Photo: istockphoto.com
Whether hunting for a food source or seeking shelter from the elements, mice often find their way into cottages, houses, and apartments. These pests scurry through the ceilings and walls, nesting in warm, dark locations where they can stay safe during the day. When night falls, mice become more active as they attempt to find food.
Mice will chew through wood and drywall to make small holes they can slip into and out of whenever convenient. However, they can also enter existing crevices no wider than their heads, so keeping these pests out of a home can be difficult. If a homeowner knows how to get rid of mice in the walls and other places mice hide, they may set up traps or bait and wait for the mice to fall for this deception. But while a homeowner is waiting, mice could already be multiplying—a single mating can produce up to 120 pups in a year. Before the home becomes infested, it’s recommended to contact one of the best mouse exterminators in the area so they can assess the situation and suggest the best way to get rid of mice populations.
- BEST OVERALL: Orkin
- RUNNER-UP: Terminix
- BEST FOR PREVENTION: Ehrlich Pest Control
- ALSO CONSIDER: Aptive Environmental
Photo: istockphoto.com
What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Mouse Exterminators
Before hiring a top mouse exterminator, it’s important to take the time to learn more about what mice exterminators have to offer. Customers will want to consider the company’s service area, the quote process, scheduling, certification, guarantees, and the quality of customer service so they can make an informed decision.
Service Area
The service area of a mouse or rat exterminator depends heavily on the number of locations the company has statewide or nationwide. Customers can search for “best pest control near me” or “mice exterminator near me” to bring up a list of potential options. Still, it’s recommended to research the individual companies to find the exact service area and learn more about their services.
Larger extermination companies tend to have multiple locations, allowing the service area to stretch through more ZIP codes. However, suppose a customer lives in a relatively remote area. In that case, they may still fall between the various locations, so it may be necessary to speak to a company representative to find out the exact service area for the region and determine whether there are any additional fees for homes located outside of this area.
Quote Process
In most cases, before a service professional completes work at a property, they will need to inspect the location to provide an accurate quote. This applies to various technicians, including painters, flooring installers, and exterminators. Customers will need to contact one of the best mouse exterminators to schedule an inspection appointment.
Typically, the inspection appointment is free, but double-checking when scheduling is a good idea. After the professional exterminator has inspected the home, they can devise a plan and provide the homeowner with a quote. Customers will want to ask for a detailed breakdown of the costs and services to ensure there aren’t any hidden fees.
Scheduling and Recurring Visits
Another consideration customers will want to take into account is the scheduling process. This process can vary among companies, so it’s a good idea to check a company’s website or visit with a customer support representative for more information on scheduling procedures and hours of operation.
While mice infestations can be unsettling, they are not an emergency, so there are few extermination companies with late-night hours. If a homeowner doesn’t have availability during the work week, they can try to find a company that can come in on the weekend. Additionally, mice populations have a tendency to return to areas where they previously found food or shelter. This means that even after a homeowner has dealt with the current infestation, the problem can recur. Customers can speak to the extermination company to discuss recurring visits to ensure the infestation is completely eradicated.
Insurance, Certification, and Licensing
Customers can generate a basic list of exterminator options by searching “exterminators near me” or “rodent control near me,” but it’s necessary to research the various companies to ensure that the homeowner is hiring a trained, insured, and licensed exterminator. General liability insurance typically covers the worker and the company for any claims involving bodily injuries or property damage as a result of their services or operations.
According to the EPA, federal law requires extermination professionals to be certified in accordance with EPA regulations, state laws, territorial laws, and tribal laws in each state where they will be using restricted pesticides. The certification process varies depending on location, but most states require the individual to pass a proctored test in order to receive their certification or pesticide license.
Professional mouse exterminators can also receive certifications from third-party organizations, such as the National Pest Management Association, which signifies high training standards and use of environmentally responsible products.
Guarantees
If a homeowner hires a top mouse extermination company, the expectation is that the mice will be gone after the work is completed. However, the treatment isn’t instantaneous, so the customer may still see mice around the home for the next few days.
It’s recommended to ask the customer support staff if there are any guarantees on the work. A guarantee helps to improve customer confidence in the company. Still, it also ensures that the customer should not be held responsible for the exterminator’s error if they did not handle the problem correctly the first time. Customers will want to remember that not every company offers guarantees due to the potential for infestations to recur in areas with a high mouse population.
Customer Support
A top mouse extermination company must have reliable customer support staff to help inform potential customers and provide information and assistance to current customers. Once customers provide a few details about the problem, trained customer support professionals can help them better understand the scope of their infestation, which can help facilitate the extermination process.
Generally, customer support staff for a company that only handles mouse extermination doesn’t need to be available 24/7 because leaving mice undisturbed for a few hours doesn’t put anyone at risk. Despite this, many companies will offer 24/7 phone or live chat support so that customers don’t need to worry about working around their schedules just to set up an inspection appointment or ask for a quote.
