ProPest provides mouse control in Oxford and across Oxfordshire for homes, landlords and businesses. If you have noticed droppings, scratching, gnawed packaging or a mouse indoors, we investigate the evidence and likely access routes before recommending suitable trapping or baiting and practical prevention measures.
There are two common types of mice in the UK to be aware of:
Mice are small mammals, with house mice characteristically known to have a pointed snout, small, rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. They are usually light brown or grey. A field mouse has sandy brown hair.
Field mice have a great many predators living in an external environment, such as cats, foxes, birds and rats, so have bigger eyes and ears than house mice.
Mice are colourblind but have an acute sense of hearing, frequently using ultrasound to communicate, and are especially sensitive to any sudden noise.
Mice are known as ‘commensal rodents’ as they like to live in close proximity to humans. Although commonly identified as pests, some are bred and kept as pets.
Mice are part of British wildlife, but when they take up residence with you they can be a cause for concern. They enter a property to have a safe place to live and breed.
Mice are active all year round and are one of the most common pest species in the UK. Their lifespan is approximately 3 years.
Mice are shy animals and nocturnal pests. If you see a mouse during the day that indicates that you have an infestation, which can happen quickly.
When a female mouse is impregnated, the gestation period lasts for around 21 days and they give birth to between 5 and 12 pups each time, and between 5 and 10 litters each year. This demonstrates that a mouse infestation can quickly grow out of control.
The droppings of mice are small, black, and the shape and size of rice. Each mouse can leave 80 droppings a day! Common places to find mouse dropping are under the kitchen sink, around central heating boilers and in roof spaces.
Mice are territorial animals, marking their area with urinating and checking their territory to make sure nothing has changed. Mice have a strong, ammonia-like smell and is left by the mice in areas they nest in and along the routes they travel as they forage for food. It helps them navigate and tell other mice where to find food. The smell will grow stronger the closer you are to the nest.
Usually, mice will enter through cracks or holes in walls, floors, or foundations. Mice can climb, jump, run, and burrow into nearly any place they choose, including inside the wall cavity.
Mice look for any small entry points to a property, about 5mm in diameter or the size of a standard pen. Mice have very flexible ribs which allow them to squeeze through any gap into which they can fit their head.
Mice can also enter a property by climbing vines or trellis against walls of the building.
Field mice are much more suited to nesting outdoors but will possibly move indoors once the weather gets colder.
House mice choose areas that are tucked away and are often hard to find. They are found in and around human structures as they rely on warmth and shelter for nesting sites and readily available food sources.
Nests are often built in roof spaces, under floors and in wall cavities, sheds, basements, storage boxes etc., and are made from soft materials and shredded paper.
Essentially, mice will make a nest anywhere in your home that is dark and that you don’t or can’t access frequently as this is a prime hiding spot for them.
Good hygiene practices won’t eliminate a mouse problem, but poor practices will attract them.
Ironically, cheese are not good mice-baters!
Mice are erratic, sporadic feeders, nibbling at many sources of food. Mice are drawn to bagged and stored dried food. Their favourite food are cereal products, but they will also go for other grains, pet food, sweets, grease, and bird seed. Although, as omnivores they will eat almost anything!
Mice will also be attracted to books, paper, cloth, toilet paper, and insulation.
Mice can cause a health risk, as well as damaging property. They can carry bacteria and diseases by urinating, defecating, and physical contact with their paws spreading diseases such as Salmonella and Listeria.
Mice have a need to gnaw as they have continuously growing teeth and can chew through woodwork, water and gas pipes, cables and electrical wires.
As with most animals, mice will bite if they feel threatened or disturbed, although it is rare.
Our mouse-control programme combines investigation, suitable control and follow-up. We assess where activity has been seen, look for evidence around food storage and concealed spaces, and discuss the conditions that may be supporting the problem.
Where treatment is appropriate, your technician chooses measures suited to the property and explains any precautions needed for children, pets and other animals. Our named mouse-control programme includes three visits over three weeks. Follow-up checks help us assess activity and decide whether the plan needs adjusting.
Controlling mice already inside is only part of the task. We also discuss food storage, clutter and accessible building gaps. Proofing must be coordinated with the control work; its scope is assessed for the individual property.
Explore rodent proofing, book a rodent investigation, or read how our IPM approach connects inspection, prevention and monitoring.
Local service areas: Abingdon, Didcot, Kidlington, Witney, Bicester and Thame.
Find local mouse-control information for your town, or browse all Oxfordshire areas covered. We assess the evidence and property before recommending suitable control and prevention measures.
Read about our Integrated Pest Management approach to inspection, prevention and follow-up.