How To Get Rid of Mice

how to get rid of mice and rodents. — The best way to get rid of mice is complicated. Prevention is better.

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If you’re looking for information on how to get rid of mice you’ve come to the right place. When it comes to getting rid of mice it’s important to know what your options are. We hope you find this article useful and if you follow our advice you will also be able to prevent mice from taking hold in the future.

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1 How to Get Rid of Mice

Eeeep! You hear the faint sound of scratching and you have a hunch as to what it is. Whether it’s just one or you’re dealing with an invasion, mice can be bothersome pests. Luckily, there are many different methods to get rid of mice in and around your home. You can effectively trap them, kill them, or repel them depending on your personal preference.

Like most other types of pests, mice can carry diseases and bring bacteria into your home. These rodents are also very good at nibbling which can cause unsightly damage to your home or materials and belongings you have stored. If there are mice in your home or garage there are some signs you can look out for to confirm your suspicions before you begin setting out traps or sprays.

VIDEO | How to Get Rid of House Mice

Mice will often make their way into homes when temperatures outside begin to drop in search of a warm place for food and nesting. Poor sanitation can also attract a mouse into your home where food sources are easy to come by. They like to travel in packs so where there’s one, it usually isn’t alone. Once they find a secure place that is sufficient for nesting they’ll make themselves right at home.

Signs of Mice

Typically the first sign that you might have a mouse is scratching sounds or the scurrying of little feet across the ceiling and in the walls. The sounds are most often heard at night, when mice are habitually more active due to their nocturnal nature. If you hear noises that may sound like a rodent be sure to focus on where the sounds are coming from. An important factor in getting rid of mice in your home is knowing where they are to choose the best option in eliminating them.

The biggest thing that draws mice into your home is food. Mice like to chew their way into food sources which may be food in your pantry or even dog food and bird seed. If you find nibbled holes at the bottoms of food packages or boxes it’s a pretty good indication that there is a rodent present. You might also find food crumbs or debris where food was carried off to – another sign that might tip off where mice are hiding.

Mice and other rodents prefer tiny places that are cozy and hidden such as in the walls, unfinished basements, garages, and attics. Holes and marks made from gnawing or biting where mice are inhabiting are other obvious signs. You may notice dirt around walls under joists in the basement or insulation that’s been pulled out where mice are inhabiting. Other debris that mice will sometimes use to build nests might include shreds of chewed up pieces of paper to birth their young.

If there’s one sure-fire sign that there is a rodent in your home it’s the presence of fecal matter and urination. Mice do not have control over their bowels or bladder so you’ll likely find mouse droppings where they’ve been, usually near sources of food. Mouse droppings are typically characterized as small oblong pellets that are pointed on one end, resembling a grain of rice or seed.

How To Get Rid of Mice

Many homeowners would rather avoid the use of sprays and harsh chemicals for pest control due to potential health concerns. Truth be told, mouse repellent sprays and pesticides are not guaranteed means to keep mice away as they can find alternate paths around areas that are treated. These pests don’t usually have a wide range and will often stay near food sources. In fact, they typically don’t stray further than 10 to 20 feet from a food source. Since the use of pesticides and sprays is not recommended near food, this isn’t a very effective method for eliminating the problem.

Due to their nature of hiding in walls and attics, it can be tricky to get rid of mice, but it’s certainly feasible. Mice have to come out eventually for food so using some form of bait will lure them from the walls to capture and get rid of them. You should always take caution to keep mouse traps, baits and other forms of pest control out of reach from pets and children to ensure safety.

Mouse Traps – these are the most well-known methods to get rid of mice in homes and commercial buildings. There is a wide variety of mouse traps to choose from with the traditional mouse trap consisting of a spring-loaded mechanism attached to a board where bait is placed. When the mouse goes for the bait it triggers the bar to snap over and kill the mouse.

They’re very effective and economical for widespread use such as in large basements, attics, and warehouses because they can also be reused over and over again. Modernized versions of these are designed like a giant clip that are easier to load than the spring-loaded models.

Sticky traps or glue traps are another method of trapping mice that isn’t quite as gruesome as the spring-loaded or plastic traps. They consist of an adhesive surface that the mouse gets stuck to, causing them to become immobilized. This type of trap won’t kill the mouse right away, but since they are unable to move, the inability to sustain their body temperature will eventually cause them to perish.

Sticky traps are typically designed to be disposed of after use. More practical quality types consist of cardboard housing that eliminates the need to come into contact with the rodent when disposing.