Our Top Picks
This list of the best mouse extermination companies was selected based on each company’s service area, quote process, scheduling convenience, customer service availability, technician training, and overall quality.
Photo: orkin.com
Why It Made the Cut: Orkin customers benefit from technicians who perform high-quality work that’s made possible by 160 hours of award-winning training.
Most people don’t know much about mouse extermination beyond mouse traps and poison bait, so it can be challenging to trust that a job will be completed properly. Orkin sets customers’ minds at ease with a high level of transparency that demonstrates an equally high level of expertise and training. The company has more than 400 locations nationwide, and at each location, the technicians must each go through at least 160 hours of training. Additionally, the company holds the National Pest Management Association QualityPro accreditation, and the exterminators receive ongoing education from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on pest-related diseases. Customers who have questions can call Orkin’s 24/7 customer service line.
Specs
Pros
- More than 400 locations nationwide
- Technicians receive 160 hours of award-winning training
- National Pest Management Association QualityPro accreditation
- Technicians receive annual education from the CDC on pest-related diseases
Cons
- Customer support only available by phone
Photo: terminix.com
Why It Made the Cut: Customers can count on various discounts, promotions, and service plans with Terminix to help manage extermination costs.
Some properties can have rodent infestations that recur multiple times per year, while other homes may only need a single treatment to get rid of the mice infesting the area. Terminix provides custom treatment options with discounts and promotions to repeat customers, as well as one-time service appointments and annual maintenance plans.
Customers can call a local branch or use the Terminix website to schedule appointments. They’ll want to navigate to the section that describes the pest they’re trying to manage and add that service to their cart. The Terminix website hosts comprehensive pest management resources and a readily available blog that on-staff entomologists regularly update. This gives customers confidence that Terminix technicians know what they’re doing.
Specs
- Service area: Nationwide
- Scheduling: Online, phone
- Certifications: State and locally certified
- Guarantee: 30-day money-back guarantee
- Customer support: 24/7 by phone and live chat
Pros
- Annual maintenance plans available
- Readily available discounts and promotions
- Comprehensive pest management resources and blog
Cons
- Online scheduling can be difficult
Photo: jcehrlich.com
Why It Made the Cut: Preventing recurring infestations is much easier with Ehrlich Pest Control’s PestFree365+ plan that helps customers keep away 30 common household pests year-round.
When a home is already infested with mice, rats, or other pests, the damage to the property and the unease individuals feel in their homes only increases with time. To stop the problem at the source, customers can rely on Ehrlich Pest Control for a range of additional services that help prevent pests from taking up residence in the home. This includes moisture control, vegetation management, and the PestFree365+ plan, which treats current infestations and acts to prevent 36 of the most common household pests from invading the home.
Customers may be able to get a price quote online, and contacting Ehrlich’s 24/7 customer service allows customers to inquire about pricing and schedule an appointment. This extermination company holds the National Pest Management Association GreenPro accreditation, signifying high training standards and the use of environmentally responsible products.
Specs
- Service area: 20 states
- Scheduling: Phone
- Certifications: National Pest Management Association GreenPro, state and locally certified
- Guarantee: Customer satisfaction guarantee
- Customer support: 24/7 by phone and live chat
Pros
Cons
- Online pricing tool is somewhat misleading
Photo: goaptive.com
Why It Made the Cut: Aptive Environmental focuses on providing eco-friendly options to its customers as a member of the EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program.
To accommodate the growing desire for eco-friendly solutions, Aptive Environmental uses gentle yet effective pest control options. The company demonstrates its dedication to the environment through its involvement in the EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program.
Aptive Environmental also donates a portion of the company profits to the United Nations Foundation’s Nothing But Nets campaign to help stop the spread of malaria, indicating a commitment to charity and altruism that customers can feel good about. Customers seeking more information than what’s available on the website can contact a customer service representative 24/7 by phone and live chat.
Specs
- Service area: 32 states and Washington, D.C.
- Scheduling: Online, phone
- Certifications: Not specified
- Guarantee: Reservice guarantee
- Customer support: 24/7 by phone and live chat
Pros
Cons
- Limited information available online
Our Verdict
Customers can rely on Orkin to send knowledgeable, experienced, and highly trained pest control experts to handle ongoing infestations. Terminix is another solid choice, and Terminix reviews are overwhelmingly positive regarding the quality and availability of service.
How We Chose the Best Mouse Exterminators
Selecting the top mouse extermination companies called for extensive research into licensing and certification requirements for pest control experts. It was necessary to ensure that the companies considered for this list met or exceeded the minimum standards of local and state licensing. The best mouse exterminators maintain a high level of transparency in their practices, certifications, and technician qualifications.
