Finding mice in the walls of your home can be a distressing situation. Not only can they cause structural damage by gnawing and nesting, but they also pose serious health hazards through contamination and disease.

When faced with a mice infestation within your walls, calling a professional exterminator is crucial. Their expertise and specialized tools are needed to fully eliminate these pests and prevent reinfestation.

This article will provide a comprehensive look at how professional exterminators tackle mice infestations in walls, from inspection and identification to extraction and prevention. By understanding their proven methods, you’ll know what to expect when enlisting their services.

Signs of Mice Infestation in Walls

Before implementing a treatment plan, exterminators first need to confirm the presence of mice. They look for key signs like:

• Droppings - Dark, rod shaped feces along baseboards or in cupboards.

• Grease marks - Rub marks or smudges on walls caused by mice's oily fur.

• Chewing damage - Teeth marks, holes, or shredded materials. Mice gnaw to gain entry or wear down teeth.

• Nesting material - Tufts of insulation, paper shreds, or other debris in hidden areas.

• Musky odor - Mice secrete pheromone oils that can produce a strong, musty smell.

• Sounds - High pitched squeaking or scampering within walls and ceiling voids.

Once one or more signs are found, exterminators investigate further to pinpoint nest locations and entry points. This allows them to customize their extraction approach.

Extermination Tools and Methods

Armed with an inspection mirror, flashlight, and thermal imaging camera, an exterminator thoroughly checks the home’s interior and exterior. Areas like attics, crawlspaces, garages, and basements come under close scrutiny.

Wall voids get examined through electrical outlets or switch plate openings. Thermal cameras detect rodent body heat signatures. In difficult to reach spots, inspections cameras on flexible cables provide video footage guidance.

With evidence in hand, extermination efforts focus on two main approaches: trapping and pesticide application.

Trapping Techniques

Different trap types serve different functions:

• Snap traps - Instantly kill mice upon triggering a spring-loaded bar.

• Live catch traps - Capture mice unharmed for humane removal and relocation.

• Glue boards - Boards coated with non-drying adhesive that confine mice until disposal.

Based on the inspection findings, traps get strategically placed along runways, inside wall voids, or near nesting areas. Baiting with peanut butter, cheese, or bacon enhance trap appeal.

Trapping has the benefits of providing visual proof of activity and allowing for the mice’s humane disposal.

Pesticide Treatments

For heavy infestations, the use of rodenticide poisons may be warranted. These are formulated as solid blocks or loose grains and contain active ingredients like:

• Bromethalin - Attacks the nervous system.

• Cholecalciferol - Causes calcium overloads.

• Warfarin - Causes internal bleeding.

Applied in in wall voids or bait stations, mice ingest the toxins and then expire after returning to the nest. This helps eliminate entire populations.

Safety is a prime concern, so only certified professionals apply these chemicals according to local regulations.

Preventing Reinfestation

To keep mice from re-entering the home, exterminators perform exclusion work post treatment. This involves:

• Caulking or sealing any exterior cracks and holes with weatherproof materials. Mice can squeeze through openings as small as 1/4 inch.

• Installing weather stripping beneath doors and garage door bottoms to deter entry. Steel wool or copper mesh also blocks holes.

• Removing brush and debris near the foundation that offers shelter or hiding spots.

• Moving woodpiles at least 20 feet from the house.

Ongoing prevention is also vital. This includes proper food storage, frequent vacuuming and cleaning, and avoiding interior clutter buildup. Taking the trash out regularly also removes a food source.

With their extensive training in mouse behaviors and biology, exterminators craft tailored solutions using proven methods. Combining trapping, pesticides, and exclusion repairs creates a systematic approach that returns your walls to a pest free state.