Although Mice are often kept as childhood pets, those purchased in a pet store are of considerably different breeding to wild Mice. Wild mice can carry ticks and fleas and undesirable microscopic organisms too.
Mice have been known to spread diseases, such as Salmonella and Listeria, to humans through their urine, bedding and droppings. Mice mark their territory with their urine and due to their scattered eating habits, build nests nearer food sources, putting anyone with a mouse infestation at risk of food poisoning and in need of professional mice pest control. As they run around, mice carry bacteria and dirt with them, transferring it to counter tops, cabinets, pantries and anywhere else they roam.
Mice have the ability to enter buildings through gaps as small as 1cm, where they look for food and somewhere to build their home. This makes proofing buildings against them quite difficult, however, regular maintenance of properties and bringing in professional mice pest control when required can keep them at bay. You can find evidence of this damage, as well as droppings, rodent tracks and nesting to determine whether your business premises or private property has a mouse problem.
Mice can cause property damage, due to their compulsive need to gnaw to maintain their teeth at a constant length. Electric cables, woodwork, water and gas pipes and packaging may all be seriously damaged by mice - many instances of electrical fires and floods have been caused by them and so evidence of their presence may require professional mice pest control.
Commercial properties are targets for mice looking for somewhere to live as they're mostly unoccupied at night and will often have plenty of food sources available.
Not only do these rodents easily find any food left on top of worktops, they can prove to be very destructive of businesses' properties which will require professional mice pest control. They have been known to gnaw through wires and other materials risking the structure of walls and plumbing systems. Mice chew through cables, paper and contaminate kitchen facilities. The mice also risk damage to buildings by gnawing through structures, nest building and defecation. Chewing on the insulation around electrical wire also bring risk of fire to properties.
Mice can pose a risk to customers and staff. Rodent droppings can transmit foodborne illness such as salmonella, and they also bring the risk of triggering allergies to workers and clients. Mice are capable of dropping up to 25,000 fecal pellets per year and an estimated 70 times each day. Therefore, mice pest control, prevention and rapid removal in case of an infestation is always key.
Land and property owners have a legal obligation under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 to maintain pest control for mice and keep their premises rodent free. Or, if rodents are a possible threat to property or health they must report infestations to the local authority. Food businesses owners also have obligations to keep premises pest free under the Food Safety Act 1990.
Business owners who don’t have adequate mice pest control management procedures in place may be issued enforcement notices by Environmental Health Officers or General Enforcement Officers. If not adhered to, this can lead to fines and even a criminal record.