It’s that time of year again—rodents are on the move and want inside your house! Though mice are year-round pests for New York homeowners, during the fall, you’ll likely notice an increase in rodent activity as they search for warm winter homes.
Here’s everything you need to know about the types of mice you may see in your New York home this fall, the signs that they’re present (even when you haven’t seen mice themselves!), and how to get rid of mice for good.
Types of Mice in New York Homes
Even though there are many species of mice across the United States, in our area in New York, we primarily see a couple of types: the house mouse and the deer mouse.
House Mouse
This is the most common mouse found in New York homes, and fun fact—this is actually the smallest of all mice in the United States, measuring on average, only about 3 inches from nose to tail. House mice have large eyes, tiny round ears, and short tails. Their fur is soft and grayish-brown on top, and they have white bellies.
Though they can live outdoors, house mice prefer dark, secluded areas where they can construct nests using paper products, cotton, packing materials, wall insulation, and even fabrics.
House mice are not only a nuisance (and a startling pest to see scurry through your home unexpectedly), but they also pose health risks such as salmonella and rat bite fever.
Deer Mouse/White-Footed Mouse
The deer mouse (or white-footed mouse as it’s also called) is another common critter in New York homes, especially during the fall and winter. These mice are brown with white underbellies, around 5-8 inches long, and have a brown fur coloring similar to that of deer, as well as white feet. Deer mice are also known for their tails, which are always bi-colored, half brown, and half white.
Deer mice typically live outside, but once temperatures start to drop and they’re seeking out warm shelter, they’ll commonly nest in garages, sheds and outbuildings, rarely driven cars, and indoors in storage boxes, drawers, wall voids, and inconspicuous spots in attics and basements.
Like house mice, deer mice aren’t just a nuisance; they’re known to transmit Hantavirus, a potentially fatal virus transmitted by the inhalation of dust particles with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected mice.
Signs of Mice in the House
If you’re dealing with mice in the house, there are usually some key indicators, including:
- Small, oval-shaped droppings that are brown to black in color; they’ll likely resemble grains of rice and show up on countertops, inside cabinets and drawers, beneath appliances, or in storage areas
- Gnaw marks on walls or food containers; keep in mind that larger gnaw marks may be an indication of a rat problem as opposed to mice
- Nests in storage areas or boxes of shredded paper or other materials
- Damaged food goods, such as cereal boxes that they’ve gnawed their way into for a meal
- Unusual activity from your pets, who may be aware of rodents’ scents and/or activity
- Scratching noises, especially at night when mice are more active
Get Rid of Mice Now—Call Knockout Pest Control!
If you’re seeing signs of mice in your home, you’re in the right place. Knockout Pest Control’s team of trained exterminators will identify your mouse problem, treat it, and help you put the right measures in place to prevent future mouse infestations.
To schedule an estimate, call 1-800-244-PEST.
