Mice In Crawl Space: Dangers Associated & Effective Control Methods

The damage that is exerted on materials that are kept in the crawl space and even the diseases that these rodents transmit via food items is quite alarming. This is why you must get rid of them.

Walk with me as I discuss the dangers associated with mice in crawl space and the various ways to get rid of them.

 

What are the Dangers of Having Mice in Crawl Space?

Mice can be dangerous, especially if you allow them to thrive in your house. The crawlspace is a very comfortable breeding spot for mice, as it provides them with a safe haven to nest.

If you have seen mice in your house or signs and have still allowed them to linger, then you must know that these are the consequences (or dangers) that follow:

• Chew Damage:

One of the potential dangers of allowing mice to thrive in your crawlspace is that they will leave some chew damage and bite marks on items such as:

• • Electrical wirings
  • Plastic materials
  • Wood
  • Moisture barriers
  • Soft concrete
• Transmission of Deadly Diseases:

Mice are also potential disease carriers; hence, they must be prevented and controlled at all costs. These pests carry diseases such as the following:

• • Salmonellosis
  • Leptospirosis
  • Bubonic plague
  • Hantavirus

Some of these diseases are able to stir up or trigger severe health conditions such as heart and kidney diseases, eczema, and even asthma.

You will also find that these pests tend to contaminate human food while trying to feed off of it.

• They Attract Other Pests:

Another reason why mice in crawl space pose a serious danger is that they attract other pests such as ticks, fleas, and even snakes.

• Infestation:

If you spot a single mouse, there is a high possibility that the infestation has gone very far, and you are likely looking at nothing less than 10 to 20 mice in your crawlspace.

It is important to get rid of mice in crawlspace, as they pose serious threats to the peace of your home, not just to you but to your belongings as well.

 

Read also: Mice Blocks: My Review & How To Use This Rodent Bait

 

What are the Signs of Mice in Crawl Space?

• Mouse Nest:

There are various signs of mice in crawl space to look out for and mouse nest is one of the most obvious signs. In order to construct these nests, the mice chew on fabric materials and use these bits to make the nest.

If you ever smell something off in your crawl space then you should carry out some inspection as it may be emanating from a mouse nest.

In your crawl space, you are likely to find these mouse nests under old cloth piles.

• Mouse Droppings:

Mouse droppings are the obvious signs that you will spot if your crawl space is suffering from a mouse infestation.

Mouse droppings can be identified by the following features:

• • They look like little dark seeds
  • Old mouse droppings have faded and dried appearances.
  • Bewer mouse droppings have shiny and black appearances.

You will often find these droppings in clusters close to the nest and in your crawl space.

Other signs of mice in crawl space include the following:

• Chewed food sources
• Unpleasant crawl space odors.
• Faint runs in front of pierced bags of bread
• Chewed-up buckets of fruit

The first step to get rid of mice in crawl space is by watching out for these signs as this will enable you to know the pest you are dealing with and how to control them effectively.

 

How To Get Rid of Mice in Crawl Space Under House

• Seal Cracks and Crevices:

Because of how flexible the skeletons of mice are, they are capable of squeezing through the tiniest holes. This is why I recommend that you seal cracks and crevices that may serve as entry points for mice into your crawl space.

You can seal these cracks and gaps with caulk or steel wool from Amazon.

• Light Up Your Crawl Space:

Light is an effective mouse repellent as they tend to avoid light. You would even notice that they are more active at night as they want to avoid being seen during the day.

Installing light in your crawlspace is very effective in repelling these pests from your crawlspace.

• Eliminate Food Boxes From Crawl Space:

Since mice have good sniffing abilities I would advise that you do not keep edible items in your crawl spaces. If you have done this already please quickly make plans to eliminate them from the crawl space.

Eliminating food boxes from your crawl space does not just eliminate the mouse’s food source, but also eliminates a possible nesting spot for this pest.

• Keep Your Crawl Space Dry:

Depriving the mice of water in your crawl space is another way of getting rid of these pests, and this can be achieved by keeping your crawl space free of moisture.

• • Install Dehumidifiers In Your Crawlspace:

Installing dehumidifiers is another way to prevent mice in your crawl space. Dehumidifiers help to keep the crawl space free of unnecessary moisture.

Unnecessary moisture leads to the growth of harmful bacteria such as mildew, mold, etc. This is why leaks must be fixed, and dehumidifiers installed.

• Trim Tree Branches:

Grasses and bushes that grow close to the foundation of your home may serve as hiding spots for mice. From these bushes, the mice may transit to your crawl space.

This is why it is important to clear these bushes and trim other long grasses that grow close to the exterior of your structure.

 

Read also: Termite Damage In Crawl Space: The Unimaginable Effect

 

FAQs About Mice in Crawl Space

Is it Normal to Have Mice in Your Crawl Space?

Yes, it is normal to have mice in your crawl space, as this area provides them with access to food, water, shelter, and even protection. However, it is not safe to allow mice to thrive in your crawlspace as they tend to cause a great deal of damage in the place.

 

How to Seal Crawl Space From Mice?

Because of how flexible the skeletons of mice are, they are capable of squeezing through the tiniest holes. This is why I recommend that you seal cracks and crevices that may serve as entry points for mice into your crawl space. You can seal these cracks and gaps with caulk or steel wool.

 

How to Get Mice Out of Under Your House?

You can get mice out of under your house by installing snap traps and electronic traps. These traps are capable of eliminating the mice with a high voltage shock.

 

How Do I Get Rid of Mouse Smell in My Crawl Space?

You can get rid of mouse smell in your crawl space by combining sanitizing and deodorizing solutions. You can also apply charcoal, or baking soda to get rid of mouse smell. A mixture of bleach and water will also get rid of mouse smell.

 

Conclusion

Because of the extent of damage that mice exert when they infest, it is very important that they are not allowed to thrive for long in crawl spaces.

Having mice in crawl space is a possibility, but it can be prevented by applying the above-mentioned control methods.

Mice are quite destructive pests in the crawl space, and must be avoided at all costs don’t you think? Do share your thoughts with me via the comments section below!

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