Mouse Control on Long Island

Cornell’s IPM program names the common pest rodents in New York as the house mouse, the white-footed mouse, the deer mouse and the Norway rat. A&C Pest Management in East Meadow says the house mouse and the Norway rat are the rodents it sees most on Long Island. Whatever the species, the job is the same three parts: find how they get in, close it, and remove the ones already inside.

Mouse control prices from Long Island companies

The biggest swing in a mouse quote is whether sealing is included. Two prices that look far apart may simply be one with exclusion and one without, so ask.

House mouse or field mouse

Cornell describes the house mouse as an even grayish brown, 2.5 to 3.75 inches long, with a nearly bare tail about as long as its body. White-footed and deer mice are the same size but have white bellies. They spend most of their lives outdoors and come in from fall through spring. Cornell’s point about them is the useful one: if you find a white-bellied mouse inside, there is an opening somewhere that needs closing.

Closing the gaps is the real job

The Illinois Department of Public Health says a mouse can slip through a crack about the diameter of a pencil, slightly larger than 1/4 inch. Its sealing advice:

• seal every opening larger than 1/4 inch
• pack holes with steel wool mixed with caulk
• use metal or concrete for foundation cracks and where pipes and wires come in
• skip plastic sheeting, screen, wood and rubber, which mice chew through

The same guidance points to foundation cracks, utility openings and the edges of doors and windows as the places to look first. If mice have gnawed at a door edge, it says to cover it with metal.

Traps, bait stations and kids and pets

A&C Pest Management describes tamper-resistant bait stations secured to the ground, traps inside, and exclusion for an extra fee. The EPA’s rules of thumb for any household:

• use only tamper-resistant bait stations for poison bait
• put traps and stations where children and pets cannot reach them
• follow the label on any rodent product

The Illinois health department adds that too few traps is a common mistake. Snap traps go along walls, behind objects and in dark corners, no more than 10 feet apart where mice are active. Bait may need to stay out for up to three weeks before feeding stops.

Questions for the mouse company

• Is sealing included in this price? If not, what does it cost and what materials do you use?
• How many follow-up visits are included?
• Who checks the traps and removes dead mice? NYC’s health department guidance says dead-rodent pickup belongs in a written plan unless you agree otherwise.
• Is this a one-time job or a monthly contract, and how do I cancel?
• What is your NYSDEC business registration number? Check it on NYSPAD.

Cleaning up after mice

The Illinois health department says to wear rubber or plastic gloves when handling dead mice and to disinfect traps by soaking them in 3 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water. Nests of shredded paper and a musky smell are the signs to look for when you clear out a cabinet or the back of a closet.