How To Get Rid Of Mice In Your Home
If you've spotted a mouse in your house, chances are there could be more than just that one. Most likely there's several of his friends and family with him, you just haven't seen them yet. If you've seen one, look around where you spotted him and check for mouse droppings around that area. Then check other areas of your home such as in your pantry, spice cabinet, along your counters and on your stove. If you see a lot of droppings in these areas, you may have a problem. See below for tips on how to get rid of mice in your home.
Start Setting Traps
It isn't as easy as simply shooing the mice out of your home and thinking they won't come back. Mice will return to your home, so simply getting them out of your home isn't enough. Setting traps is the most effective way to get rid of them. There are a number of different trap styles on the market, some are enclosed, and others such as the traditional snap trap are open. If you have pets or small children, the enclosed traps are a better option for you. The mice will go inside the trap to get to the bait, but will get snapped by the trap. The bait and the trap itself are all enclosed, so no chance of someone accidentally snapping themselves. For bait, use something like cheese, peanut butter, or you can purchase mice baits from your local hardware store. Set the traps around the areas where you saw the most droppings. Be sure to check these traps often to remove the dead mouse and reset the trap again using fresh bait.
Find The Entrance
This can be a difficult task, as mice can get into tiny holes. As long as they can fit their heads into the holes, they can squeeze their bodies through it. If you see any holes around your siding or foundation, repair these holes using wire mesh to fill the hole, then silicone to seal the hole. If the hole is in your foundation, use a concrete caulk or concrete patch repair. If you have an attached garage, check for holes along the garage wall and around door frames. Also make repairs to your garage doors.
Use A Predator
If mice are a big problem in your area, you can use a predator to get rid of the mice population for you. Building owl houses to attract owls to your yard can help reduce the mouse population, as owls are a predator to mice. If owls aren't an option, you can get a cat to help chase the mice away. If you've noticed any stray cats around your home, they're already doing the job for you. Don't try to get rid of the strays, they'll prove to be quite helpful.
Other Tips:
- Clean your home inside and outside. Don't give these rodents a free meal. Clean up the inside of your home by taking out garbage often, sweeping or vacuuming your floors, and wipe down counters and stove-tops to get rid of crumbs and grease/oil residue. Outside of your home, get rid of rubbish and garbage close to your home, and keep garbage cans away from your house.
- Don't leave food out on your counters. Put bananas and other fruits/vegetables in your refrigerator until you are sure you're rid of your mice problem. Other food should be stored in air-tight containers until you're sure the mice are gone.
- If you have a garden close to your home, sprinkle peppermint or spray the area surrounding your garden with a mixture of peppermint essential oil and water to deter them. If mice are getting into your garden, chances are they may try to get into your home as well.
If you notice an excessive amount of mouse droppings around your home, and you've tried getting rid of them yourself, you should call a professional exterminator to help you before the problem gets too out of hand. They have the know-how and equipment to get rid of these rodents and prevent them from returning.
