Mice

House mice can live and breed in houses, buildings and other structures such as the garden shed. They can squeeze through a gap the size of a pencil.

Mice can survive on a poor diet and do not need access to free water. Although they prefer cereal grains, their diets are very similar to ours and they will eat most types of food found in a typical domestic kitchen.

Mice are smaller and more slender than rats. Their tales are long, slim and covered in hair.

How to tell if mice are present

• Unlike rats, mice are more likely to be found indoors - in lofts, cavity walls and basements.
• Regular sightings of mice (more than once a day) indicates that an infestation is nearby.
• Droppings resemble black grains of rice and are likely to be found among stored food products and preparation areas - you should regularly check kitchen cupboards. 

• Gnawed holes in skirting boards and around pipes, and gnawed food cartons and boxes.
• Scratching noises in wall cavities and across ceilings.
• House mice have a distinctive musky smell or odour, which is particularly noticeable when you first enter the house.
• They produce smears by continually rubbing their fur against surfaces.

Preventing mice infestation

• Don't leave open food out overnight.
• Don't leave uneaten cat or dog food out in dishes overnight.
• Remove all food waste spillages when they occur.
• Empty food waste bins in the kitchen frequently.
• Place food in rodent proof metal containers.
• Wipe up spillages in the yard or garden and do not leave bagged waste outside - use wheeled bins provided.
• Seal structural defects to prevent mice gaining access.
• Regularly clean behind cookers, fridges, freezers and washing machines, as food debris and rodent excrement can build up under and behind them.