What do they look like?

The mouse that you are most likely to encounter is brown in colour and head and body is about 7 – 9 cm (3 – 4 inches) long, it has a long slender tail. It has a pointed nose and large ears.

Where do they live?

For much of the year mice will live quite happily in fields and gardens but they are susceptible to cold and wet conditions. As the nights get colder and winter draws on they will seek refuge in properties.

What are the signs of an infestation?

• Mice may be seen when disturbed.
• They can produce about 70 droppings per day so you may find small black droppings (rather like the led from a pencil) they are about 6mm (1/4 of and inch) in length.
• There may be evidence of chewed paper or foil or holes in skirting boards and kitchen units. Teeth marks may also be seen in bars of soap.
• There may be smear marks (black greasy marks from their fur) where they have frequently passed over an area.
• There may also be a rather musty smell from their urine.
• You may see feet  and tail marks in dust.

 What do they eat?

Outdoors they will quite happily feed on grass and flower seeds but they will also dig up plants and eat the bulbs.

Indoors they will eat a very wide variety of foods in-fact almost any kind of food we eat

Why should mice be controlled?

• They can carry diseases
• They spoil food by chewing the packaging and contaminate it with urine and droppings.
• They will chew electric cables posing a risk of fire and electrocution.

What can you do to prevent mice in your home?

The most effective control is to remove access to their sources of food and harborage. This can be achieved by:

• Sealing holes larger than 2-3mm (wire mesh can be used if ventilation is required).
• Keeping food in tightly fitting containers, preferably in wall cupboards or fridges.
• Cleaning up food, spills and waste and keep rubbish in bins with tightly fitting lids.
• It is possible to treat a mouse problem yourself using traps or poison treatments, which are available from D.I.Y. stores, hardware stores, chemists, garden centers, pet shops etc. Remember to read the labels and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

How can the council help?

• Highly trained officers from the Pest Control section can undertake a treatment for you; there is a charge for this service (See the web link for prices). The Council does provide a free treatment for those on Council Tax Benefit.
• The treatment will entail the officer examining the property to determine the extent of the problem and to try and establish how they may have gained access. He will inform you of any remedial action to be taken to prevent  mice gaining access in the future (it is the responsibility of the owner of the property to undertake this work)
• Treatment will commence on the first visit and will involve the use of rodenticides placed in areas where the mice have been using. Safety is very important to us and because of this tamper resistant bait stations will be placed in areas not accessible to children and pets.
• A course of treatment is up to 4 visits to the property at weekly intervals, some results would be expected within 5 – 10 days.
• The officer will provide you with safety information and details of where he has placed the poisons and will explain your roll in making sure that the poisons are not tampered with or relocated.