Pest Control How To Get Rid of Mice & Rodents

As the days get shorter and cooler, many critters are looking for a place to settle in for winter. Many of them are just like you: they want to be somewhere warm that has access to food. Of course, if you’re like most people, you don’t want to share your home with some of these animals, especially mice.

Not only are these animals a nuisance, but they can also be a health hazard. Their waste can carry harmful pathogens that can make you sick. In addition, they can also be incredibly destructive. They will chew holes in your walls and insulation while making nests, and may even chew through your wiring, creating a fire hazard. Having pest control for these critters is beneficial.

There are multiple ways to get rid of mice. However, before implementing any of these, you want to make sure that mice are your current problem. Below are some ways to tell if you have an infestation.

How to Tell if You Have a Mice Infestation

There are many tell-tale signs that you have mice and will need to call rodent control. Having an inspection done will let you know for sure, but if you see any of these things, calling in pest control will be beneficial.

Droppings

If you see small, pointed droppings that are less than ¼ of an inch long, then you have mice. These can be found in various places, including in your kitchen, along baseboards, in walls, or throughout the house.

Gnawed Holes

If you notice any holes about the size of a dime in your walls, this is another indication that you have a problem. They will use these as entrances and exists to get from their hiding places to where food is available.

Nests

If you find collections of shredded papers, string, or other materials such as insulation, this is another indicator that you have mice. They use this material to create warm nests, and they can be found in walls, behind storage bins, or in other dark areas.

Noises

According to Mice and Rat Control in Barrie, rodents are nocturnal, so if you hear scratching in walls or scampering across the floor at night, this could be another sign that you have pests in your home and may need to call in rodent control to help with the issue.

Strange Pet Behavior

If you have pets in your home and you’ve noticed that they’ve been acting strangely, such as sniffing or staring at the walls, or they are barking at the fridge or under furniture, this could be an indicator that they are going after a critter. A cat may even find a kill some of these critters for you, but if the infestation is large enough, your cat may not be able to get them all.

How to Get Rid of Mice

If you have determined that you have an infestation, then the next steps are to get rid of them. Below are some ways to accomplish that goal.

Call in Professionals

Probably the best and easiest way to get rid of mice is to call in the rodent control Calgary professionals. They will have the skills and tools to take care of the problem for you. Since these critters can cause health issues, getting rid of them completely and correctly is the best course of action to take.

In some cases, when you call in a professional rodent control Boise company, they will also be able to clean the area that was infested. Since you don’t want to waste floating around your house, this will keep you and your family from getting sick and may deter another infestation from occurring. 

Get Rid of Entry Points

Mice can fit through some small spaces. To ensure that you close off access to your home, seal any cracks or holes on the outside of your home. You’ll also need to cover any vents or utility pipes to prevent them from crawling through these to get into your house.

When it comes to sealing these openings, don’t use rubber, wood, or plastic, as rodents can easily chew through these items. Make sure to check doors and windows and add weather stripping to keep these pests out of your home.

Use Mouse Traps

One of the most traditional and effective ways to get rid of mice is to use traps. Snap traps are the best option, as they will permanently remove the problem from your home. To use them properly, you’ll need to have the right bait and place them in the right areas. This includes places where the animals travel, which is obvious by the trail of feces.

When you place the bait on the trap, you might consider gluing it down or securing it with fishing line. This will ensure that the mice can’t run off with the food and not get snapped by the trap. You’ll also want to place it perpendicular to the walls, with the trigger facing the baseboard. This will ensure that the creatures step on the trap properly so that they get taken out.

If there’s a downside to using mouse traps, it’s that you have to check them and clean them. This means having to deal with dead mice. While it’s possible to throw the entire trap away, it’s a good idea to wear gloves and potentially a mask, as this will reduce the chances of being exposed to the diseases that these animals carry.

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Keep Your House Clean

Having a clean house won’t stop pests from entering, but a dirty house will definitely attract them. Making it challenging for them to find food will cause them to look for other places to stay. Thus, if you store food properly and put it in plastic containers that they can’t get into, this can help reduce the chances of pests being in your home.

Taking Care of the Problem

Taking care of an infestation as soon as possible is beneficial. It will reduce the chances of people getting sick and them causing major damage to your home. Calling in professionals who do rodent control is usually your best bet, but there are things you can do on your own if you so choose.

No matter which route you go, you’ll need to ensure you take care of the problem completely. Otherwise, you risk the chance of another infestation and more pests getting into your home.

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