Mice

There are two types of mice in Britain which can become pests - the house mouse and the field mouse.

The house mouse is most likely to be a domestic pest, weighs about 30 grams (1 ounce), and is about 90 mm long (3 1/2 inches) excluding its tail. It is usually brown on its back with a grey underneath. Its ears are fairly large in relation to its body and its feet are small. The tail is the same length as the head and body.
The long-tailed field mouse is more common on agricultural land but is not generally considered a pest unless it takes up residence indoors.

How Do I Know if I have a Problem?

The most common signs of mice are:

  • droppings (typically 5mm long) found near food sources
  • scratching noises
  • evidence of gnawing
  • burrows
  • nests 
  • greasy rub marks along walls/floors.

Do They Pose a Health Risk?

Mice contaminate food preparation surfaces with their faeces, which contain the bacterium that causes food poisoning (salmonellosis). They are also carriers for Hantavirus and Lyme Disease.

What Damage Do They Cause?

They ruin far more food than they eat through gnawing and leaving urine and droppings.
They can damage electric cables and wall or loft insulation. Mice burrow holes in walls and cupboards and chew upholstery and carpets which can be expensive to repair.

How Do I Get Rid of Mice?

Mice can be difficult to treat because of their rate of growth so if you have a large infestation you should contact the Council’s Pest Control Team.

A Pest Control Officer will visit your property and inspect areas for signs of mice problem/infestation and, if confirmed, will bait the area with wheat based poisons, wax blocks or mice traps. The Pest Control Officer will arrange for return visit(s) to monitor traps/bait and rebait if required. Please note that mice treatments can normally take 2/3 visits, but may take longer dependent upon infestation.

IMPORTANT - WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU USE A PROFESSIONAL RATHER THAN SELF-TREATING AS OFTEN THIS ENDS IN INADEQUATE OR FAILED TREATMENTS. HOWEVER IF YOU DO SELF-TREAT YOU MUST ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS. INSECTICIDES AND PESTICIDES ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND MUST BE STORED AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS.