The climate in Sacramento makes finding indoor shelter for mice all the more appealing; high temperatures lead to them seeking indoor refuge for shade and shelter. So what do you do if you have mice in your home? How do you get rid of them? The answer is through IPM, which is Integrated Pest Management. IPM is a scientific-based way to manage pest control issues and is based on the consistent application of environmentally responsible practices to help rid your home of even the most severe pest control problems. It is also based on managing the pests themselves, in as humane a method as possible. Put another way, it helps us eradicate your pest problems by making sure they don’t come back. This is superior to simply exterminating them, which oftentimes only deals with the problem as it exists at a specific time. This can lead to the pests, and the problems that come with them, returning again and again. IPM takes a long-view, long-term approach to managing your problems, controlling them for good and in the best way possible. This is why it is our method of choice here at AIM Pest Control; we know through experience, that taking responsible actions, based on empirical data, provides the lasting results that we want and that the customer needs.

When it comes to dealing with mice, the first step in the process is for you to contact us at the first sign of having them in your house. From fecal droppings and food crumbs to chewed through carpet, insulation, scratching & scurrying noises in the walls or ceilings; if you notice any of this call us, because one mouse can lead to dozens, which can lead to hundreds in very little time.

Once we’re aware of the issue, our process will consist of the following procedures:

• Questions: We’ll have plenty of them. Knowing what you’ve seen or heard and where, can help us zero in on the mice. 
• Inspection: This is when we start our detective work. Using the information you provide, along with the location and type of property you live in, we’ll apply our training and experience to determine the type of mouse (or mice) you're dealing with. 
• We’ll inspect your home’s nearby surroundings: open fields, thick grass, wooded areas or alleys. All of these are important things to consider. 
• We’ll also inspect your home for possible entry points: Do you have a garage? A porch? An apartment or condo balcony that connects to the unit next door? Does your home have low-entry or grade-level windows? Does it have an attic? Gutters and roof attachment points are also places for us to consider. We do this to determine possible entry points. 
• Our investigation continues inside where we’ll look to determine the route the mice travel. Is it in the kitchen along the countertops? Under the sink and between the cabinets? Under appliances? Behind furniture? We’ll search until we have the answers we need.

• Inform & Discuss: Once we’ve gathered and evaluated our findings, we’ll share all the information we have with you so you can make an informed decision. We’ll go over what we know, our recommended course of action, how we will administer treatment, how we’ll monitor our progress and the results you can expect from our plan. With your consent, we’ll move on to putting our plan in effect.

• Implementation: This is where the plan starts coming together. While every situation is different, which is why we inspect and question as much as we do, most situations are built on the following 5 actions: 
• Fortification: This includes sealing entry points in your home that we’ve identified as ways mice are getting inside.
• Protection: Designating and setting a perimeter of defense around your home. This is based on the area you live in and the types of mice most common to it.
• Application: This can consist of setting mechanical traps, high-tech devices and environmentally-sound, family-friendly, pet-safe chemical treatments, where necessary.
• Monitoring: We watch and track the results, adjusting as required and leaving what works alone.
• Maintenance: Once we have the problem under control, we maintain our efforts so that it never becomes a problem again.

Ridding your home of mice is important, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating and you don’t have to do it alone, in fact, it’s probably a good idea if you don’t. We’re here to help when you need us. Just give us a call: 916.282.1822