Is scratching, scurrying, and squeaking coming from your ceiling keeping you up at night? If so, you may be dealing with mice in your attic. Since you can’t see them, it may be easy for you to ignore them until they go away. But in most cases, mice will not leave on their own, and allowing them to stay can cause serious damage to your attic interior and threaten the health of you and your family.

Damages Caused by Mouse Infestation in Attic

Leaving mice in your attic is bad not only because their noise will keep you up at night, but their extended stay will leave your attic in shambles. Some of the numerous damages caused by mice living in your attic include:

• Damages to stored belongings
• Chewed wires which create a fire hazard
• Ripped attic insulation, which can drive up your electric bill
• Build-up of mice urine and feces which can seep through your ceiling, ruining your insulation and staining your ceiling.

Health Hazards from Mice in Attic

If mice feel bold enough to venture out of their warm nests in your attic, you run the risk of them spreading diseases throughout your home. You don’t have to physically touch a mouse to contract a sickness from them; being in a mice-contaminated area is enough. Some of the diseases you can catch when you allow mice to stay in your attic include:

• Salmonella
• Hantavirus
• Leptospirosis
• Plague
• Rat-bite Fever

Signs of Mice in the Attic

Homeowners can tell if there are mice in the attic by paying attention to certain sights, sounds, and smells.

The sounds of pattering feet and scurrying, rustling sounds as they move inside walls, and small squeaking noises can also indicate the presence of a mouse infestation. The smell caused by mouse droppings, as well as their distinct musky odor, can be olfactory clues to mice in the attic.

Visual cues include mouse tracks, small brown droppings, urine stains, greasy smudge marks, wood shavings from gnawing, and mouse nests woven together from shredded fibers.

A mouse will typically build its nest by first collecting soft material such as grass, feathers, and shredded paper to create bedding. The material is then formed into a loose ball and placed in a safe area, such as in a corner of a room, behind furniture, or in a garage.

The mouse will then gather more material to reinforce the exterior, often using pieces of cloth, string, or leather to construct a thick wall. Finally, the nest is typically made waterproof by using small amounts of mud or saliva and may be lined with fur or other soft material for added warmth.

Mouse Control for Critter Control in Ft. Lauderdale

The best way to keep your home and family safe from mice in your attic, is to have a professional, like the ones from Critter Control® serving Ft Lauderdale remove them for you. Attempting to remove mice on your own can result in injury or the spread of diseases. Using poison or mouse traps can be difficult, as they have to be placed in very specific locations. For questions about the mice in your attic, or to schedule your free consultation, call us today at 954-504-6467.