The first step in learning how to get rid of mice is to decide if you want to handle things the easy way or the hard way. It can be as simple as making single phone contact with a pest control professional to help get rid of mice, or it can feel like you’re chasing invisible mice through walls. Here’s everything you need to know about getting rid of mice if you’re courageous enough to take on these disease-carrying rodents on your own.
1. Remove all possible entrance points.
Building a mouse-proof home, also known as rodent-proofing, is an efficient strategy to prevent mice infestations from spreading or arising in the first place. Eliminate points of entrance and easy access to protect your property from mice. Due to a mouse’s capacity to fit itself into even the tiniest of openings, this can be tough (one-quarter of an inch and up). A fair rule of thumb is that if a pencil can fit through a crack, hole, or opening, a mouse can too.
Seal foundation cracks as well as apertures in the walls, such as where utility pipes and vents are located. Steel wool and caulking work well in this situation. As a sealant, avoid using plastic, rubber, wood, or anything else that mice can readily nibble through. Make sure the sweep on your door creates a seal against the threshold when it’s closed, and get weather stripping for door and window gaps.
2. Make use of mousetraps.
Mousetraps are the most effective approach to help get rid of mice in an ongoing infestation. For mild to moderate mouse populations, traditional wooden snap traps can suffice but keep in mind that most people underestimate mice infestations. It’s not unusual to set a dozen traps for a single mouse – or what you believe is a single mouse. Use a lot of it. It’s also a good idea to set up a variety of traps. In addition to the wooden traps, use bait traps, multiple-capture live traps, and adhesive traps. This increases your chances of catching all of the mice, as some may be attracted to certain traps and know how to evade them.
3. Select the best mouse trap bait.
You can use mouse-approved foods like chocolate, peanut butter, bacon, oats, dried fruit, or hazelnut spread as bait, or you can use whatever food the mice have been consuming in your home. Tie the bait to the trigger with a fishing line or dental floss when you’re ready to set the baited trap. This will ensure that the mice receive their due without “stealing the cheese.” A hot glue gun can also be used to secure the bait. Every two days, replace the bait with new bait. If the food isn’t working, try using cotton balls or feathers as nesting material.
4. Mouse traps must be placed correctly.
Placing the traps perpendicular to the walls and with the trigger part towards the baseboard is a good idea. This encourages the mouse to run straight into the bait as it scurries along the walls, rather than running into the trap from the wrong direction, which would trigger it prematurely. Mice don’t go more than 10 or 20 feet from their food sources and nesting grounds (i.e., their territory), so set traps wherever you observe mice or indicators of mice, such as rodent droppings or “rubbings” on baseboards and walls. Every two days or so, switch trap locations. Mice, unlike rats, are inherently interested and will not avoid traps.
5. Bait stations.
Bait stations (also known as bait packages) are sealed packets with meal or pellets inside. They’re usually wrapped in plastic, paper, or cellophane, which makes it easy for mice to nibble through and get to the preserved, fresh bait. The mice eat the bait and die as a result. While these chemicals can help you get rid of mice, they should only be handled by trained pest management professionals to safeguard your safety, your children’s safety, and your pets’ safety.
6. While good sanitation will not keep mice away, bad sanitation will.
Mice may live on as little as 3 to 4 grams of food per day, so a few crumbs here and there will suffice. Vacuum your floors and wipe down your counters to remove any residue, crumbs, or potential food sources. Glass jars or airtight containers are ideal for storing food. Don’t forget to lock up your trash. Mice have powerful incisor teeth that allow them to gnaw through almost anything, including concrete if the whim strikes them, so plastic bags are no match for these voracious eaters.
7. Get rid of the mice both inside and outside the house.
Remove any debris that mice might use to hide. Keep weeds at bay and eliminate burrows and nesting places as you come across them. Nesting and burrowing can be prevented by lining your home’s base with a strip of thick gravel. The less clutter and debris you have about your home and property, the easier it will be to notice indicators of rodent activity and stop mice in their tracks.
8. Mice vs. Cats.
Mice are the favourite prey of many cats. Even the dogs will join in the fun. If you have pets, they may be the most effective way to catch a mouse without having to raise a finger. If you don’t already have a pet, now is a good time to quit watching cat videos on YouTube and get one. Many farms utilize farm or barn cats to keep mice under control. Of course, some pets are unconcerned with mice, which is understandable given how many owners treat their pets.
Still can’t seem to get rid of those annoying mice? We will discover intruding mice, determine the most effective technique to get them out of your house, and then tailor a strategy to keep them from returning with the Apex Pest Control rodent control service. To get started, schedule an inspection today.
Apex Pest Control 