Thoughts in the Field (Rodents)
It all begins with an idea.
Trained by some of the best in the field, Michael Boone is experienced with some of the more intensive aspects of rodent exclusion. Rebuilding crawlspace doors and frames, installing garage door bottom and side seals, screening bird block and crawlspace vents, as well as sealing smaller gaps. Some in the industry believe it to be impossible to keep rodents out of a crawl space. We strongly disagree with any such statement. And, as between 5 and 40% of the air in a home comes through a crawl space, we view it as a negligent belief. For many, it is simply easier to provide a half measured service than to jump through hoops or learn the full trade. Why build a missing crawlspace door, frame and footing when a piece of excluder (steel wool’s biker cousin) stuffed in a gap in the drywall will do for now? It’s cheaper, for certain, but you haven’t fixed the problem, the rodent's are still there, in the wall, destroying the insulation, contaminating air systems and chewing on wires. It is estimated that about 20% of house fires with undetermined origins are due to rodents.
The key to rodent control, in our opinion, is a thorough and detailed initial inspection - first, assessing for unexcludable conditions: mobile homes and most manufactured homes; foundation cracks that require a foundation specialist; excessive burrowing under the foundation; uninspectable sills and sheaths due to encapsulation systems; low decks or crawlspace clearance. Second, inspect for any possible entry and conducive conditions, not spots that are obviously being used, but anything that may be exploited. This is challenging because a mouse can fit though a hole roughly the size of a dime (about 5.5 million dimes are needed to cover a 2000 square foot house).
A good understanding of remediation comes next. Steel wool pretends to be a good product, but frequently rodents simply pull it out. Excluder is the pro-way for small gaps. What about the rest? Should I caulk or spray foam? Or hardware cloth (steel mesh)? Cement and screws and lumber, oh my! There's a lot. But that’s what makes it a trade skill.
The first follow up sets up a better understanding of the level of active infestation. There's a bit of a difference between catching 1-2 mice and catching 15-20, and knowing this can help us gauge future servicing needs. Is an additional follow up going to be necessary for what may have been sealed inside?
Periodic maintenance is always a recommendation, as this will reduce pressure from rodents outside. With populations constantly in flux that pressure can build without warning. And, as rodents are designed to chew, they can gnaw their way in with very little effort.
Fun (or horrifying) facts about mice
A mouse gestates for about 3 weeks
A litter averages around 7 pups
A mouse can produce about 40 pups per year
A female is sexually mature in about 6 weeks
Two mice could potentially produce 5,000 per year