Mice and Rodent Control & Removal Maple Grove MN
During the winter months in Minnesota, mice, rodents, and deer mice are common as they seek shelter from the cold winter weather. You may also find raccoons and squirrels trying to move into your attic. Raccoons are most likely to cause problems by denning under decks or porches or inside attics or chimneys, or raiding garbage cans.
Other pests including cockroaches, ants, and spiders can also be troublesome winter home invaders.
Why Be Concerned?
Each year, rodents cause significant damage to property and food supplies across the United States. In addition to damaging property, like chewing through wood and electrical wiring, rodents may also spread diseases like Salmonella and Hantavirus, posing a serious risk to public health. There are also many other Rodent-borne diseases that can be transferred directly to humans through bite wounds or consumption of contaminated food and/or water, or indirectly by way of ticks, mites, and fleas that transmit the infection to humans after feeding on infected rodents.
Deer mice are the most common transmitters of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). Although transmission is rare, HPS can prove deadly if left untreated.
Prevent Rodent Infestations
To discourage rodent infestations and avoid contact with rodents, remove the food sources, water, and items that provide them shelter.
Got Mice? Prevention Tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Seal Up! – Seal holes inside and outside the home to prevent entry by rodents. This may be as simple as inserting steel wool in small holes, or patching holes in inside or outside walls.
- Trap Up! – Trap rodents outside the home to help reduce the rodent population within.
- Clean Up! – To avoid illness, take precautions before and while cleaning rodent-infested areas. Clean up potential rodent food sources and nesting sites.
Rodenticides are products intended to kill rodents, and if misused, can potentially poison or otherwise harm you, your children, or your pets. For this reason, it is important to read the product label and follow all directions when using a rodenticide or any other pest control product.
EPA has developed several publications for the public to highlight the importance of reading pesticide labels and following the directions that are available for viewing or downloading.
- Protect Your Kids brochure (PDF) (2 pp, 1.0 MB, (EPA 740-F-00-001)
- Protect Your Pet brochure (PDF) (2 pp, 1.0 MB, (EPA 740-F-00-002)
- Protect Your Garden brochure (PDF) (2 pp, 1.0 MB, (EPA 740-F-00-003)
- Protect Your Household brochure (PDF) (2 pp, 1.0 MB, (EPA 740-F-00-004)
- Why Read Labels? (PDF) (2 pp, 585k, (EPA 735-F-02-015)
- Interactive Pesticide Label – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
If you have a mice or rodent issue that you are uncomfortable dealing with yourself, you may decide to hire a Maple Grove Minnesota Wild Animal Management Expert that has experience in mice and rodent removal as well as prevention, home repair and sanitation services.