Learn what attracts mice and what it’s possible for you to do to send them scampering.
Beyond physical harm, mice can also cause significant damage to your home with their gnawing and clawing.
They can also chew through electrical wires, posing a potential fire hazard.
Credit:Getty Images / Liudmila Chernetska
So, getting rid of mice as soon as they are discovered is crucial.
How to Identify a Mouse Infestation
Mice are small rodents from the Muridae mammal family.
They have pointy ears, small beady eyes, whiskers, and a long tail.
Even though all are residential nuisances, mice play an essential role in the ecosystem.
They spread seeds through foraging and are a food source for larger animals.
If you have pets, they may be the first to detect mice.
The droppings are usually dark and moist but become dry and gray over time.
You may also hear scratching or scampering noises at night.
You might stumble across nests that mice build of paper, insulation, or other soft materials.
What Attracts Mice to Your Home
Typically, mice live outside.
Once inside, they hide in attics, basements, walls, and gaps behind appliances and furniture.
Seal All Entry Points
Mice can squeeze into openings as small as a quarter of an inch.
There are three types of traps: snap, electric, and live.
Bait the traps with foods like cheese and peanut butter, or use anticoagulant bait blocks.
Place the traps throughout your home, ensuring they are far away from children and pets.
Replace with fresh bait every two days.
Alternatively, saturate cotton balls with essential oil and place them near all possible entry points.
The strong scent repels mice.
Set Out Rodenticides
Several store-bought rodenticides will do the trick.
Anticoagulants, including warfarin, chlorophacinone, and diphacinon, kill mice by thinning their blood.
Carefully read and follow the label instructions, especially in homes with children and pets.
Hire a Professional
If all else fails, go with a professional.
An expert will use the most effective removal method to resolve your specific mouse issue.
The problem may be coming from an adjoining apartment.
Mice take advantage of clutter.
If mice cant access food or places to build their nests, they wont stay in your home long.
Make your home an inhospitable place for mice bykeeping it squeaky cleanfor yourself.
Controlling Wild Rodent Infestations.
