Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Catch and release mice
• Method 2 of 3: Kill mice using traps and other methods
• Method 3 of 3: Keep your home mouse-free
• Tips
• Warnings

Mice might be cute on their own, but when you see one walking around your house, it's suddenly a lot less fun. And it gets much worse when you find traces of mice in your kitchen cupboards or drawers, such as droppings or even an entire nest. If you have a mouse at home, you can do a number of things. You can set an animal-friendly trap and once you catch it, release the mouse outside, you can set a classic mousetrap, or you can let a cat do the job. In any case, always close off your house as best you can, clean up possible food sources and use special means that keep mice at a distance so that they will not come in in the future.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Catch and release mice

1. Track the mouse. When you see a mouse running past from the corner of your eye again, see if you can track where it is. Mice are quite fast, and chasing them around the house is usually not the best way to catch and get rid of them. Instead, you better follow the mouse to its nest so that you can catch it around there with the help of a trap.
   • If you haven't seen where the mouse went, look for the nest. A mouse nest usually consists of scraps of fabric, paper, hair and other waste. It will have a musty smell. Look in the bottom corners of cabinets, under the sink, behind the refrigerator, in cracks in the wall, and in other dark, hidden places.
   • You may also find the mouse looking for excrement. Mouse droppings look like pieces of black rice. If you see a few mouse droppings anywhere, the nest is probably close by.
   • You can also just set traps in places in the house that you know mice like to visit, such as the garage, the basement or the kitchen.

   Tip: mice are fast and shy, so even if you have an infestation you may never see a real mouse. Instead, pay attention to whether you come across traces such as droppings, food packaging that has been gnawed or a musty smell in the house.

   
   
2. Set up an animal-friendly mousetrap. With an animal-friendly mousetrap you can catch a mouse without killing it. Most animal-friendly traps work with the help of bait, luring the mouse into a kind of maze-like tunnel. Once the mouse is inside, the trap closes behind him and he can no longer escape. You can buy animal-friendly mouse traps online, at a garden center or DIY store.
   • Animal-friendly mouse traps are generally a bit more expensive than traditional mouse traps, but like traditional clip-on traps, you can use them multiple times, so it's well worth the investment.
   • According to the instructions provided with the trap, put some bait in the trap, such as a spoonful of peanut butter, a little oatmeal or a few nuts.
   • Place the trap near the nest and wait for one of the mice to approach the bait.
   • Check the trap every day to see if there is already a mouse in it.
   EXPERT TIP

   Build a trap yourself if you'd rather not buy one. You can also make an animal-friendly trap that can last a lifetime, from items you already have at home, or if necessary, you can buy at a hardware store. Often you are cheaper that way than if you buy a ready-made trap. Below you can read, for example, how to make a simple mouse trap from a soup can:

   • Remove the lid from a soup tin, empty the tin and make a small hole in the bottom. You can also take an empty Coke can and poke a hole in the bottom with an awl or screwdriver.
   • Take a bucket (preferably with a capacity of 18-20 liters) and lubricate the inside with lettuce or sunflower oil to smooth the walls. Drill two small holes in each side of the bucket, directly below the rim.
   • Thread a piece of wire through the can and through the holes in the bucket, making sure the can can spin freely on the wire. Wrap the wire through the holes of the bucket a few times to secure it.
   • Lean a wooden board against the bucket so that the mouse can easily climb up and reach the wire.
   • Brush the can with peanut butter. The mouse is supposed to crawl along the wire to get to the peanut butter and then fall into the bucket, where it won't be able to climb out.
3. Once you've caught it, release the mouse. Don't just let go of the mouse in the backyard. Walk, cycle, or drive a car at least 1.5 km from your house, otherwise there is a good chance that the mouse will come back right away. Release the mouse in a park or in the forest. Once you're far enough from home to release the mouse, open the trap so it can jump out.
   • Animal rights organizations often say it is better to release a captured mouse somewhere in another enclosed space, such as a shed or garage. A mouse that has lived indoors all its life would have a greater chance of survival that way.
4. Try just wiping it out of your house. There is another animal-friendly way you can try to get a mouse out of your house: just swipe it outside! Sometimes there are mice in your house that are quite confused and want to get away just as much as you want them to. Then give such a mouse a hand by using a broom to help him up the chance of an open door, so that he can walk outside himself. Sometimes you have to chase the mouse around a bit before you can get it out, but if you can, this method is a lot faster than trying to catch the mouse first and then release it.
   • Of course, the mouse may come right back when you do it this way, especially if it entered through a hole in the door or through a hole in the foundation. If your house is not completely closed off against mice, close all openings first and use special repellants against mice so they don't accidentally re-enter.

Method 2 of 3: Kill mice using traps and other methods

1. Set mousetraps. Mouse traps are generally considered the most effective way to get rid of mice. Buy a mousetrap that is specifically designed for mice and not rats. Put some peanut butter in the trap as bait and put it somewhere where the mice tend to be active. As soon as the weight of the mouse presses against the trap, a wire springs down and the mouse is immediately killed. Such a trap is not the most humane way to kill a mouse, but it is an effective method to get the job done.
   • Place the trap against the wall so that it is perpendicular to the wall (the trap and the edge of the wall should form a "T"). Place the end of the trap with the bait closest to the wall.
   • Set traps in places where you have seen mouse traces, such as droppings or a nest. Be careful not to place them where your children or pets could reach and play with the trap.

