Here in Glens Falls, Saratoga and Lake George, mice infestations are most prevalent in the fall and winter months. As the temperatures drop outside, they seek food, water and shelter in our cozy homes and residences.
Mice are incredibly elusive critters that can cause serious damage, including house fires, and many carry viruses and bacteria, such as salmonella and hantavirus. If you find droppings, chewed boxes in your pantry, or actually see the culprit scurrying across the counter, you’ll need to act fast, because mice do not travel alone, and a small colony can quickly become an infestation.
Check out these tips for getting rid of mice in your house – and keeping them out.
The best way to get rid of mice is with mousetraps. They are non-toxic to humans and pets, and they kill the mouse instantly, unlike poison, which can lead to sick mice dying in walls and other hard to reach places, causing foul odors.
- Which mousetraps work best? It’s a good idea to use at least 6-12 mousetraps and choose a variety of types. Use bait traps, multiple-capture live traps and glue traps in conjunction with the most common wooden snap traps.
- What is the best mousetrap bait? Whatever the mice have been eating in your pantry! Chocolate, peanut butter and dried fruit also work well. Replace bait every two days and use nesting material, such as cotton balls or small bits of rags, if the food doesn’t work.
- Where should mousetraps be placed? Find out where the mice are sleeping, look for droppings or baseboard “rubbings”, and place the traps no more than 10-20 feet away. Place traps behind furniture, in the pantry or along the wall.
Tip: Mousetraps should be placed perpendicular to walls, so that the mouse runs directly into the bait as it naturally scampers along the baseboard. For best results, change trap locations, the bait and even the type of trap every few days.
How to Keep Mice Out of Your House
To keep mice out of your house, eliminate all feeding sites and entry points. Mice are in search of food and shelter, but if neither is readily available, they’ll move on, which is why properly sealing your home and storing food is so important.
- Use steel wool and caulk to seal holes. Mice are able to fit through openings the size of a dime, but they don’t like caulk and steel wool. Seal cracks in the foundation as well as openings in the walls, especially around utility pipes, vents and chimneys.
- Store food in airtight containers. Put cereal and other pantry items in metal or glass containers with tight lids. Consider doing the same for pet food and bird seed, even if it’s stored in the garage, and don’t leave dishes of pet food sitting out all day for hungry mice.
Tip: Avoid using plastic, rubber, wood or anything else mice can easily gnaw through as sealants and containers. Get weather stripping for door and window gaps and remember to secure garbage, as well as food.
Need Help Getting Mice Out of Your House? Hire a Local Pest Control Professional
When to hire a pest control professional. You’ll know if you’ve successfully eliminated your mouse problem when you no longer find droppings or other evidence for several days, so clean up regularly to distinguish between old and new. Remember, mice breed quickly, often 5-10 litters a year, so if you haven’t been successful after a few weeks, it’s best to contact a pest control professional.
Do you have a mice infestation in the Lake George, Glens Falls or Saratoga area? Our professional mice exterminators provide rodent and mouse pest control services in Upstate New York and Vermont. Contact Nature’s Way Pest Control for a free inspection.
