Rodents
Mice and rats are year-round threats in Central Maine, causing damage, contaminating food, and spreading disease.
About Rodents in Central Maine
Mice and rats are the most common and destructive pests in Maine homes. House mice can squeeze through a gap the size of a dime, and a single female can produce 5–10 litters per year. Norway rats are larger, preferring basements and lower levels, and can gnaw through wood, plastic, and even soft metals. Both species contaminate food, leave droppings everywhere they travel, and can spread diseases including hantavirus and salmonella. They also chew on electrical wiring, which is a leading cause of house fires. Fall and winter drive rodents indoors as they seek warmth and food.
House mice, deer mice and opening camp safely in Maine
Central Maine homes deal mostly with house mice, but rural buildings, camps and outbuildings can also shelter deer mice, and that difference matters. The U.S. CDC identifies the deer mouse as the carrier of the most common hantavirus that causes illness in the United States. Maine CDC says people are infected by breathing in air carrying infected rodents' saliva, urine, droppings or nesting material, that symptoms usually start one to eight weeks after exposure, and that there is no treatment for hantavirus.
That makes spring camp opening and shed cleanouts the time to be careful. Maine CDC's steps: open doors and windows for at least 30 minutes before starting, wear gloves and a dust mask, spray droppings with bleach and water, and pick them up with paper towels. Never use a vacuum or a broom on droppings or nesting material.
House mice rarely travel far. University of Kentucky entomologists put their usual range at 10 to 25 feet from the nest, with 20 to 30 visits a night to different food spots, so traps belong close to fresh droppings, set against walls with the trigger end touching the wall. Mouse droppings run 1/8 to 1/2 inch with pointed ends. Kentucky advises sealing foundation cracks 1/4 inch and larger, and in older farmhouses gaps in fieldstone and around the sill are worth checking closely. When activity continues after sealing and trapping, or droppings cover a large area, a professional is worth the call.
Campbell's Pest Control offers rodent control in Augusta, Waterville, Bangor and the other Central Maine towns we serve.
Signs of Rodents
- Small dark droppings along walls, in cabinets, or near food
- Gnaw marks on food packaging, wood, or wiring
- Scratching or scurrying sounds in walls or ceilings at night
- Greasy rub marks along baseboards and wall edges
- Nests made of shredded paper, insulation, or fabric in hidden areas
- Musty or ammonia-like odor in enclosed spaces
Prevention Tips
- Seal all gaps larger than 1/4 inch with steel wool, caulk, or metal flashing
- Store food in glass or metal containers with tight lids
- Keep trash in sealed bins and take it out regularly
- Eliminate water sources — fix dripping faucets and pipes
- Declutter storage areas to reduce nesting sites
- Keep grass mowed and remove debris near the foundation
- Air out a closed camp or shed for at least 30 minutes before cleaning
- Spray droppings with bleach and water and wipe them up; never sweep or vacuum them
- Set snap traps against walls, trigger end to the wall, near fresh droppings
- Seal foundation cracks 1/4 inch and larger, including fieldstone gaps and around the sill
- Keep birdseed and pet food in metal containers in garages and sheds
Did You Know?
- 1.A mouse can fit through a hole the size of a dime (1/4 inch)
- 2.Mice produce 40–100 droppings per day
- 3.Rats can chew through concrete, aluminum, and cinder blocks
Need Help With Rodents?
Our rodent control service targets rodents at the source. Contact us for a free inspection and quote.
