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Mice

Facts about mice

  • The council deals with between 150-200 treatments per month for house mice.
  • Our busiest months are between September and December.
  • Mice live in dark, quiet places such as under floorboards, behind wall panelling and in roof spaces.
  • Mice can climb rough surfaces, jump and even swim if necessary.
  • Mice eat just 3 grams of food a day, often taken in small amounts from different places.
  • A female mouse is usually pregnant for 20-23 days, has five to six litters a year with up to around six young in a litter. Mice have been known to have litters every three to four weeks which can lead to an explosion in numbers.

Recognising a mouse problem

Mice tend to come out in late evening, and therefore are rarely seen, however you may notice any of the following signs of mouse activity:

  • A musty smell - left from the urine.
  • Droppings - mice produce about 80 droppings per day. These droppings are generally up to 6mm long and spindle shaped.
  • Holes - gnawed in food wrapping, boxes, bags, etc.
  • Smear Marks- due to grease from fur deposits, which are left on habitual mouse runs.

What can you do to prevent mice in your home?

The most effective control is to remove access to their sources of food and harbourage. This can be achieved by:

  • Sealing holes larger than 2-3mm with sheet metal or concrete (wire mesh can be used if ventilation is required).
  • Keeping food in tightly fitting containers, preferably in wall cupboards or fridges.
  • Cleaning up food, spills and waste and keep rubbish in bins with tightly fitting lids.

Treatment the council provides

Our pest officers will survey your property to confirm the nature and extent of your problem. This depends upon how easily they can access void areas (under floorboards, etc).

  • We will try to identify potential sources of food and harbourage and give you advice.
  • We will try to identify where they are coming from and tell you how to proof these.
  • Our officers do not perform proofing works. For council tenants you will need to contact your Housing Repairs Team (WHG/Housing Association).
  • We will leave a bait box containing a poison, which kills mice by attacking their circulation.  Normally this bait is completely eaten by mice and takes up to 14 days to work.

Our officers are able to locate any holes in the property that may be used by pests, but do not carry out repairs.

Please make provisions to block these areas if you do not want the pest problem to return.

Advice is available on how you can do this by speaking to the Pest Control Officer or by contacting Walsall's Contact Centre.

After treatment

  • It usually takes approximately two weeks (14 days) for treatment to work.
  • If the bait box is empty, you can throw the bait box away in your normal domestic rubbish. Please take care to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
  • If you still have mice  or there is bait left in the box after 14 days, you must contact us within a week (7 days) in order for us to revisit and treat again free of charge.
  • After 21 days from the date of treatment, we will consider requests for pest control as new treatment, and you will be charged the full amount.

Charges

The treatment of mice is free of charge for domestic premises.

How to contact us

If you would like further advice or need to make a pest control appointment please contact us:

First Stop Shop
Civic Centre
Darwall Street
Walsall
WS1 1EU

Telephone 01922 744320
Minicom 0845 1112910
Email contactcentre@walsall.gov.uk
Website www.walsall.gov.uk

If you need help in treating a mouse infestation or have any further questions, contact us on 01922 744320. For householders this is a free service.

For further information please view our mice factsheet (PDF 69KB).