The five things you need to know about mice

Mice may look cute and cuddly – they’re certainly more palatable than rats – but you really don’t want them infesting your home. This is because they can cause no end of problems, from spreading parasites and diseases like salmonella and listeria to causing structural problems with their gnawing and burrowing.

However, there’s plenty you can do to stop them causing havoc in your home, from getting pest control insurance to preventing them entering in the first place. It’s a good idea to know your enemy, so here’s the five facts you should be aware of:

1. They’re smaller than rats
While rats can measure up to 25cm, mice are much smaller, usually coming at around 8cm (excluding the tail). They’re identifiable by their brown/grey fur, which is usually lighter on their underside.

2. But live in similar places
Like rats, mice will quite happily live both in and outdoors. They especially like areas under piles of wood and bushes. Old home appliances and piles of rubbish can also be turned into a mouse’s home sweet home. In the home, boilers, insulation and under cupboards, counters and bathtubs are common hiding places.

3. They’re not usually fond of cheese
Although their stereotype might suggest otherwise, mice aren’t usually big cheese lovers. Instead, they tend to enjoy cereals, biscuits and chocolate. Once a mouse is in your house, it’ll try and eat anything not in an airtight container.

4. You can unwittingly attract mice
Leaving uncollected rubbish strewn outside your home is an obvious ‘come-hither’ signal, but this isn’t the only thing that could attract mice. Leaving food out for other animals or failing to pick up fallen fruit from trees and bushes can also be a bad move.

5. They’ll let you know of their presence
Common signs that you’ve got a mouse problem include droppings near food sources, scratching noises and evidence of gnawing – all things that should become apparent pretty quickly.

So, how do you deal with a mouse problem once it’s occurred? Well, you’ll either need to contact an exterminator or go for a more DIY approach. If your own traps and methods don’t work, it’s always best to call on the expertise of a professional to get the job done. If you’ve got pest cover, you may not even need to pay out for this, as it could be covered under your policy if there’s no excess to pay. Given the growing rat and mouse population in the UK, those premiums may well end up being money well spent – and give you a little extra peace of mind that dealing with an infestation won’t cost the earth.