For homeowners and businesses that don’t wish to kill the mice, there are live-catch traps that are available from retail stores which are designed to capture the mouse without harming them. They draw in mice using a source of bait then trap them inside an enclosed unit until they can be safely released back to the wild. The downside with these types of traps is that they generally cost more than traditional traps and there is no guarantee the mouse won’t re-enter the home.

Tips for Trapping Mice

The key to effectively trapping mice is proper placement. This is why it’s important in knowing where they are and their traffic habits. Locate the source that they are being driven to and place traps nearby. Mice may not be drawn to the trap right away if it’s an unfamiliar object in their frequent path.

Leave the trap out for a day or two before baiting so they become used to it. Eliminate any nearby food sources so they are more susceptible to going for the bait once it’s set. Mice have very poor vision and tend to stay near walls, so place traps along the wall and floor boards where they’re likely to find their way to it.

Some traps come pre-baited, though the quality and type of bait used may not always attract the rodent. Opt for traps which you can bait with your own source. Whatever food you have in your home will likely do the trick as bait to draw the mice out; although popular favorites include peanut butter, spreads, bacon or jerky, and of course, cheese. If no mouse after a few days of setting the trap try switching up the bait to another source. Avoid using too much bait or large pieces of food for the trap. Smaller pieces will lure the mouse closer to it and ensure entrapment.

If you’re opting for sticky traps don’t skimp on quality. Cheap traps may contain a very thin layer of adhesive that may not be adequate to immobilize the mouse. The best glue traps for rodents are those with a heavy layer of sticky resin to ensure the mouse gets trapped and stays trapped.

Electronic Mouse Repellents – A non-invasive method to get rid of mice around your home is the use of an electronic device that produces high frequency sounds that mice and other pests can’t stand. There are many different brands and types of devices that plug into an electrical outlet to produce a sonic or ultrasonic sound wave that is inaudible to people but drive away rodents and insects. These are typically safe for use with indoor pets unless you have birds, which may find them irritating.

Bait Stations – these consist of a bait, such as a meal or pellets, which is contained in plastic or some other material that mice can easily gnaw through. The mice perish after feeding on the bait. While this is an effective method to get rid of mice, it may not always be ideal as they may retreat back to where they’ve been hiding and die in the wall or space that is hard to reach. Using a bait station that kills the mouse may work well in combination with a trap such as a sticky trap so you don’t chance a dead mouse in your walls.

Get a cat – It may seem cliché, but a house pet such as a cat could be a deterrent to mice and other common household pests. The natural hunting instinct that cats are instilled with make them great at catching mice around your home. This isn’t a guaranteed method for getting rid of mice because these pests are good at hiding and escaping the path of animals and people, but it may be a good excuse for getting a new pet!

Mice can reproduce rapidly leading to an infestation in a matter of months. They average a litter of 5 to 8 babies within 20 days after mating, so a mouse can very easily be pregnant when it makes its way into your home. Female mice mature very quickly and can reproduce by 6 weeks.

You can easily have an infestation problem by the time you realize there’s a mouse nearby. Due to their nature of staying near their food source, if you notice signs of mice (droppings, holes, etc.) in different areas of your home, chances are there are multiple families of mice currently residing in your home. For heavy infestations you may need to call in professionals to get the problem under control as well as clean up.

Mouse Prevention

The best way to get rid of mice for good is to eliminate all possible entry sources. Mice can manage to squeeze their way into even the tiniest of access points beyond their size. Be sure all doors and window close tightly and seal cracks and any openings around your home.

Popular entry points that rodents make their way into your home include gaps around windows, ceilings, and entrances, as well as around sewer lines and inadequately sealed drainage pipes. Keep in mind that mice can chew their way into many different materials; steel wool or caulk are good sources to keep them out.

Keep your home clean and clear of any debris such as food lying around and in the sink. It doesn’t take much to lure in a rodent into your home. Even as little as 3 or 4 grams of food can be enough to sustain a mouse for a day so be sure to vacuum and sweep up floors regularly to eliminate crumbs and clean food preparation areas.

Keep food sealed in airtight containers that mice cannot chew threw. This includes pet food as well. Keep a lid on trash cans and empty them regularly. Mice will communicate through scent trails by leaving trace amounts of pheromones behind. Be sure to clean your home thoroughly once they have been eliminated following safe protocols to avoid spreading viruses and bacteria.