There’s nothing better than kicking back and relaxing in your warm and cozy house. With how inviting our homes can feel, there are furry critters just waiting for the opportunity to soak in some of this comfort themselves.
Mice can find their way into your home through the tiniest of spaces and can wreak serious havoc once they find their way inside. Not only can these critters cause damage in the areas they inhabit, but their presence alone can be unsettling. In this article we’ll dive into the most common ways that mice find their way into your house and how to ban them for good.
In This Article
1. How Do You Know if You Have Mice in Your Home?
Mice have learned how to stay discreet once they’ve entered your home so you may not always see the culprits with your own eyes. Many homeowners discover a mouse’s presence by the trail they leave behind, and not by actually seeing the mouse themselves.
So how do you know that you have mice in your home?
- Finding mice droppings in your home (they resemble dark grains of rice)
- Finding items in your pantry disturbed
- Finding holes and tares in boxes of food or other food items
- Hearing pitter patter sounds inside the attic, within walls, or any other areas around your house
If you see any of the above signs in your home, it’s time to consider the fact that you may have some unwelcome visitors.
2. Do Some Investigation
Now that you know mice are present in your home, it’s time to figure out how they found their way inside. Unfortunately, mice are often traveling in groups. If you see evidence of any kind of mice behavior, then you can rest assured that other mice are close behind. Because of this, it’s important to find their point of entry and seal it off for good.
Mice have been known to fit through spaces as small as a dime, so virtually any crack or hole in your home can be an open invitation. Do your best to search through your entire home and find any suspicious areas.
Also, keep in mind that mice will flock to areas that offer a free range of food. This can be a pantry that does not use air tight containers, a bag of dog food that you store in the garage, or any other area that offers instant access to a meal for mice. If you find any of these areas in your home, make sure make the switch to better storage.
3. Plug Up Any Points Of Entry
Now that you’ve found the areas in which a mouse could fit, you’ll need to plug up the area with a material that a mouse or rat cannot chew through. Mice can chew through any kinds of wood or plastic, so you’ll want to avoid these options when it’s time to seal up their entry.
Steel wool and caulking works great for keeping these furry critters outside of your home, as they cannot chew through these materials. Once you’ve sealed up any openings inside of your home you can begin to address the mice that may still be inside.
4. Install Mouse Traps
When it comes to installing mouse traps, there are a few options based on your personal preference. Whether you want to stick to a traditional mouse trap approach or want to spare the life of your new furry intruder, there are a few different methods to explore.
First is the traditional mouse trap that were used to seeing in illustrations. In traps like the Victor Original Mouse Trap, you simply place some kind of treat on the open slot on the trap and wait for the mouse to take the bait.
If you would rather not see the aftermath of the trap’s work and would like a trap that hides the mouse once its been trapped, you can use the traps like the d-con Covered Mouse Trap.
Now if you want to send your new critter friend off to a new life far away from your home, you can purchase a trap that simply captures the mouse without causing any harm. You can use the CaptSure Humane Mouse Trap to help you lure in the mouse and relocate him once he takes the bait and becomes trapped.
6. Rodent Repellers
If you’ve cleared out your home of any mice but are worried about the chance of them coming back, you can install a rodent repeller. Devices like the Ultrasonic Electronic Repellent work by sending out ultrasonic waves that only mice and other small critters can hear, and helps to keep them away from your home. You can place this device inside of your home or in your yard in hopes of deterring them before they make it inside.
7. Consider Bringing A Pet Into Your Home
If you don’t already have a furry companion in your home when you are facing a mice problem, it may be time to consider this option if you are interested in pet ownership. Cats and dogs are known to keep mice away with their presence alone, and can even chase down these unwelcome visitors if they do make their way into your home.
Cats and dogs can serve as little hunters within your home, so this can be a solution to your mouse problem that comes along with the benefit of having a beloved companion.
8. Know When To Contact A Professional
If all else fails, know that there are plenty of professionals in your area that are happy to help you solve your rodent problem. Some mice infestations are way beyond the reach of household traps, and require an experienced worker to get the job done. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the battle of mice in your home, it’s time to reach out to pest control professionals.
9. Summary
Having mice in your home can be extremely stressful, but know that there are easy solutions that you can begin to implement today. Follow these tips and tricks to eliminate any rodent intruders, and you’ll be on your way to a mice free home!
