Hogarth's Pest Control specializes in all types of industries, residential and commercial.
In recent years we have noticed an increase in rodent populations in Northern Michigan. We generally deal with four types of mice in our area: white-footed mice, house mice, deer mice, and field mice. White-footed mice are nocturnal and will enter a structure(s) through the corners, dormers, and sometimes the ridge vent. People generally assume there is a squirrel in the attic, when really it is the white-footed mouse. Deer, field, and house mice enter the structure(s) at low points through crawl space doors and vents or underneath garage door seals.
Mice have been known to gnaw and chew into virtually any structure including homes, cabins, restaurants, hotels, factories, nursing homes, hospitals, food processing plants, commercial kitchens, RV’s, air conditioning units, heat pumps, outbuildings, and airplanes causing damage. They will then urinate and defecate inside causing a variety of health issues such as salmonellosis and hantavirus. In addition to health risks, they also pose a threat to metals, electronics, and wiring, all of which are fire risks.
Mice control requires three methods of defense:
1. Trapping and removing
2. Baiting from the exterior
3. Exclusion
Exclusion is the process of sealing any gaps 6 mm or larger to prevent rodent entry and is the key to successful mice control. Common areas that need exclusion are:
- Garage door seals and weather stripping
- Crawl space vents
- A/C units
- Pipes
- Exhaust vents
- Warped exterior walls and siding
- Hollow corners of the home
- Ridge Vents
- Dormers where the soffit meets the roof
- Decks and sheds
- Trimming tree branches that touch home and roof
- Any exterior holes ¼” or larger
We only bait rodents from the exterior of the home. Baiting on the interior is extremely unsafe for small children and pets. It’s a common misconception that baiting on the interior will cause the rodent to search for water and leave the home. Most of the time, when a mouse consumes bait on the inside of a home, it will die inside of the structure.
Dead rodents on the interior can lead to green bottle flies, diseases, and an awful smell. It is an important job for a licensed wildlife professional to use HEPA filter vacuums, personal protective equipment, disinfectants, and sanitizers to properly complete the job.
Breeds:
Deer, House, Field, White-Footed
