Know the warning signs. Before you can get rid of mice, you need to be able to identify them. Mice are small, generally no more than 5-6 inches in length, and usually a uniform color (black and brown are most common).
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Know Thy Enemy: Mice
by BrightNest
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You may have always rooted for the mouse in Tom and Jerry, but a non-animated rodent in the house is a different story. Mice can send even the bravest homeowner running for a chair, plus they can spread bacteria by pooping in your food.
That being said, there’s still a lot to learn from these tiny critters. Before you start hoarding your cheese and setting traps, brush up on your mouse-facts so you can protect your house from these pests. For more tips on mouse prevention and removal, read: Pest Control: Mice.
Mouse Facts:
- Female mice can start having babies when they’re just two months old. Talk about growing up fast!
- Mice can jump up to 12 inches off the ground, so they’d dominate a miniature basketball court for woodland creatures. If those existed.
- They’re homebodies. Mice generally won’t forage for food more than 10-25 feet from their nest.
- Mice have been irritating humans for thousands of years. In fact, the word “mouse” is derived from the ancient Sanskrit word for “thief.”
- Mice are small, but they’re also smart! They can solve puzzles and, of course, navigate their way through mazes.
- They’re allergic to mint! Plus, since their noses are so sensitive, mint is an effective, natural mouse deterrent. For more details, read: Mint: Good for Mojitos and Mouse Prevention.
View the slideshow above for some helpful mice prevention tips!
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However, mice are nocturnal and generally hide during the day, so they may be present even if you don’t see them scurrying around. Other warning signs include holes in walls and food containers, small spherical droppings in places like your pantry and scurrying sounds behind your walls.
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Block their entry. Mice can’t invade your house if they can’t get inside. They also generally don’t climb higher than two feet off the ground, so check your house’s foundation and look for any holes or cracks that a mouse could use as an entrance.
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Places where pipes or electrical wiring enter your house are common problems. Seal these areas with metal or cement as soon as possible. If your foundation has a large number of cracks or holes, it’s a good idea to have a professional take a look. For more details, read: Inspect Your Foundation.
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Protect your food. The two main reasons mice move into a house are shelter and food. If you can remove their access to food, you can often remove the mice. Keep your food in sealed steel or glass containers, or in your refrigerator.
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Clean up any food crumbs or spills as quickly as possible and keep your trash in a well-sealed container. Tip: Also remember to protect any pet food you have, since mice will eat that as well!
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Remove nests and shelters. Mice can nest in any confined space that has clutter. This can include basements, attics, storage rooms or messy bedrooms. Keep these areas tidy, and remove any nests you may find, which will be about the size of a grapefruit and made of things like string and bits of paper.
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Eradicate the mice. There are a number of ways to kill mice. Poisons are one option; however, whatever poisons you use will generally also be toxic to kids and pets, so they should be used with caution. Traps can be effective, but can also injure pets or children, and they leave a nasty mouse-corpse to clean up. Two popular non-toxic repellants are mothballs dipped in peppermint oil, or mint leaves.
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Place the mint or mothballs in areas where you suspect mice are nesting or entering your house, and the smell will drive the mice away! You can also plant mint around the foundations of your house to prevent future infestations from occurring. For more information, read: Mint: Good for Mojitos and Mouse Prevention.
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