RI, MA EHS Pest Control Blog

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In today’s tough economic and housing climate there are residential houses that are vacant for extended periods of time. Months long is not uncommon and in some cases it may be a year or more. It is worse when it is a foreclosure when the occupants leave with no notice and leave many possessions behind. In some cases they leave behind food items, grass seed, bird food, pet food, etc. A total buffet for pests!

The problem with houses like this is that pests often find the house and can get out of hand in a short period of time. Mice are a perfect pest for these situations. They are prolific breeders so in 3 months the number of mice in a home can quadruple! The environment is perfect for them, the house is vacant, quiet, dark, and there is always food and nesting material left behind.

The attached picture shows you exactly this scenario. Mice got so out of control in this vacant house that they created heavy runways (travel routes) into voids. The picture shows a gnaw hole created into a floor void from the basement level. You can see the “greasy” rub marks that are created when mice frequent the same paths. These rub marks are from the lanolin (oil) on their fur. In this case the buyers home inspector pointed out that there was a high level of mouse activity and they should contact a professional. EHS performed an initial treatment and excluded the mice out at the foundation level. We then did a 30 day follow up and have a 6 month follow up on the books. The treatment program with 1 year warranty was enough to satisfy the bank plus buyer and the home was sold. See, professional pest control is good for the economy!

Alex Johnson
Service Specialist
Environmental Health Services, Inc.

Pest Control, RI, Pest Control, MA

Polygamous Mice Have More Fertile Children

In a study of mice, for male mice at least, the more partners they have, the more fertile their offspring are, researchers in Australia found.

Dr. Renee Firman at the Centre for Evolutionary Biology at the University of Western Australia and colleagues used mice to show sperm from rival males compete to fertilize females and over several generations, polygamy can select for mice who produce more sperm -- with stronger motility -- than monogamous males.

After 12 generations of competitive selection -- polygamous -- or relaxed selection -- monogamous -- female mice were mated twice, in succession, with males from both groups.

More litters were fathered by the polygamous males, the study says.

"Polygamous males retained their advantage regardless of whether they were mated first or second, demonstrating that the increased fitness applies to both offensive and defensive competition," the study says.

"The selection procedure had no obvious effect on male size or behavior, nor did it affect female fertility."

Source; Science News

George Williams
General Manager - Staff Entomologist

Pest Control, RI, Pest Control, MA