Randy Bilesky BScF CPA RPF
President at Go Green
February 4, 2025
Yikes, a mouse in the kitchen can definitely be unsettling! Here’s a quick guide on what you can do to deal with the situation:
- Stay Calm – First, try not to panic. Mice are usually more afraid of you than you are of them.
- Contain the Mouse – If possible, try to contain it in one area of the kitchen. Close doors or block off access to other rooms to prevent it from scurrying away.
- Remove Food and Clean Up – Mice are usually attracted to food. Make sure to clear any crumbs, spills, or food scraps from countertops, tables, and floors. Store food in sealed containers and remove any garbage.
- Set Traps – If you’re comfortable with it, you can use traps to catch the mouse. Snap traps, live traps (if you prefer a humane option), or even glue traps can all work. Place them along the walls where mice tend to travel, as they usually avoid open spaces.
- Seal Entry Points – Mice can sneak in through tiny gaps. Check for any cracks, holes, or openings around windows, doors, and even pipes. Seal these up to prevent more mice from entering.
- Call Pest Control – If you’re not comfortable handling it yourself, or if it’s a recurring issue, it might be a good idea to contact Go Green Pest Control Corp. We can help with a more thorough solution.
Mice can carry a variety of diseases and cause significant damage, which is why it’s important to address the situation quickly. Here’s a breakdown of potential risks:
Diseases Mice Can Carry
Mice are known to carry several diseases that can be transmitted to humans (zoonotic diseases), usually through urine, droppings, saliva, or bites. Some of the most common ones include:
- Hantavirus – Spread through droppings, urine, or saliva. In rare cases, humans can become infected by breathing in dust particles from dried mouse waste.
- Leptospirosis – Can be transmitted through contact with water, soil, or food contaminated by mouse urine. It can lead to severe liver or kidney damage if untreated.
- Salmonella – Mice can carry the bacteria in their feces. If they contaminate food or surfaces, you could ingest it, leading to food poisoning symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.).
- Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV) – A viral infection that can cause flu-like symptoms, and in severe cases, lead to neurological problems like meningitis.
- Plague – While rare today, mice can carry fleas that transmit the plague, which caused pandemics in history. This is mostly a concern in certain rural or wild areas.
- Toxoplasmosis – Can be spread by handling contaminated mouse droppings, though it’s more commonly associated with cats. It can cause flu-like symptoms and, in rare cases, more severe issues.
- Rat-Bite Fever – Though more commonly associated with rats, mice can sometimes spread this bacterial infection, which causes fever, rashes, and joint pain.
Damage Mice Can Cause
Besides the health risks, mice can cause a lot of physical damage:
- Chewing on Materials – Mice have a constant need to gnaw. They can chew on wires, insulation, pipes, drywall, furniture, and even food packaging. This can lead to costly repairs and pose fire hazards, especially if they chew through electrical wires.
- Contaminating Food – Mice can spoil food by contaminating it with their urine, feces, and hair. They can also damage food packaging, making it inedible or unsafe.
- Structural Damage – They can create nests by chewing through insulation or even walls, causing damage that can be expensive to repair.
- Damage to Stored Goods – Mice are often attracted to paper, cardboard, fabrics, and even books, which they might gnaw on for nesting or food. This can lead to damage to important documents or other materials you store in the kitchen or elsewhere.
- Pest Infestation – Mice can lead to a larger infestation if not dealt with quickly. If they have access to your kitchen, it’s possible other pests (such as fleas, ticks, or lice) could follow.
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