It was also necessary to consider the size of the service area to select companies that could provide extermination services to a wide range of customers. One-time treatments and treatment plans were also assessed, as were any claims made about eco-friendly mouse extermination solutions. Other factors, such as scheduling, quotes, and a high level of industry expertise, were also considered during the final selection of the best mouse exterminators.
Before You Hire One of the Best Mouse Exterminators
One of the most important aspects of extermination to keep in mind is that large mouse infestations are commonly handled with powerful rodenticides. These substances can pose a risk to public health and the environment. Rodenticides contain toxic chemicals that are incredibly effective at killing mice and rats—but they are also a threat to most living creatures. When a mouse ingests the toxin, it may not immediately die. During this time, other animals, such as birds, cats, or dogs, may eat the mouse, causing the poison to be passed into their systems.
For those renting a home or apartment, another factor to consider is whether the tenant or the landlord is responsible for handling pest control efforts. Either party can hire an exterminator to address the problem, but in most circumstances, it is the landlord’s responsibility to pay for appropriate pest control for the property. However, suppose the actions or inactions of the tenant are determined to be the cause of the pest infestation, such as collecting trash in the basement instead of disposing of it properly or not recycling cardboard boxes on a regular basis. In that case, the cost may fall to the tenant.
Cost of Hiring One of the Best Mouse Exterminators
When mice invade a home, they chew through the walls, floors, and ceilings as they scavenge for food, nest, and reproduce. The longer the infestation goes untreated, the more mice that will need to be dealt with when it’s finally time to take action. Customers can attempt to resolve the issue with inexpensive traps and baits. Still, if they want to ensure the mice are exterminated, they will want to hire one of the best mouse extermination companies.
On average, customers can expect to pay about $200 to $600 to have a professional exterminator inspect the home, put together a treatment plan, and complete the extermination process. Depending on the extent of the infestation, the cost can be as high as $1,000 for a consultation, rodenticide application, repairs, follow-ups, and cleaning.
The Advantages of Using One of the Best Mouse Exterminators
There are many advantages to hiring a professional mouse extermination company. Still, the most important reason to let mouse exterminators handle the infestation is that the professional exterminators are trained, licensed, and certified to safely use and apply powerful rodenticides. Untrained individuals should not use these substances.
Additionally, the best mouse exterminators can assess the rest of the property and provide information to help customers prevent recurring infestations. Customers may be able to set up a few traps or place baits to kill a small infestation of fewer than 10 mice, but DIY methods are not suited for dealing with larger infestations. Given that mice can reproduce rapidly, it’s best to call a trained exterminator to take care of the infestation before it grows out of hand.
- Exterminators are trained and licensed to use the best mouse poisons for the job.
- Knowledgeable exterminators can provide detailed information to prevent infestations.
- Large infestations cannot be managed with DIY methods.
FAQs
Customers won’t want to settle for the first mouse extermination company they come across without first doing proper research. Before deciding from among the best mouse exterminators, it’s wise to consider the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions below.
Q. Do mice come back after extermination?
After a current nest has been exterminated, mouse infestations can come back. This is usually due to the availability of food, open access points, and the size of the mouse population in the area around the home. It’s recommended to store garbage and food securely and clean up immediately after any meals to avoid attracting mice. You can seal any noticeable holes with caulk and consider investing in a perimeter treatment to help keep mice from returning to your home.
Q. Why do I suddenly have mice in my house?
Mice enter a home for two main reasons: food and shelter. Once they are inside, they start to nest and reproduce. Just two mice can produce up to 120 pups in a year, so a sudden infestation may have started as just a few invaders sneaking into the walls and creating a nest. This is a problem during the winter when food is scarce outdoors and the freezing temperatures prompt mice to seek warmer temperatures. If your home has had problems with mice in the past, keep an eye out for any signs, like chewed walls, rodent feces, or damaged food products. For those wondering what mouse poop looks like, it’s the shape of a grain of rice but smaller and black in color.
Q. How many mice are considered an infestation?
There aren’t any strict definitions for when a population of mice becomes an infestation, but a single mating pair can produce up to 120 pups per year. These pests reproduce quickly and tend to remain unseen during daylight hours, so even if you only spot a single mouse, you should approach the problem as though you have a full infestation.
Q. How do I get rid of mice?
If you’re worried about figuring out how to get rid of mice, you can try some DIY steps such as setting up traps or poison bait. The best option is to hire one of the best mouse exterminators to take care of the infestation.
Q. What time do mice come out at night?
Mice are nocturnal animals that are most active between dusk and dawn. They tend to stick to warm, dark places and don’t like bright lights, so they typically come out when most people in the home have turned off the lights and gone to bed. Even if you see only one mouse during the day, it can be an indication that the nest was disturbed or that there is a large infestation in the home, prompting the mice to actively search for food even while the sun is up.
Sources: This Old House, Terminix