Are Field Mice Dangerous or Harmless?

The health-conscious person you are, perhaps you may have stopped for a moment and asked yourselves: Are field Mice Dangerous? We will now find the facts about these typical U.S. rodents and the things you didn’t know they could do to your home, health, and peace of mind.

Introduction to Are field Mice Dangerous

Field mice, also named meadow voles, are small animals which have a brown or gray coat of fur, and are usually 4 to 7 inches long including their tails. They are present in grassy fields, meadows, and suburban yards in the whole United States. While their place of origin is the outdoors, these adaptable creatures can enter homes especially when going out to find a warm place as weather gets colder. The main question still being are the field mice dangerous besides this?

Are field Mice Dangerous?

1. Disease Transmission

The most important thing when deciding, Are field Mice Dangerous, is the possibility of them being the carriers of the diseases. Mice of the field can be vectors of hantavirus, a very rare but very dangerous respiratory illness.

Transmission occurs by inhalation of dust contaminated with mouse urine or feces. The symptoms of this sickness are-

• high temperature
• tiredness
• breathing problems

Therefore, it is a very serious threat to the health of the people. Besides, field mouse can be the vector of parasites that will get into your house. They will be the source of illnesses that they will bring if their parasites are the carriers (flea, tick cause Lyme disease).

2. Property Damage

As a result of their teeth being very sharp and their permanent need to gnaw, mice cause fires by chewing the electrical wires. They also frequently cause fire and need for expensive fixing. Your lawn, garden, and even the roots of the plants and trees may get damaged by their burrowing and their feeding activities.

3. Food Contamination

Field mice are known to pollute food with their droppings, urine, and saliva. Such contamination can lead to the transfer of bacteria in your kitchen. Due to this your  family’s health can be at risk.

4. Allergic Reactions

For very sensitive people, the presence of field mice can be the main cause of the allergy and allergic symptoms. The contribution of their fur, and droppings to respiratory disorder or skin reaction may be significant, especially in the case of children.

5. Infestation Potential

Field mice are prolific breeders. Thus, a few of them can soon become a major problem if the situation is not rectified in time. They are nocturnal animals, thus, even during the day, you will hardly see them; however, the places where they leave their droppings, gnaw marks, or the scratching sounds will be a giveaway of their presence at night.

Are field Mice Dangerous: How Do They Get Inside?

Although field mice prefer to live outdoors, but they can come into houses through tiny cracks in your home, gaps under doors, or from somewhere else. You might not even notice their entry points most of the times. They are very good at moving through narrow openings and will come in searching for warmth and food during the coldest months. Moreover, they can make their nests in attics, basements, or even behind walls.

Signs of Field Mice Infestation

Before you even get to know whether Are field Mice Dangerous you need to recognize the signs of their presence:

• Near food, fences, or outbuildings you may find small black droppings that look like grains of rice.
• On food packages, wires, or wooden structures there will be some gnaw marks.
• Decided areas such as under the furniture or inside closets would be full of the nests made of shredded paper or fabric.
• At night, you will hear scratching or rustling sounds.
• In the grass or under the snow you will see runways or tunnels if the mice have got there.

Do not wait if you have any of these signs present in your home.

Conclusion

So, Are field Mice Dangerous? The answer is definitely yes. They are not only infected with various health problems but also have the capability to cause you a large-scale damage and can contaminate your food and living spaces. In fact, they might be even more dangerous than we expect if they manage to spread disease, become an allergy trigger, or cost us high repair bills. However, if you will be alert, looking after your property regularly and taking immediate action when you notice the first signs of house invasion, you will be able to shield your family and home from the harm caused by the field mice they need.