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Before you know how to keep mice out of your house, you need to identify what kind of mouse you have. The sooner you get rid of it, the better, because mice can reproduce quickly and can escalate to a much bigger problem over the months. But before you can figure out how to keep mice out of your house, you need to identify which type of mice you have and what you can do to stop them. Listed below are some ideas for getting rid of mice:
Adopting a cat
If you are thinking about getting a cat to keep mice out of your home, you should know that cats are natural mouse deterrents. While cats do not chase mice, they do enjoy the act and will hunt them for entertainment. You should feed your cat well in order to ensure that it will be able to catch as many mice as possible. If you have a lot of mice in your house, you may want to consider getting a feral cat to hunt them down.
A working cat will work well for a business or warehouse. They are often not very sociable and are more interested in controlling the population of mice. While they may not make the best indoor pets, they can still provide a wonderful companionship. Some working cats will happily live in artist’s studios, warehouses, and factories. While they may be less personable than domesticated cats, these cats are suited for such environments and offer a high quality of life.
Another benefit of adopting a cat to keep mice out of the house is the fact that these little creatures can hide in the walls and basement, where they are unable to be seen by a cat. Once out of sight, they will quickly lose interest in you. Even if your house is protected from the mice, they will continue to reproduce. Moreover, mice reproduce fast. They have litters every three weeks, and they can mate within six weeks after birth.
Using live traps
Using live traps is a great way to eliminate mice without poison and without harming your pets. Live traps are boxes with holes where mice can enter and exit. You release the live mice a mile away from your house to prevent re-infestation. The best place to set a live trap is out of reach of pets and children. Mice do not usually go farther than 10 feet from their nesting and food sources. They are also very curious creatures, so they won’t avoid a trap like they might a rat would.
The gruesome part of live traps is that you must set them up correctly to be effective. Place them along areas where mice frequent. Many homeowners set them up incorrectly and risk poisoning their pets or children. Using a professional pest control company is the best way to ensure a complete kill. Keep in mind that despite a harrowing humane mouse trap, poor sanitation won’t get rid of mice.
A cheaper, more natural method of controlling unwanted guests is to plug up any holes they can find. Mice can squeeze through a quarter-inch hole, so securing these holes is very effective. This method also requires no poisons or dead bodies. You can use common hardware store items like a wire mesh pan scrubber or expanding foam insulation. You should reapply these methods every month, or more often, if necessary.
Despite the fact that mice love cold weather, you should keep them out of your house. You can prevent mice from getting in by securing any firewood. Also, be sure to store firewood at least 20 feet away from your house. A mouse’s favorite place to live is near firewood piles. Cutting off the source of food and water will help keep mice at bay. A few mice can breed in these areas if you prevent the firewood piles.
Using poison-free baits
Using poison-free baits to keep mouse out of your house is a safe and easy way to protect your home from infestations. Rat poison baits come in chunks and are ideally mounted on an exterior wall. They can be difficult to move or sweep away. Refillable bait stations are another inexpensive solution to mouse problems. One bag of pellets will cover a couple of refillable stations.
One of the most popular mouse poisons is Bell Contrac, a food-grade product with cholecalciferol, also known as vitamin D3. The bait releases calcium steadily into the mouse’s bloodstream until it calcifies the mouse’s arteries and cardiovascular system. As mice can ingest it through their skin, they will die within three to five days. You can purchase baits at many home improvement stores or Tractor Supply.
There are many types of poison-free rodent baits available. Liquid bait mixes are ideal for dry conditions and areas with few sources of water. They contain sugar and work well in places where there are few sources of water. Liquid bait stations will attract rodents because mice and rats are often drawn to water sources. Mice, however, can survive without water. In such a case, a liquid bait is the best option.
Another safe and effective way to keep mice out of your house is to eliminate all sources of food. This means not using bird food, pet food, or cardboard. Even the cookie crumbs left by a toddler are a great meal for mice. Keep food stored in glass or metal containers, and use tamper-proof bins when possible. Keep pet food stored in a secure bin, and don’t leave food out for long periods of time.
Using chimney screens
If you’ve ever noticed a rat or mouse nest in your chimney, you’ll understand why you should consider installing a screen to prevent them from entering your home. A chimney is an ideal place for mice and rats to make their homes, but their homes can become a breeding ground for these pests. You can prevent this problem by using a chimney screen or a mesh-covered chimney cap.
A chimney cap will prevent mice and rats from entering your home, but it won’t stop them from climbing up the chimney. The cap will prevent these varmints from gaining access to the opening. Even with a cap in place, however, some rodents may still enter the chimney, especially if the chimney material is compromised. Cracked or crumbling brick and mortar can leave an opening that allows rodents to enter. If you have a gap in your chimney cap, make sure you repair it.
If you’ve found signs of mice, you’ll be glad you took action. Mice can make a mess of your home, leaving droppings everywhere. They can also contaminate your food, bait, and traps. You can also use steel wool and wire mesh to block openings in the attic or house. These screens can also help prevent mice from entering your home through crawl spaces and attics. Mice can even eat pet food, so the best solution is to keep the area sealed.
During winter, mice will find a way in through holes and cracks in your roof and walls. If you’re not careful, they can fit into a tiny opening as small as one-quarter of an inch. Make sure to seal any gaps with metal, cement, or steel wool. When storing food in the attic, be sure to use air-tight containers. Make sure your chimney has a cap as well.
Using poison-free glue traps
You may have heard of glue traps before. They are advertised as clean and non-toxic, and they often come with cute cartoons of stuck rodents. That’s all well and good, but what exactly happens to these animals once they’re stuck? They die of starvation, dehydration, and suffocation over several days. And they can’t get out.
Sticky traps are indiscriminate, catching unintended animals, including birds and snakes. Glue traps can cause serious injuries to these animals, and some have even died from dehydration and starvation. Despite their usefulness, they’re not without their drawbacks. While they may seem like a harmless way to prevent mice from entering your home, sticky traps can be deadly.
These traps are safe to use, but you should avoid placing them directly above food, as they may starve. Make sure to place the mouse trap treadle across the path of a mouse, and use a bait that has a strong odor, like bacon or peanut butter. Mice will easily grab bait if they smell strongly enough, so it’s best to place the trap across the path the mouse takes when it goes through the food. You should also place nesting materials near the traps, such as strips of cloth and cotton balls. Then, place the glue traps in places that are damp or cold, and keep them there.
AB Traps are another great option for mice control. These glue traps are large enough to catch troublesome critters. They’re suitable for both indoor and outdoor use and can be used in a variety of settings. AB Traps are great for both indoor and outdoor usage. They’re also large enough to catch entire groups of mice or large rats. These traps have a unique locking system that keeps the critters inside. The door to the trap is super-secured, making it ideal for outdoor use.
