Mice are opportunistic pests, which means that they will eat anything that they can get their teeth into, from fruits, grains, plants, trash, and even meat.
However, mice also like to gnaw on household objects that are not necessarily food. You can find mice bite marks on furniture, plastic, walls, rubber, aluminum, electrical wiring- it's literary easier to mention what mice can't chew through, such as glass and cured concrete.
These damaging pests have a need to gnaw on objects constantly. That's because of the nature of their teeth.
Mice have admirably strong teeth that are said to be harder than lead or aluminum. But there's one mysterious thing about their front incisors--they never stop growing throughout their lifetime!
Therefore, mice have to continuously gnaw and chew on nearly everything they come across to keep their teeth short and sharp.
These incisors don't have roots. And if mice don't gnaw on objects, the teeth would grow too big to a point where the pest would no longer eat. Beyond that, the teeth would grow into their brains, and they'd die.
Therefore, if you have a mice infestation in your home, they will cause the worst structural damages, and not even your duct tape can stop them.
Unless the infestation is controlled fast and soon, the damages caused will be pricey and potentially permanent.
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Can Mice Chew Through Duct Tape?
Yes. Mice have very sharp and strong teeth, and they can easily chew through duct tape.
But if you are really determined to keep mice away from your home using duct tape, you should consider using many layers of duct tape as they are more unbreakable, stronger and it will be hard for the mice to chew through into your home.
Why Can Mice Chew Through Duct Tape?
Duct tape is strong, flexible, and has unparalleled stickiness, which makes it a very versatile and useful item around the house.
Because it resists tearing, homeowners use this valuable item to make and fix just about everything, including patching up destroyed tents during picnics, controlling flies, patching holes on vacuum hoses, and even keeping the feet warm!
But when it comes to keeping mice at bay using duct tapes, that's where these trusted items become less effective. That's because the extremely sharp and hard rodent teeth can quickly chew things like brick and vinyl, which means that they can chew through a barrier like duct tape quite effortlessly.
The Best Way To Seal Mice Holes?
Mice can squeeze through the tiniest of holes, the size of a nickel, into your home. These pesky pests are known for spreading a plethora of diseases like hantavirus, lymphocytic, and salmonella while causing serious damages to walls and wiring.
Therefore it's important to carefully inspect the interior and exterior of your home to find any possible mice entry holes and seal them.
The most common places to look for mice holes include;
- Around walls, windows, and doors
- Areas around house foundation
- In roofing among gables, rafters, and eaves
- vents in attic and crawl spaces
Seal small holes by filling them with steel wool or copper mesh. Apply caulk around the steel wool to keep it in place. Bigger holes are best filled with lath screen/lath metal, metal sheeting, or cement. You will find these materials in your local hardware store.
Suppose you already have an active mice infestation in your home. In that case, the best thing to do is call a pest control expert to thoroughly inspect your home and customize the best mice treatment plan that will get rid of the disease carriers and prevent chances of re-infestations.
The Best Way To Keep Mice Out Of Your Home
You cannot depend on duct tape to control mice or keep them away unless, of course, if you're using numerous layers of duct tape- which may be uneconomical.
Below we have provided tips on the best way to keep these nagging pests away:
Carefully Inspect Your Home
The first and most crucial step for keeping mice out of your home is doing a thorough inspection to identify any possible mice entry points and factors that may attract them into your home.
Check the interior and exterior of your home to identify loose boards, vents, holes on the exterior, and damaged sealants around your doors window frames.
Examine signs of mice infestation like mice droppings, gnawed plastics or furniture, tiny holes, and paper trash.
Suppose you spot a mouse or other signs of a possible infestation. In that case, you must take action immediately because mice reproduce rapidly, and a one-mouse sighting will soon develop into an infestation, causing severe damages like chewing electric wiring and provoking diseases such as asthma.
Seal Holes and Cracks In The Interior and Exterior Of Your Home
Immediately seal any holes or cracks that you might have spotted during the inspection. Ensure that gaps on doors and windows are repaired and consider using a wire mesh to cover vents and prevent the entry of both mice and other critters.
Get Rid Of All Mice Attractions
Mice will infest your home in search of food and water. Easy access to these factors will readily invite mice into your premises. Once inside, they will look for a safe and concealed area to make a nest.
The best way to keep mice away from your home is by making it a terrible living space for them. For example, you can render your home mice unfriendly by denying them access to food, e.g., by ensuring garbage cans are sealed at all times and any leaking faucets are fixed.
Ensure that you remove your pet's food and water bowls as soon as it is done feeding. Pet food should be stored in sealable metal or sturdy plastic containers.
The next important step is eliminating all possible places where mice can build their nests, like piles of wood lying around and older furniture. Next, consider wrapping up the woodpile and donating/getting rid of unused furniture.
Other possible mice nesting area is the debris outside your house, so you want to eliminate that as well. Trim the grass outside and keep your yard well maintained to minimize the chances of mice invasion.
Consider Effective Mice Repellents
Highly effective repellents will deter mice, and they won't want to spend a moment near your home. So whether you prepare natural mice repellents at home or buy a chemical repellent from a pest control store, the most important factor to consider is that it can effectively keep mice away and protect your home from chances of infestations.
You must, however, tread carefully around chemical repellents and keenly follow the instructions on product labeling as they can easily pose you, your loved ones, and pets to serious health risks.
Use Mice Traps
Mice traps are the safest and most effective DIY mice control method. First, inspect to identify mice nesting and activity areas. While those are the best spots to set your trap, you must ensure that your kids and pets won't access the trap as it can harm them.
Mice traps are designed to trap mice or even kill them. There is a wide variety of traps like snap traps that use bait to lure mice into the trap or glue traps that stick mice feet on the glue, and they cannot escape.
Professional Mice Control Services
Rodent infestations can be pretty challenging for a homeowner to get rid of on their own. However, rodent control professionals are specially trained to deal with rats and mice infestation fast and effectively before they can cause any damages.
The expert will thoroughly inspect your home to determine possible mice entry points and factors that may be attracting uninvited guests to your home. They will then recommend an effective extermination plan that will render your home pest-free and unattractive to rodents for good.