   Warning: Do not use poisoned bait in mouse traps, especially if you have children or animals in the house that could accidentally eat it and get sick from it.

   
   
2. Check the traps often and dispose of dead mice immediately. Once you've set a mousetrap of any type, don't forget to check the trap every day. You may have to replace the bait if a smart mouse has managed to snatch it without getting caught. And once you've caught a mouse, you should never leave it trapped. A dead mouse can quickly attract insects and other vermin and start to smell. So don't forget to check your traps regularly.
   • When you see that you've caught a mouse, get rid of it as soon as possible. Remove the dead mouse from the trap and place it in a plastic bag. Tie the bag and throw it in a well-sealable garbage can.
   • To protect yourself from disease, always put on gloves when disposing of a dead mouse and wash your hands well with warm water and soap afterwards.
3. If possible, do not use glue traps. Glue traps look like small cardboard houses or containers. The floor of the trap is coated with a very tacky glue that keeps the mice in place once they walk in. Once the mice are caught, they eventually starve to death. Because these traps cause unnecessary stress, pain and distress to the mouse, most animal rights organizations strongly advise against the use of such traps. If you still want to use a deadly trap, then rather opt for a traditional clamp trap and not such a cruel glue trap.
   • The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority prohibits the use of glue traps because live mice or other animals trapped in the trap can urinate or defecate in them, putting anyone in contact with the trap at risk of being exposed to disease.
   • Glue traps can also harm your pets, if you have them. Pets can also accidentally step on the glue and stick to it with their paws or with their fur.
   • The use of glue traps and glue boards is prohibited in the Netherlands.
4. See if you can get a cat that can help you get rid of the mouse problem for a longer period of time. Cats naturally prey on mice, and having a cat in the house can be a great way to control the mouse population. If you don't have a cat yet, ask a friend if his or her side shouldn't come and stay with you for a few days. Not all cats like to catch mice, so it doesn't always work, but often it is just as effective as a mousetrap.
   • Some animal welfare organizations are offering feral cats they have rescued for adoption at homes and businesses, specifically to allow them to hunt mice. Ask the animal welfare or an animal shelter near you if you might be able to adopt a cat.

Method 3 of 3: Keep your home mouse-free

1. Close all doors to prevent mice from entering. If there is a gap between the bottom of the door and the floor, a mouse can walk directly through it. Mice can crawl through very narrow cracks, so don't assume that certain cracks are so narrow that mice can't get through. Buy a special seal from a hardware store that you can attach to the bottom of the door to close the gap.
   • Look around your door to see if there are any other places that mice could enter through. There may be holes in the foundation that need to be plugged. See if you can fill them with steel wool or some other way.
   • Cover all openings around your house that are intended for ventilation, such as in the bathrooms or attic, with gauze.
   • Also check your screen doors for any holes.
2. Keep the trash within reach. Mice are attracted to food odors, so it's important to keep your waste indoors or in your garden as much as possible. Use well-closable garbage cans both indoors and outdoors. Keep a close eye on which days the trash is picked up and make sure the trash is removed from your home on those days. }}
   • Mice can also be attracted to the boxes or containers where you keep waste for reuse. Empty bottles, cans and boxes often contain leftover food or drink that the mice can get off on. Always keep empty bottles or cans in a tightly closed container.
   • If you have a compost pile, make sure it is not too close to your house. A compost pile can also attract mice.

   Tip: if you have a birdhouse in the garden it may be better to stop feeding until you have solved the mouse problem. And if you do want to keep feeding the birds, only give them food that leaves nothing behind for the mice to eat, such as fat, nectar or pre-hulled bird seed.

   
   
3. Clean up clutter as soon as possible. Clean up all kinds of debris that can provide food and shelter for mice indoors and in the garden as quickly as possible. If you leave food alone, don't clean up crumbs or have a pile of raked leaves in the garden, you are more likely to suffer from mice. Therefore, always keep your house neat and tidy, so that it becomes less attractive to mice and other uninvited guests.
   • You can also make it more difficult for the mice to get food indoors by keeping food in closed containers or cans as much as possible. For example, you can put cornflakes from cardboard cornflakes boxes in plastic or glass containers with closed lids.
   • If you have pets, put the food away at night and don't leave it outside or in the kitchen.
4. Try using repellants in conjunction with other pest control methods. Some people advocate using peppermint oil as a natural mouse deterrent, but it's not clear how effective this method actually is. Try mixing two teaspoons of peppermint oil with a quart of water in a spray bottle and spraying it around where mice tend to congregate. You can also buy ultrasonic mouse-repellent devices and place them around your home.
   • There is no strong evidence that peppermint or other essential oils can effectively repel mice. Ultrasonic repellants can work temporarily, but often the mice get used to them over time. Therefore, always use ultrasonic defense methods in combination with other methods against pests.

Tips

• Don't forget to seal all possible openings that mice could pass through. Closing cracks and holes is a tedious but necessary step. Steel wool in particular works well, and you can use it in conjunction with plastering the walls (although the plaster can eventually cause it to rust). An important place to seal is the back of the oven, where the wires come out. Close that hole properly!
• Contrary to popular belief, some mice don't like cheese. More suitable bait options include chocolate, bread, meat, hard caramel and peanut butter. Mice also like chicken food with corn in it.

Warnings

• Depending on where you live, you may be prohibited from releasing captive animals of any kind on other people's private property. When you catch a mouse, always release it on your own property or in the wild.