Mice can be a problem

• Mice can cause property damage by gnawing on wires, furniture, and clothing.
• Mice are highly adaptable. They can be found in multiple environments and building types.
• Mice reproduce very quickly. Adult females can have up to 30 to 35 offspring per year.
• Mice urinate, poop and gnaw as they move throughout the building or house. An average mouse can produce 50 droppings a day.
• Mice walk over and contaminate food surfaces.
• Mice can squeeze through holes 1/4 of an inch or bigger, jump 12 inches and are great climbers.
• Mice often come into buildings and houses when temperatures get colder and there is little food outside.

Public health risks

• Mice can carry ticks and fleas.
• Mice contaminate food, food packaging, and surfaces in a business.
• People can get sick by coming into contact with mice urine, feces, saliva, and nesting materials while cleaning or breathing in airborne particles.
• Improper cleaning of mice droppings and urine can lead to illness.

Transmissible diseases

• Hanta Virus
• Salmonellosis
• Tapeworms
• Plague

Signs of infestation

• Mouse droppings throughout facility
• Urine staining (use a blacklight for better visibility)
• Gnawed doorways and/or food packaging (look for spilled foods)
• Mouse tracks in areas with heavy debris, dust, or mud
• Rub marks on walls in heavily traveled areas
• Musty, pungent odor

Prevention

Exterior

• Seal all holes or gaps with areas larger than 1/4 inch on outside of buildings.
• Create a 3-foot clearing around exterior walls of building. Adding a gravel strip may help.
• Maintain outdoor areas clean and free of clutter.
• Keep lids to disposal bins closed.
• Keep bushes and shrubbery trimmed.

Interior

• Know how to spot the signs of mouse activity and monitor any troublesome areas.
• Remove cardboard and clutter from rooms to avoid harborage conditions.
• Maintain areas free of food debris
• Seal all electrical conduits, heating ducts, pipes, and pipe chases.
• Install door sweeps and other devices to seal any holes or cracks leading to outside.
• Provide routine maintenance and spot checks to all areas of building to prevent mice getting in.
• Work with pest control company to determine a regular schedule that fits your building.

Call a professional extermination company if you suspect there are mice within your facility.

Watch for mouse activity as seasons change.

Resources

• Read about pest proofing food service establishments from New York City Health
• Learn about rodents from the Centers for Disease Control
• Learn about rodent management from the Illinois Department of Public Health