How Much Does an Exterminator Cost for Mice?
In general, the national average cost to exterminate mice ranges between $224-$411, but larger infestations can run upwards of $600. Wondering how much it costs for a mice exterminator? Then here’s a short guide on the costs associated with these services.
Mice can be cute and are often kept as pets. However, wild mice running around your home often carry diseases that can infect humans. They also like to get into your food pantry and chew up anything that isn’t properly sealed.
If you don’t deal with a mouse as soon as you notice it, you could be in for a much worse problem later on. A pregnant mouse gives birth within a month to a litter of 3 to 14 pups. And they can get pregnant up to 10 times a year.
Here’s everything you need to know about why you need to hire an exterminator and how much they’ll cost.
Signs of a Mouse
Aside from spotting a mouse rummaging through your pantry or sprinting across your living room, how can you tell that there’s a mouse loose in the house? There are a few signs that should tip you off.
First of all, rodent droppings are a sure sign of a mouse. You’ll often see them in drawers or near food packages, as well as wherever else they go. If you see a lot of them around, then that’s most likely where the rodents are either nesting or feeding.
Mice will often gnaw on food packaging as well as wooden structures in your home. Larger marks indicate larger rats or mice.
You may also hear scratching sounds coming from your ceiling or walls. Those are most likely mice running around, looking for food. You may even hear them squeaking away.
If you notice any of these signs, then that’s the time to call in for an exterminator.
Mice Exterminator Cost Factors
Mousetraps and rat poison will only get you so far on their own. You’ll need to hire a professional to make sure your home is completely clear of pests. However, searching for an “exterminator near me” won’t clearly show you how much the professional will cost.
Prices will vary depending on a few different factors, such as the number of mice and how they’re dealt with. The average range goes from $450 to $600, but there are some cases where you may end up paying as much as $1000.
You can also expect to pay to have any dead mice removed.
Mice Location
Where the mice are located can affect how difficult it is to deal with them and subsequently, how much it costs.
For example, getting rid of mice in your ceiling and roof can cost you about $350. Accessing your floorboards and heating ducts is a more difficult job that can cost up to $500. Prices go even higher when dealing with larger areas, such as the garage or a barn.
The reason for these different costs is the time it takes to deal with the mouse problem, as well as the ease with which they can find and seal up any holes. A shed doesn’t need much work to get it mouse-proof. Sealing off a barn would require a very thorough inspection.
Home Size
A mice exterminator will charge more money if the affected area is larger. After all, a larger property takes more time to cover and assess. They may also need to use more poison or traps than a smaller house would require.
If your home is around 2,000 sq. ft., then the average cost will be around $400. Anything over 4,000 sq. ft. would be over $700.
Severity of Infestation
How bad is your infestation? Do you see the occasional mouse dropping but never any live critters? Or do you constantly have to deal with mice getting into your bagged food?
Larger mice infestations have an influence on the effectiveness of certain extermination methods, how many holes may need to get sealed up, and how long it’ll take to see results.
A small infestation can cost between $250 and $500 depending on your exterminator. Much larger infestations affecting an entire property can cost thousands of dollars.
After the exterminator has determined the number of mice on your property, they’ll then choose the best method to deal with them.
Method of Extermination
There’s a wide variety of traps and poisons used when dealing with a mouse infestation. Which are used will depend on the homeowners and the severity of the infestation. For example, an exterminator may use mouse traps in an attic space but not outside around your home’s perimeter.
A live mouse trap is the most affordable option at around $275, though they’re arguably not the most effective. Snap traps work better but can cost up to $500.
Bait stations and electric traps cost over $500, and rodenticides over $750. The most expensive option reserved for the worst infestations is mice fumigation. It costs over $1,000 for most exterminators to fumigate your house.
The main reason a live mouse trap is the most affordable option is that it doesn’t involve a dead animal. Every other option leaves dead mice that the exterminator then needs to pick up. You also don’t have to worry about the cost of the traps and poison.
DIY Solutions
Taking care of your property and utilizing preventative measures is the best way to prevent a mouse infestation.
If you’ve noticed a mouse or two, you can purchase and set humane traps yourself. With any luck, you’ll catch and release them before they start breeding.
A hot pepper solution is one way to deter unwanted visitors. They won’t kill the mice, but the solution will burn their noses. Some essential oils like peppermint and clove oil work the same way.
The best way to keep them out is to seal off any openings. Even if you’re planning to call an exterminator, you can block off spaces with steel wool and duct tape. They’ll both keep mice out of your house.
Exterminate All the Brutes
Just because your home is a fixer-upper doesn’t mean you have to settle for mice in your home. An exterminator can help provide long-term solutions as well as diagnose any entry points that need correcting.
Tired of searching for a “mice exterminator near me”? Pest Extinct can help. Our mission is to help give competitive quotes on pest control services anywhere in the United States.
We work with mouse exterminators all over the country, such as Western Exterminator and Arrow Exterminators. Contact us to get a free quote today.
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