You hear faint but rapid footsteps at night while lying in bed. Shadowy figures move out of the corners of your eyes. Droppings are found in various areas of your house.
There’s no doubt about it: you’re dealing with a mouse infestation.
Now, you’re scouring the internet for answers about how to get rid of mice. Fortunately, you’ve landed in the right place. Below, we’ll discuss 8 of the most effective methods.
1. lay mouse traps
If you already have mice in your house, one of the best courses of action is to lay mouse traps.
Sometimes called snap traps, these devices are designed to kill any mice that come into their grasp. Making use of spring-loaded bars and triggering mechanisms, mouse traps are weight-activated, snapping down hard when mice put their body weight on top of them.
To attract mice to mouse traps, you should cover them food that mice enjoy (ie. cheese, peanut butter, etc.). Spreading several baited mouse traps throughout your home is a sure way to snag you some mischievous mice.
2. close off open gaps
The best way to do away with mice in your home is by preventing them from coming into your home in the first place. But how do you pull this off? By closing off any open gaps.
Over time, as your home deteriorates, it becomes more and more prone to damage. Eventually, holes begin to form. These holes can appear in a number of different places, from cabinetry to doors, windows, and a variety of other locations.
Mice can squeeze their way through nickel-sized holes and larger. Make sure to give your home a thorough inspection, plugging any hole that could be used as an entryway for mice.
3. keep your house clean
Another preventative measure to prevent mice from entering your home is to clean thoroughly and often. After all, mice’s primary reason for entering homes is to devour the crumbs and scraps that accumulate on floors and countertops.
Sweeping, vacuuming, and dusting on a regular basis will remove all of these food scraps from your home, ensuring that mice have no reason to enter your home in the first place.
4. make use of glue traps
If you’re looking to remove mice from your home, but are turned off by the violent snap of mouse traps, you could make use of glue traps. Glue traps are small trays filled with liquid adhesive. These traps lay in wait for anything that crosses their path, stopping that thing in its tracks the second that it makes contact.
While glue traps are most typically used to catch flies, they can also catch mice. Simply place them in different locations throughout your home and wait for mice to misstep.
Be aware, however, that glue traps will not always take mice alive. In fact, in some scenarios, glue traps can actually be inhumane, causing mice to die slowly through suffocation and heart attack.
5. set up live mouse traps
The best way to catch mice alive is to set up live mouse traps. These traps are essentially just cages that can be easily accessed from the outside but are impossible to exit after an entrance has already been made.
You can use live mouse traps in the same way that you use snap traps. Place the desired food in the traps as bait and wait for the mice to come.
Once a mouse has been trapped, it can be safely moved to the desired outdoor location.
6. utilize bait stations
Another option is to make use of bait stations. These are small, enclosed boxes that hold both poison and bait.
If you have pets and small kids and don’t want them harmed by traps, bait stations are a solid option. This is because they’re only accessible by very small beings, such as mice.
Mice will enter bait stations to access the bait that has been placed for them. However, after they’ve entered, they will become intoxicated with a deadly poison, killing them shortly after their entrance.
7. employ repellents
While there are various substances that attract mice, there are also various substances that repel them. A great way to keep mice from your home is to use repellents, some of which are synthetic and some of which are natural.
Synthetic repellents are sold in stores and are generally contained with plastic implements. They can be quickly and easily placed in various locations throughout your home.
Natural repellents range from peppermint oil to soap to pet urine. By placing these repellents in vulnerable areas, you might be able to scare off eager mice.
8. call a pest control company
The most effective way to get rid of mice is to call a pest control company. Pest control companies are highly experienced in the removal of mice, utilizing various implements and methods to do away with them.
When you hire one of these companies to handle your mouse problem, they will take all necessary measures to ensure that the problem is solved. They will not only remove the mice that are already in your home but also deploy methods to keep them out.
that’s how to get rid of mice!
All these methods are effective ways to defend your home against mouse infestations. Now that you’ve learned about how to get rid of mice, you can put some of these methods into action.
Interested in utilizing the services of a pest control company? If so, and you live in the Vancouver, Washington area, Natura Pest Control has you covered.
Contact us for more information.
