The Types of Mice in Virginia and in Your House

If you have ever seen or screamed at a mouse running through your house. This is the article for you. And are you wondering what type it was and why it entered your home? Well, if there is a mouse in your house right now, you will need to get down off the chair. It is dangerous to be up there in a panic. When you are calm, we would be happy to tell you all about the types of mice in Virginia and why they are in your home.

Besides, the pest experts at James River Pest Solutions will come out to remove the mice from your Virginia home. Of course, you’ll need to get off the table to let them in the door. Honestly, mice are really not that scary, anyhow. At James River, we deal with them every day. So, relax and read the following article on the types of mice in Virginia.

What Types of Mice are in Virginia?

There are several types of mice in Virginia. The types of mice invading your home largely depend on where you live and the “attractiveness” of your home to the mice in question. Let’s begin with discovering seven types of mice in Virginia divided into three categories.

Common Mice:

The most common mice are the ones homeowners see the most. They are quite invasive, reproduce rapidly, and are adaptable to any living condition. In general, they are brown or gray with lighter underbellies, and their tails are covered with fur.

1. House Mouse: Sometimes called the Thief mouse, these critters are all over the US. They are found in homes, restaurants, warehouses, factories, barns, and more. These mice breed quickly and often. What’s more, they are most dangerous to our human homes if not kept in check. The house mouse will gnaw and chew holes in wiring, walls, floors, baseboards, and furniture either to file their teeth or gain entry. Additionally, the droppings spread disease and encourage allergies in humans.
2. Golden Mouse: The Golden is a standard mouse variety that can live just about anywhere. They are very docile and social. As a point of interest, Golden mice are often depicted in storybooks due to their light, attractive coloring. And, they use their tails to hang on branches and balance on limbs.
3. Cotton Mouse: These mice are another common mouse type. They live in hardwood forests, fields, and the Dismal Swamp. They breed August to May with a total of four litters per year. During the wet season, they will migrate to dry areas. That is precisely when you may see them trying to enter your home.

Deer Mice:

Deer mice are typically covered in fur with large ears and black eyes. They measure 2-4 inches with tails as long or longer, and it is bi-colored. They have light underbellies and darker bodies. According to Pest World,

“Deer mice often nest in sheltered outdoor areas such as old fence posts, hollow tree logs, or piles of debris. During the winter months, deer mice may invade homes, garages, sheds, or rarely used vehicles to seek shelter. Inside, attics and basements make the ideal deer mouse habitat. The deer mouse also builds its nest in storage boxes, stuffed furniture, drawers, and wall voids.”

1. White-footed Deermouse: Also known as the Wood Mouse, these are not as well known. They can be seen living in urban areas, parks, and along streams.
2. Prairie Deermouse: The identifying mark on this mouse is the strange plum of hairs at the tip of the tail. They have white feet and huge eyes. And they will reproduce up to four times per year.

Field Mice:

Field mice are gray or brown with a white underbelly and feet. They have short tails and are found mostly in fields. They are a more commonly seen mouse, and they can climb, jump, swim, and chew their way into just about any structure found in and around your home.

1. Woodland Jumping Mouse: In the southwest region of the state, you will find this mouse. It prefers cool, moist terrain on the edge of forests. This mouse comes out of hibernation in spring to feed and reproduce.
2. Eastern Harvest Mouse: This one is of the mice with declining numbers. They live in old fields with weeds and tall grasses. Though they are in declining numbers, they do breed year-round. This is one of the tiny mice that are a uniquely cinnamon color. Numerous in summer, these mice live in swamps, marshes, and old fields.

Is There a Mouse in Your House?

If you have seen a mouse in your house, chances are there are more than one as they are social and live in groups. What’s worse, they will be even more numerous if they are not eradicated as soon as possible. If you notice any of the following, you should call your local wildlife company.

• The first thing homeowners notice is usually scratching and scurrying sounds in the walls and ceilings.
• Then, upon inspection, you may find droppings located behind appliances, in the pantry, and along floorboards.
• Nests made of torn paper, tissues, clothes, and insulation will be spotted under furniture or shelving.
• If they have been there a while, you’ll see chew marks on pantry boxes, bags of food, electrical wiring, and wood structures.
• Possibly the hardest to get rid of is the musty and foul urine odor.

So, you see how mice could destroy your Virginia home in no time. Obviously, the more mice, the more damage they create. Mice will do many of the following damaging things and more.

• They will chew on wires, which could cause a house fire.
• Perhaps they may gnaw on concrete, wood, drywall, plastic pipes, insulation, and aluminum, compromising the home structure.
• For sure, they will eat just about anything they can find, including the food in your pantry.
• Unfortunately, they will urinate and defecate anywhere, creating stains and odors that need professional cleaning and disinfection.
• The biggest reason to get rid of mice quickly is that they spread diseases like salmonella and more. These diseases are transmitted through the droppings and urine they leave everywhere.

Preventing All Types of Mice from Entering Your Home

While wildlife repellents work on some animals, you likely need to take additional measures to control mice from entering the yard or home. So, that is why preventing the mice from coming in is the first step. Here are some suggestions from the pros at James River Pest Solutions.

1. First, remove yard debris and any overgrown brush where they may hide or build a nest.
2. Don’t feed the mice. Ensure no food source, like pet food left on the porch, bird feeders, and fruit fallen from trees on the ground.
3. Homeowners should cover trash cans with tight-fitting lids and store them in the shed or garage.
4. Keeping tree limbs and branches trimmed and away from the roofline removes the pathway to the attic.
5. Cover entry points such as the chimney, gutters, downspouts, and vents with vent covers or fine wire mesh.

However, the best thing to do when mice invade is to call James River to inspect the yard and house. Then they can recommend a plan to remove the mice from your Virginia Home.

Wildlife Removal in Virginia

After identifying the commotion as a mice infestation, you will want to call for a professional wildlife removal company like the friendly technicians at James River Pest Solutions. Your trained wildlife expert will gladly look for the nest and identify the entry points and attractors. Our technicians come with protective gear and the right traps for the job.

Once they find them, the technician will trap the mice and remove them from your home. Then comes the all-important remediation process. Your service representative will remove the nest, clean, deodorize and disinfect the area. The final step is to seal the entry points to your home so mice can’t get back in.

A Note About Endangered Species…

An additional thought, there are a lot of protected animals in the state of Virginia. If you have mice or other wildlife animals on your property and don’t know every protected animal, then you may want to call someone who does. In fact, a few mice are on the endangered list and others that are going that way as well. The James River Pest Solutions professionals know which animals are under protection, how to safely handle them, and the state-approved place to take them for relocation.

At James River Pest Solutions, we suggest you leave the removal of all animals to the professionals.

Should you find yourself needing help in the Virginia Mice removal department, call James River Pest Solutions right away. And we’ll be right there to save the day.