Professional mouse control in Bracknell, Berkshire – DKG Pest Control
Updated: Sep 14
Mouse Control in Bracknell, Berkshire – Recent Case Study
We were recently contacted by Laura in the DKG office after a customer in Bracknell had started noticing signs of mice inside their house.
Dean attended the property to carry out an inspection and, as always, the first thing he wanted to establish was where the mice were getting in and how they were moving around the property. There isn’t much point simply treating the area where a mouse has been seen if there are still gaps allowing them back in.
What we found
During Dean’s inspection, there were signs of mouse activity in a number of areas of the property.
There was evidence around electrical cables, and the loft insulation had also been disturbed. Dean also found gaps around pipework, brickwork and other areas on the outside of the property that could potentially be used as entry points.
Some of these areas wouldn’t have been obvious from inside the house, which is why a proper inspection is important when dealing with mice.
Dean checked the areas where the customer had noticed activity, but also looked at the less obvious places where mice can move through the property.
Activity around electrical cables
One of the things Dean found during the inspection was evidence of mouse activity around electrical cables.
Mice will gnaw on a variety of materials, and electrical cables can sometimes be affected. If there is any concern about damaged electrical wiring, I would always recommend having it checked by a suitably qualified electrician.
We recorded the areas where we found evidence of activity and took these into account when deciding where treatment should be carried out.
Checking the loft
There was also evidence of mouse activity in the loft, including disturbed insulation.
Mice will often use loft spaces because they are quiet and relatively undisturbed. They can move through insulation and other concealed areas without necessarily being noticed until signs of activity start appearing elsewhere in the property.
This was a good example of why Dean doesn’t just concentrate on the room where the customer has seen a mouse.
A mouse seen in a kitchen, for example, doesn’t necessarily mean that is where the main activity is. They can move through wall cavities, under floors, around pipework and through roof spaces before appearing in a more obvious part of the property.
Looking for how the mice were getting in
The outside of the property was inspected as part of the survey.
Dean identified a number of gaps around pipework, brickwork and other areas that could potentially provide access for mice.
Mice are capable of getting through surprisingly small gaps, so finding these access points can be an important part of dealing with an infestation.
Where proofing is recommended, we explain to the customer what needs to be done and why. Depending on the work involved, this can be something we carry out or something that can be dealt with by the customer’s builder or maintenance contractor.
Treatment
For this property we used non-toxic mouse traps, positioned in suitable areas based on what Dean had found during the inspection.
I prefer to place traps according to the signs of activity and the way the mice are using the property rather than simply putting them down wherever a mouse has been seen.
Follow-up visits are then used to check the traps, look for any further signs of activity and make any adjustments that are needed.
Every property is different, so the number of visits required will depend on the level of activity, the property itself and whether there are any access points that still need to be dealt with.
Why the inspection matters
With a mouse infestation, catching the mice that are already inside is only part of the job.
We also want to know:
Where are they getting into the property?
Where are they moving?
Is there evidence of nesting?
Are there any areas of damage?
Are there gaps that need proofing?
Is there anything about the property that could allow the problem to continue?
In this Bracknell property, the inspection found activity in areas that wouldn’t necessarily have been obvious from the original signs the customer had noticed.
That’s why we always recommend looking at the whole property rather than concentrating solely on the room where a mouse has been seen.
This was a good example of a mouse infestation where there was more to investigate than first appeared.
The combination of activity around the electrical cables and loft insulation, together with potential entry points around the outside of the property, gave Dean a much better understanding of how the mice were using the building.
Our aim was to deal with the existing activity and give the customer practical advice on the areas that could be allowing mice into the property.
Laura and the office team then remain in contact with the customer throughout the treatment, arranging the follow-up visits and making sure everything is dealt with properly.
If you’ve noticed mouse droppings, scratching noises, signs of nesting or mice inside your property in Bracknell or the surrounding area, it’s worth getting the problem looked at before it becomes more established.
DKG Pest Control provides professional mouse and pest control services throughout Bracknell and the surrounding areas.
Call us on 01189 680 841 to arrange an inspection.
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