Wear gloves when baiting or handling traps so the mice can’t detect your scent. Some live traps only catch 1 mouse while others can catch multiple mice. Choose the type of trap that works best for you. Experiment with different types of bait, like marshmallows and jelly, to see if the mice like a different flavor.
Make sure to throw out snap traps as soon as mice are caught, and sanitize the area afterward. Be careful while setting the trap since the U-shaped piece is spring-loaded and will close quickly. Don’t keep snap traps in areas where pets or small children could reach them since they could get hurt.
Mice travel 20–30 ft (6. 1–9. 1 m) from their nest every night. If you’ve found a nest in your home, keep the traps close by.
Some poison bait traps also capture the mice so they can’t run away after they eat it. Keep poison traps away from pets or small children since they could get extremely sick if they eat it. Don’t keep the poison near any food items since they could cross-contaminate one another.
Cleaning your house won’t stop mice entirely, but it eliminates any food sources they may have had. Declutter your home since mice are usually attracted to dark, unused spaces.
Transfer open food from boxes or bags into a different container so mice can’t smell them. Don’t leave bread or fruit sitting out on the counter for more than a day or two. Either put them in a container or in your refrigerator. Clean your pantry and cabinets often. Make sure crumbs, dried juice, and other stray bits of food don’t sit on your kitchen floor. Remain vigilant and observe any signs of pantry raiding by the pesky critter, then provision to eliminate the opportunity for the mouse family to dine.
Make sure the gap under your door isn’t providing a convenient entrance for mice. Mice usually don’t live inside your home. Instead, they visit regularly for food. [8] X Expert Source Kevin CarrilloPest Control Specialist Expert Interview. 22 October 2019.
You can also leave cotton balls soaked with peppermint oil along common mouse pathways for 1 week at a time.
You can borrow a friend’s cat for a few days to help scare the mice away. Mice may still hide in areas where the cat can’t reach, such as an attic.
The presence of droppings can also indicate that there’s a crack or hole in the room through which mice can enter.
Common areas where you may hear mice include basements, attics, and kitchens.
Don’t forget to inspect outside your home as well since mice may be coming in from the wild.
You may also notice droppings or urine stains along the pathways as well. Look for any small, sudden movements you notice in your home since they could be mice.
Mice chew through cardboard boxes and items of clothing to use as materials for their nests. Look for tiny holes in the pile of clothes you’ve left sitting in the back of your closet. A musty smell might also indicate the presence of a mouse nest.
