Contra Costa County Mosquito & Vector Control District: Take Steps Now To Keep Mice Away From Your Home

With temperatures dropping and rain returning to Contra Costa County, mice can be attracted to warm, dry shelter, according to the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector and Control District.

The key is to make sure your warm home does not become home to mice because they can be a risk to public health.

What Kind of Public Health Risk Do Mice Present?

Mice can transmit bacteria through their waste products and nesting materials. People can get sick when they eat contaminated food or drink contaminated water and when they breathe contaminated air which can happen while cleaning up those waste products and nesting materials.

How to Clean Up Evidence of a Mouse Properly

It’s important to clean up mouse droppings, and nesting materials very carefully because they can dry up and become airborne when disturbed, making it possible for people to inhale contaminated dust and become infected. That’s why you should never vacuum or sweep areas contaminated by mice. Instead, wear disposable gloves and a dust filter mask and use a disinfectant spray to wet down the area, then wipe it up with paper towels. When done, dispose of the mask, gloves, and paper towels in a plastic bag, then place the bag into an outdoor trash can.

After cleaning up contaminated areas, follow these helpful tips to reduce the risk of more mice taking up residence on your property.

Mice can be drawn to your property if they find a source of food or shelter. To make your property less attractive to mice:

• Remove or trim dense vegetation including ivy
• Trim climbing vines and other vegetation so they’re at least four feet from your home’s roof, walls, fences, utility poles, and trees.
• Store wood and lumber piles at least 12″ above ground and 18″ away from any structure.
• Harvest fruit and nuts when they ripen.
• Pick up any fallen fruit and nuts daily.
• Do not leave pet food outside at night.
• Install screening material on the base of a shed.
• Mice can fit through an opening as small as the size of a pencil eraser.

When To Contact the District

If you see or hear signs of mouse activity contact the District. Evidence of a mouse can include:

• Partially eaten fruit or nuts
• Broken snail shells
• Signs of gnawing on plastic, wood, or rubber products
• Mouse droppings: A visual sighting of a mouse on an outdoor cable, fence, or in a tree
• The sound of gnawing from an attic or walls

District employees provide an inspection and advice on what to do to reduce the risk of mouse infestations.

The inspection is conducted outdoors to look for items that might attract mice to the yard and potential entry points on the outside of the home. The District employee can also inspect the inside of the garage as long as the garage door remains open.

Once the inspection is complete, the District employee will provide the resident with a small booklet with information and notes on what the employee found on the property and what the resident can do to discourage mice from taking up residence.

There is no additional charge for this service as residents already pay for District services through property taxes and benefit assessments.

Vector Control Inspector Steve Fisher inspects a potential entry point for mice.

And it’s important to know every tip we mentioned here can also reduce the risk of rats because rats present the risk of viruses and bacteria in their droppings and nesting materials and they are more likely to try to come inside when it’s cold and wet outside.

So, as you are warming up by the fireplace, or adding extra blankets to the bed to stay warm, remember to take the necessary steps to reduce the risk of mice and rat infestations, because they will also seek the warm shelter that you provide, if given the chance.