how many mice are currently living in your home by tracking the number of droppings being produced.
The Many Dangers
Mice can transmit a number of infectious diseases through their droppings, urine, and saliva. Their fur may also contain potentially harmful microbes that can cause significant harm to humans. Some examples of mouse-borne viruses include the following:
Hantavirus
Hantavirus is the most commonly mentioned disease that can be transmitted by rats and mice. It can be contracted through both direct and indirect contact with the urine or feces of an infected animal. If you inhale its urine or fecal particles, that is enough to infect you with the virus. If you do catch it, there are several symptoms you should be on the lookout for. They include:
- Severe muscle aches
- Fatigue
- Fever
Plague
Plague is notorious for causing millions of deaths during the Middle Ages. While today there are numerous treatments that can be used to prevent death, plague can still cause massive discomfort and pain. To catch a plague from a mouse or rat in your home, you must have contact with contaminated fluid or tissue. This means handling mouse carcasses or cleaning up their urine can potentially infect you with the disease. If you do catch the plague, there are several potentially devastating symptoms you must look out for. They include:
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Septicemia
- Pneumonia
Tularemia
Tularemia can be passed to humans through contact with an infected carcass or consumption of contaminated food or water. If a mouse leaves droppings in an area where you store food or beverages, you may contract tularemia after eating the food. This makes it critical that you clean any and all rat droppings that you find in your home. Tularemia symptoms include:
- Ulcers
- Swollen lymph glands
- Inflammation
- Cough
- Chest pain
Cleaning Up
If you need to clean up mouse poop, you must be careful. If you don’t take proper precautions, you may risk being infected by a disease. Before cleaning up an area that contains mouse droppings or urine, acquire the appropriate protective gear. This includes a face covering, such as a mask, and thick gloves that will prevent any residue from making contact with your skin.
Once you have the proper protective equipment, you can start cleaning. Sweep up any droppings or fur you find and dispose of them immediately. Be careful not to sweep too powerfully, as this risks kicking the debris into the air and spreading potentially infectious materials throughout your home. Once you have removed any droppings or other mouse materials, you should mop the area thoroughly using a strong disinfectant, like bleach.
Infestations
If you notice a large number of mouse droppings present in your home, you should be concerned, as this is an obvious sign of a large-scale infestation. An infestation can cause significant damage to your home and potentially harm your family, so don’t let this risk persist without taking action.
Pest Control Is The Answer
If you have a growing mouse problem in your home, it’s time to take care of it. Contact A-1 Bonded Termite to schedule a free inspection. Our representatives will help you determine the level of infestation present in your home and supply you with a list of possible home pest control and rodent control solutions.