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DITCHLING CORPORATION LIMITED
"Supplying professional Pest Control products since 1964"
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DITCHLING CORPORATION LIMITED
"Supplying professional Pest Control products since 1964"
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DESCRIPTION
Weight - about ½oz (15 gm)
Body - about 3"(85 cm)
Tail - about 3½"(90 cm)
Snout - pointed.
Ears - large, some hairs
Tail - dark in color
Coat color - brownish grey with grey abdomen.
Droppings - ¼"(6mm) rod or spindle shaped
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LIFE HISTORY & HABITS
House Mice reach maturity in about 6 weeks, and have a life span of about 1 year. Within her life a female may bear as many as 8 litters of about 5 or 6 young, if food and shelter are plentiful.
In the summer months Mice may live outdoors burrowing for shelter in concealed areas close to buildings, sidewalks or in underbrush. However, the House Mouse prefers to seek shelter in buildings where it may be found anywhere from basement to attic. It uses the space between double walls, floor joists, concealed enclosed places in cupboards or under counters in which it can locate its nest. Generally the nest is about 5 inches in diameter, completely covered, with a small entrance hole in one side. This nest is constructed from soft material such as paper or cloth which the Mouse has shredded.
Although Mice will eat any food that is available, they prefer cereal grains and seeds. The Mouse is a nibbler, eating erratically; it requires little water and only about 1/10 ounce dry food each day. In search of its food, the Mouse travels in a limited range of approximately a 40 foot circle, or within one or two rooms.
As with all rodents the Mice must gnaw to keep their teeth worn down. It is able to gnaw through wood, aluminum, soft mortar or asphalt. The Mouse can jump vertically about 12 inches, can pass through holes less than ½ inch in diameter and can climb wall studs or other vertical surfaces; with all these abilities, Mice can make or discover entrances to buildings. Since the Mouse is a nocturnal animal, it has well developed hearing and touch receptors to alert its night time activities.
MICE & DISEASE
Mice can transmit disease to man. Rat-bite fever and Weil's disease can be transmitted by Mice. The droppings of Mice can carry the organisms which cause food poisoning. Murine typhus can be carried by their Fleas, Rickettsial Pox can be transmitted by a Mite which lives on them.
CONTROL
SANITATION. Good housekeeping, proper storage and handling of food materials and disposal of organic wastes is essential. Piles of rubbish which can serve as hiding and nesting sites should be eliminated as the first step for control. It is necessary to carry out rodent-proofing by means of structural barriers to deny access to buildings and food. Fine mesh metal screening should be placed over dryer vents and other ventilation openings and under porches or sheds.
TRAPPING.
(a) "Snap Traps" may be placed at frequent intervals along baseboards, boxes or other sheltered areas or possible runways. A number of different, non-toxic baits may be used such as rolled oats, peanut butter, raisin bread or lightly cooked bacon.
(b) “WindUp” Mechanical Traps may be used to catch the animal(s) live. These are very effective and may be used over and over again.
(c) “PestCatcher” Glue Boards and “Stick-Em” Glue Trays are effective No-Poison means of catching MICE indoors
In all trapping programs, inspection must be carried out daily and dead rodents removed promptly.
Dead Rodents must be handled with care, pick them up safely with a "PickerUpper" General Purpose Picker.
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CONTROL
DIPHACINONE, BRODIFACOUM and BROMADIOLONE are effective RODENTICIDES.
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