How to Keep Mice Away

Many property owners experience mouse infestations over and over again because they fail to take the needed steps to make their property less favorable to mice and they fail to control the population before it grows out of control. Implementing a mouse prevention program will include sanitation, exclusion and preventative baiting. If you are already dealing with a significant mouse infestation there are steps you can take to get rid of them on your own.

Outdoor sanitation usually includes keeping trees and bushes trimmed, yard debris cleaned up and a few other steps. Exclusion includes finding and sealing up any entry points on the structure you can find.

Exclusion:

• Inspect the foundation all the way around the home. Any crack, gap or hole that is 1/4" or larger needs to be repaired. In holes that are 2" or smaller, Stuf-Fit Copper Mesh or other suitable should be used. In larger holes or gaps you may need to use sheet metal or hardware cloth with less than 1/4" mesh to repair the area.
• Check all doors, door frames, windows and window frames. Replace any weather stripping that does not create a tight seal. Replace any broken window panes. Replace any damaged window or door screens. Repair any gap, hole or crack around frames that are 1/4" or larger. If gnawing damage is present on doors, a metal kick plate should be installed to prevent any additional gnawing.
• Look at all utility entry points. Areas where utilities enter the home can also make easy access points for rodents. Make sure any gap or hole larger than 1/4" around the wire, cable or pipe is sealed using Stuf-Fit Copper Mesh, caulk, hardware cloth and mortar, sheet metal or other suitable material where needed.

Sanitation:

• Inspect all hedges near the home. Any hedges that touch the house should be cut back to prevent rodents from using them as pathways onto and into the house.
• Trim bottom of hedges or bushes to expose soil beneath and eliminate rodent harborage areas.
• Keep grass short and remove trimmings from the property
• Remove food and water sources when possible. Feed pets in the morning and remove any uneaten food immediately.
• Remove bird feeders if possible to eliminate the bird seed as a possible food source.
• Find and fix any leaking pipes or drains.
• Pick up any fallen fruits or nuts from fruiting trees
• Frequently clean outdoor trash cans and make sure the lids fit on tightly. Keep trashcans as far from the structure as possible
• Store firewood away from the structure
• Clean up any rodent feces and urine found during the inspection. Be sure to wear protective gloves and a respirator to avoid breathing in any fecal matter. Use a labeled disinfectant solution such as Nisus DSV to clean rodent nesting areas and entry points to get rid of any pheromones left behind that may attract future rodents

If your property has been the target of mouse infestations year after year, we recommend that you keep partially loaded mouse bait stations outside around the structure. This will wipe out the mouse population before it has a chance to grow out of control.

Products and tools needed:

• Tamper resistant bait stations
• Rodenticide bait blocks
• Patio Blocks (optional)
• Liquid Nails (optional)

It is recommended that you use 4-6 bait stations around the structure. Place one station at each corner of the structure and if needed, one by the front entrance and one near the rear entrance.

Once you select the location for the bait station you should consider how you will anchor the station so that non-target animals and children cannot remove the station from the area. Some bait stations have accessories that can be purchased separately to anchor the stations. If you choose not to purchase an anchoring accessory or one is not available for the station you purchased, you can purchase patio blocks and a caulk adhesive from your local home improvement store. Following the directions on the caulk adhesive, attach the bait station to the patio block.

Load the mouse bait blocks into the stations as directed on the product label. Check the stations once every 1 - 2 weeks and replenish the bait as needed. As long as the bait is being consumed, it is working to kill mice. Most people underestimate the rodent population on their property and assume the bait is not actually killing the mice. In fact there are usually just far more mice than they estimated so more bait is being consumed. Be patient. Baits can take up to 5-10 days to kill mice after they have eaten a lethal dose of bait.

It is normal not to see dead mice. When rodents start feeling the effects of the bait they can return to the nesting area which is typically hidden and that is where they will succumb to the bait.