One skill all homeowners and renters should master is knowing how to get rid of mice and other rodents. Depending on your perspective and level of infestation, these unwanted critters can range from an annoyance to a nightmare. They gnaw on stuff, leave poop around your house, and—worst of all—carry diseases.
Mice also multiply quickly—so what may start out as a few critters nibbling away in the pantry can turn into a full-on mice invasion in a couple of weeks. The good news? Getting rid of mice takes some work, but it’s not impossible.
The key to successful control is understanding how rodents get into your home in the first place.
“They can squeeze in through a hole no bigger than a dime, so it is easy for them to get access,” says Jerry Lazarus from Braman Termite & Pest Elimination, based in Agawam, MA. “If homeowners want to wipe out an infestation, they need to get rid of the mice currently in the home while deploying exclusionary techniques that keep new ones from entering.”
How to confirm you have mice
Look for these telltale signs of an infestation.
Feces: Droppings are typically located near baseboards or water sources such as the kitchen sink. Not sure what to look for? Mouse poop is dark, brown, and rice-shaped.
Gnaw marks: Things mice like to chew include packaged foods, filled garbage bags, electrical wires, walls, and furniture.
Noise: Mice are particularly active at night, and you may hear them scratching inside walls or around your home while they are searching for food, water, or nest-building materials.
How to mouse-proof your home
Once you are sure you have uninvited critters, it is time to find all those nooks and crannies that let mice waltz into your home.
“Inspect the surrounding areas where you found proof of mice for small holes or cracks in walls, and around pipes and baseboards. The opening could be much smaller than you think, so it is best to seal up every gap,” says Jay Gunter Besheer, CEO of Gunter Pest Management, based in Kansas City, MO. You can use caulk, insulation foam, or even steel wool.
It is also important to pay attention to any gaps or openings along the perimeter of your home.
“Loose weatherstripping, broken screen vents, and damaged windows or doors are the first points of access for mice,” said Brad Leahy, vice president of B.O.G. Pest Control, based in Edgewater, MD.
Here are a few mouse-proofing tips:
- Install door sweeps on exterior doors, and repair damaged screens.
- Add screens to vents and chimney openings.
- Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home, including areas where utilities and pipes enter, using caulk, steel wool, or a combination of both.
- Replace loose mortar and weatherstripping around the basement foundation and windows.
- Add screens to windows that open.
Mice can also hitch a ride into your home, so inspect items such as boxes, grocery bags, and other packages before bringing them indoors. You should also regularly check under the hood of your car if you have an attached garage.
How to get rid of mice
Placing mousetraps where you found evidence of an infestation is the best way to capture mice. You will need to set them out every night and then check in the morning until you catch all of the mice.
These are some of the standard traps:
Catch-and-release mousetrap: This is the only humane trap on the list. It is a small cage with a door that slams shut once a mouse is inside. Afterward, you can set the mouse free outside.
Glue board: This is a piece of cardboard coated with a sticky material that mice get stuck on. Please note, organizations such as the Humane Society consider this trap to be cruel because caught mice typically suffer a painful and slow death—so think twice about it if you decide to use this.
Snap trap: This is the old-school trap you may have spotted while watching vintage Tom and Jerry cartoons. Just like the glue board, it is considered inhumane.
When to hire an exterminator
If your attempts to catch the mice in your home have proven unsuccessful, it’s probably time to call in a professional. Consider hiring an exterminator if you’ve been trying to eradicate rodents for a couple of weeks. The pro will know the exact places where mice like to hide in homes. The average cost of an exterminator will be around $100 to $300. Some companies will quote you for several months worth of work during which they’ll make sure the mice are definitely gone.
What about cats?
Adopting a pet may not solve your problem.
“Some cats are great mousers, others not so much,” says Besheer. Declawed cats, for instance, may have a tough time catching a mouse. If you have a serious vermin infestation, relying on your cat to solve the problem won’t be as effective as traps or an exterminator.
