Released Aug. 17, 2007

LOGAN, Utah -- Regional and local droughts, coupled with long-term vegetation changes, have been blamed for more than 700 fires in Utah that have scorched nearly 700,000 acres.

The drought and fires have also affected Utah’s wildlife. Many native wildlife species have shifted their movement and activity patterns in response to the conditions. Certain areas of the state are reporting overabundant wildlife that, in some cases, is competing with ranchers, farmers, homeowners and gardeners for precious produce. The drought and fires alone, however, cannot totally explain all of the increased observations of native wildlife. In some cases, animal young are beginning to disperse in new areas in search of seasonal habitats.

This is the case for Utah’s commensal wildlife. Commensal is a term used to describe animals typically found living near or with humans. Humans, through cultural, sanitation or building practices, are indirectly providing the habitat for many of these species. Mice and rats are among the most widespread commensal wildlife species in Utah. Of these, house mice are considered one of the most troublesome rodents in North America. Originally natives of Asia, they arrived in North America with early settlers.

With the onset of cold weather, mice (both commensal and native deer mice) may enter buildings as they search for food and shelter. They will eat a wide range of food, but prefer foods high in fat and sugar. Some favorites include chocolate, bacon, butter and nuts. Most water requirements are filled by the food they eat.

Because they are most active at night, mice can roam undetected through a household. If you see them in the daytime, this could indicate you have several mice in the house. In addition to nibbling on food, mice can nibble and cause structural damage. They also regularly urinate and defecate. The presence of droppings and the musky smell of urine from cupboards or drawers can indicate you have mice in the house.

To prevent mice from turning your house into their house, consider these tips.

· The best control method is to prevent their entry. To exclude mice from stuctures, seal all holes and openings that are larger than one-fourth inch. Use heavy materials such as concrete mortar, sheet metal or heavy gauge hardware cloth. Also, be aware of garages, houses, barns or doors with gaps greater than one-fourth inch. These create open invitations to mice.

· Make food in the house as inaccessible as possible. Store bulk foods in rodent-proof containers. Make sure spilled food and crumbs are removed. A left-over cookie behind the couch cushion can feed a mouse for more than a week.

· In most cases, mice can easily be trapped with wooden snap traps or glue traps. Because mice have poor eyesight but excellent senses of touch and smell, they tend to travel close to walls and other objects. Thus, traps should be set close to walls where mice are usually active. For effective control, set at least six or more traps in the house. To increase effectiveness, use small amounts of fresh bait. Peanut butter and chocolate work well as bait. Do not use cheese, since it tends to go rancid when exposed to the open air for several days, thus losing its attractiveness as bait. Also, you may want to bait the traps without setting them for a day or so. When you notice the bait has been taken, set the trap. Because mice can carry diseases, it is important to remove them from the house as quickly as possible. They should be buried or bagged and disposed of in an outside garbage container.

· Do not use rodenticides (poisons) to control mice in homes. Mice that feed on poison baits may die in the home, and as they start to decay, the resulting odor may cause more problems. Devices that repel mice using electromagnetic or ultrasonic waves are widely advertised this time of year. There is no scientific evidence to support the manufacturers’ claims that these devices work.

· For more information, contact you local county Extension office for a copy of the Extension Bulletin “Mice” or visit the USU Extension Web site at http://www.extension.usu.edu.

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http://extension.usu.edu/htm/news/articleID=2213

Contact: Julene Reese, (435) 797-0810, julener@ext.usu.edu