Have mice in your Lake Tahoe home? You're not alone!

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The big winter of 2016/17 may be over, but its effects continue to linger, and this time it comes with a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail and a high breeding rate.

And because of this four legged rodent, fondly known as the mouse, traps and poison are flying off the shelves of stores in South Lake Tahoe, and phones in local exterminators' offices are ringing off the hook.

"Its like the bee epidemic of last year," said Robert Cosmi, owner of Scotty's Hardware for the past 39 years. "Can't keep traps in stock." Cosmi said as soon as he fills his shelves and walls with all brands and sizes of mouse traps, they are sold. "I've never seen a mouse problem like this," he added.

Even in a heavy winter, mice are able to survive by burrowing below the snow and hibernating, but with the heavy rains that came this winter, those cozy winter homes and tunnels were flooded out. The mice then sought dry homes, and those happened to be ones we're living in.

Mice are even more prolific than rabbits and can reproduce starting at 50-days old and have a gestation period of just 20 days (rabbits have a 31-day gestation period). With 10 to 12 mice born at a time, a house could be run over by mice if measures are not taken.

"This is the first year we've been receiving daily calls because of mice problems," said Erin Weston of Lakeside Termite and Pest Control. This time of year it is normally the carpenter ant that gets the homeowners to call an exterminator, but not this year.

When cabins and homes opened up for the summer, evidence of mice were evident in sheets, stored clothing and cupboards.

"They are the 24/7 pet," said Weston. "And they get into everything!"

Weston said they were backlogged a few weeks prior to July 4, now they can get out to inspect properties in about 7-10 days.

The key to stopping a mice problem is stopping their access/entry point to a home, or business. Since mice can collapse to the size of a human's pinkie finger there isn't much they can't get into. They are coming in through doggie-doors, uncovered chimneys, a hole in a screen door or around a pipe.

"People need to have a clean house, keep pet food off the floor, patch holes and keep garage doors closed," said Weston.

"If there is any way for them to get in, they'll get in," she said.

For a quick fix before those entry points can be closed, using mouse traps as well as steel wool from the hardware stores to place around the gaps will help. An exterminator will identify those access areas, and once they are closed off they will place traps. Putting traps out before closing those entry points will take care of a mouse or two temporarily, but not fix the large problem.

Time to get out the hammer and nails?