Mice becoming a bigger nuisance for some in C.O.

Mice are not a new arrival in Central Oregon, but with the weather changing, it seems they are making their way into homes more frequently.

Several pest control companies said Wednesday that the cold weather drives mice inside, and one company said it has seen calls for mice double in recent months.

Sami Martin lives in Bend and has been dealing with mice in her own home.

“The first mouse we saw was like mid-October, and then we really didn’t see any since, until this week,” Martin said. “Three or four we have seen, and we’ve caught the two or three.”

Hardware stores are noticing the same trend in sales of mice traps in their stores.

Gil Denfold said they are ordering triple the amount of mice-extermination devices just to keep up with the demand.

Denfold attributes the cold winter last year to the spike in population.

“Normally, we carry a traditional mouse trap — we would carry maybe 36 to 48 of those. Now we carry over hundreds of them, in that same trap (model),” Denfold said.

Mice are even making their way into cars to stay warm.

Jeremy Rollins, owner of Rollins and Sons Automotive, said he is having to pull mice out of cars far more frequently then ever before.

“On an average year, we see 10 a year; you know, mice damage or critters climbing up in ventilation systems and dying and putting out some bad smells that we take out of rigs,” Rollins said. “But shoot, this year’s been a rough one. We’re averaging more — about 10 a month.”

Rollins said you can buy mice deterrents that hang inside the hood of your car.

When mice do get into you car and make a nest, Rollins said to be careful when cleaning it out, because their droppings produce gasses that can be toxic.

Dealing with mice is a part of living on the High Desert, but you can do your part to keep the mice out of your home by sealing your house and not leaving food sources outside.