Rodents called deer mice get their name from the fact that their fur looks a lot like deer fur. However, don’t be fooled by this cute-looking rodent. Deer mice can spread the Hantavirus, which is very dangerous to humans. It’s important to know how to get rid of deer mice if you think you have an abundance.
What Do Deer Mice Look Like?
Many deer mice are round and small, measuring between 5 and 8 inches long. Most of the time, they are brown or dark brown, with white feet and bellies. Deer mice are easy to spot because their tails are always two colors, usually half brown and half white. When they are born, baby deer mice are pink and have no fur.
Where Do Deer Mice Live?
Deer mice prefer to live in rural, outdoor areas and are not as popular in cities. These are common places where deer mice live:
- Open grasslands
- Brushy country
- Cliffs
- Forests
- Pasturelands
- Sheds
- Summer/vacation homes
- Suburban homes near wooded areas
Deer mice often build their nests in old fence posts, tree hollows, log piles, and under decks. During the winter, they look for cover in homes, garages, sheds, or cars that aren’t used very often.
Once they get inside, deer mice like to live in tight spaces like basements, attics, storage boxes, and wall gaps. For food, they like bugs, seeds, nuts, berries, and small fruits. They usually eat at dusk and dawn.
Deer Mice Bites
The CDC says that people mostly get the Hantavirus when they take in air that is contaminated with it. It is possible for a sick deer mouse to bite someone and possibly spread the disease, but this doesn’t happen very often.
Signs of an Infestation
In order to keep deer mice from taking over your home and the land around it, you should check it often for signs like droppings, gnaw marks, nests, and food that has been damaged. Because this species likes being outside, look for signs of an infestation in basements, attics, sheds, and cars or RVs that aren’t used very often.
How to Identify Deer Mice
In North America, the deer mouse lives in forests and deserts. You don’t have to worry about Florida and Alaska, because you don’t have any. You can also find them in big parts of Canada and Mexico. They aren’t popular in cities, so homes near fields or forests usually have to deal with them.
Keep this in mind if you live near the coniferous woods of the Pacific Northwest. Deer mice really like Douglas fir trees. Deer mice only come out at night and won’t be seen during the day unless they are in danger. Don’t let your guard down in the winter because they don’t go to sleep.
It’s funny, but the deer mouse is really cute. Their bodies are round and 3″4 inches long, and their tails are about 4 inches long. They have big, black eyes and a white belly. Most of the time, they are brown or gray.
With its lightning-fast speed, the deer mouse can run away in an instant if you see one. This is how it got its name. It is important to know that deer mice are much faster than house mice. Without some kind of trap, most people won’t be able to catch a deer mouse, so don’t try with your butterfly net.
Of course, the deer mouse is not the same as the cute mouse-deer that live in the woods of Indonesia, even though a mouse-deer infestation is not likely to happen.
How to Get Rid of Deer Mice
Most likely, your cat isn’t enough! It’s likely that you will need to set up traps. Peanut butter or oats can be used as bait in regular snap traps to catch animals. In places where you’ve found droppings, set up several traps close to each other. Remember that even though they’re fast, they’re not smart!
Mice may leave a lot of waste because they are afraid of glue traps, but they can catch them. To avoid spreading the hantavirus, they shouldn’t be used in places where people live.
The University of California’s Statewide Pest Management Program says that zinc phosphide, chlorophacinone, and diphacinone poisons can all be used to kill deer mice. But zinc phosphide is very dangerous for all animals, so if you have pets or little kids, you should stay away from it.
If nothing else works, it might be time to call the pros. Zunex Pest Control can help you if you live in the Greater Puget Sound area. We can get rid of all kinds of pests, and our rodent control services come with a full guarantee. Get a free quote right now by clicking here!
Common Preventative Measures
There are things that can be done to keep a place from becoming home to a population of deer mice.
Entryways
To keep these rats out, rodent-proofing materials are put around the outside doors and windows.
Seal holes
These materials should be used to seal all holes, no matter how big or small they are. Deer mice can get through holes the size of a dime.
Lawns
Deer and mice may not be as interested in your property if you keep the grass and weeds cut and clear out the yard.
Food containers
Food that is packed safely will also help. Instead of paper boxes and plastic bags, you should use stainless steel, glass, and thick, heavy plastic to store food.
Stored
Deer mice love to nest in boxes and other things kept in sheds, attics, or crawlspaces. These should be carefully looked at. Try to keep these places clean so it’s easier to see where mice are going.
Getting rid of deer mice from an area that is infested is often hard. Traps are used in most healing methods.