Did you know that mice infest about 21 million homes each year in the US? Not only that, but they are capable of spreading as many as 35 diseases, causing damage to the wiring of the home, increasing the risk of electrical fires, and triggering asthma and allergy symptoms. This makes them a very unwelcome guest. However, there are plenty of things that you can do to prevent an infestation – keep food in sealed containers, pest-proof the outside of your home, and remove clutter from your garage or attic. One thing that is often overlooked though is the pet food.

Mice have a varied diet that consists of grains, nuts, meat, dairy, sweets, sugars and pretty much anything that is mildly nutritious. Pet food is designed to not only be nutritious but to smell and taste good to animals. Since mice eat everything that dogs and cats eat they will gladly help themselves to some pet food if they can get access to it.

Mice have a very strong sense of smell, and if you leave pet food in the bowl overnight, the mice might pick up the scent even if they are outdoors. This will tempt them to enter the home, and if there are small gaps or cracks in the walls, the mice will squeeze through and set up indoors.

To prevent this, you want to make sure that you keep pet food in sealed containers, and that the bowls are always clean. Wet food is especially problematic, since it has the added benefit of hydration. Mice can get all the water that they need from their food, since they are so small, so wet food is doubly attractive.

One of the signs that there is a mouse infestation in the home is gnawed through pet food packaging, along with other signs such as grease marks and droppings found around the home. If you come across any of these, you will have to act fast. Mice can reproduce very rapidly, and they are capable of contaminating food and the home with dangerous pathogens. The best way to remove a mouse infestation quickly and effectively is with the help of a pro. This is where we come in. Contact us today if you have any questions about mouse infestation, or if you suspect that there are mice in your home, and we will gladly help you out.