Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Capturing and Freeing the Mouse
• Method 2 of 3: Exterminating mice with mousetraps and other methods
• Method 3 of 3: How to prevent mice from entering your home
• Tips
• Warnings

Mice may be cute, but there is nothing cute about mice swarming around your house. It's even worse to find traces of mice in a closet or closet - characteristic lumps of droppings or even a nest. If you have a mouse in your house, there are several ways to get rid of it. You can set a humane trap and release the trapped mouse outside, use a regular mousetrap, or even get a cat to do all the work for you. Close off any loopholes that lead to your home, remove possible food sources, and try using mouse repellents to make your home impregnable for these rodents in the future.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Capturing and Freeing the Mouse

1. 1 Track the mouse. If out of the corner of your eye you see a mouse running, try to trace where it went. Mice are very fast, and chasing them around the house is far from the best way to catch them. Instead, follow the mouse to the nest and then use the trap to catch it.
   • If you haven't noticed where the mouse has run, look for the nest. A mouse's nest is usually made from scraps of cloth, paper, hair, and other waste. It smells like mold.Look for the nest in the far corners of cabinets, under sinks, behind the refrigerator, in cracks in walls, and in other dark, secluded spots.
   • The mouse can also be tracked by the traces of the droppings. In appearance, mouse droppings resemble grains of black rice. If you find droppings, the nest is most likely somewhere nearby.
   • You can also simply place the mousetrap in areas where you think mice appear frequently, such as the garage, basement, or kitchen.

   Advice: mice are very nimble and careful, so if this rodent is in your house, you will hardly be able to see it. Instead, look for signs such as mouse droppings, gnawed food packages, and musty odors throughout your home.

   
   
2. 2 Set up a humane mousetrap. Such a mousetrap catches a mouse without killing it. Most humane traps use bait to lure the mouse into a maze-like tunnel. When the mouse is inside, the trap is slammed shut and the rodent cannot escape. The humane mousetrap can be purchased at a hardware store or ordered online.
   • Humane traps are usually a little more expensive than simple mousetraps, but they can be used multiple times, so they are worth the money.
   • Feed the mousetrap with peanut butter, oatmeal, or tree nut bait according to the instructions.
   • Set the trap near the nest and wait until the bait attracts the mouse.
   • Check daily for mouse traps.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Kevin Carrillo

   
   
   Pest Control Specialist, MMPC Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and Senior Project Manager at MMPC Pest Control, a certified minority-owned facility in New York City. MMPC is certified to comply with industry guidelines and practices, including the National Pest Control Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and the New York Pest Control Association (NYPMA). MMPC's activities were featured on CNN, NPR and ABC News.

   Kevin Carrillo
   Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

   Remove other food sources to humanely get rid of mice. If mice have made their way into walls or ceilings, make sure they don't have access to food in the house - this will make it much easier for you to get rid of intruders. Block off any openings and crevices through which the mice can reach food. They will eventually leave your home and try to find food elsewhere.

   
   
3. 3 Try making your own trap if you don't feel like buying a mousetrap. You can make your own humane mousetrap from scrap materials (you can buy the missing one at a hardware store). It may be cheaper than buying a ready-made trap. Do the following:
   • Remove the lid from the soup can, pour out the contents, and drill a small hole in the bottom. You can also take a Coke can and use a drill or awl to punch a hole in the bottom.
   • Take a bucket (at least 20 liters) and lubricate the inner side walls with vegetable oil to make them slippery. Drill two small holes on opposite sides of the bucket just below the top edge.
   • Pass the wire through the can and the holes in the bucket so that the can can rotate freely on it. Wrap the ends of the wire around the bucket to secure it in place.
   • Lean a board against the bucket so the mouse can easily climb up to the wire.
   • Brush the jar with peanut butter. The mouse must crawl along the wire to the peanut butter, and then fall into a bucket from which it cannot get out.
4. 4 Release the mouse after it gets trapped. You should not do this right outside the house. Take or drive the trap at least one and a half kilometers from your home if you do not want the mouse to return. Release the mouse in the park or forest belt: just open the trap and let it go.
   • Some animal rights organizations recommend releasing mice into another building, such as your garage or shed. This will give the mouse a better chance of survival, especially if it has lived in the house its entire life.
5. 5 Try to get the mouse out of the house. There is another humane way that you can kick a mouse out of the house - just kick it out! Sometimes a mouse wanders into the house by accident and runs around inside, confused and wanting to get out as much as you want to get rid of it. Help her: push her with a broom towards the open door. You may need to run after the mouse for a bit before you can get it out. However, it is much faster than catching a mouse and then releasing it.
   • Of course, if you use this method, the mouse may try to return immediately, especially if it has entered the house through an opening under a door or a hole in the foundation. If your home is not protected from mice, try to close any loopholes and use repellents to scare away mice.

Method 2 of 3: Exterminating mice with mousetraps and other methods

1. 1 Install the spring traps. It is generally known that this is the most effective way to get rid of mice. Buy traps specifically for mice, not rats. Place peanut butter in the trap as bait and place it where mice are often. When the mouse presses its weight on the mousetrap, the spring will lower the bracket, which will drop sharply and instantly kill the animal. These traps may not be the most pleasant way to kill a mouse, but they work.
   • Place the mousetrap perpendicular to the wall so that the edge with the bait is near the wall.
   • Place the mousetraps in areas where you notice traces of mice, such as droppings or nests. Be careful not to place mousetraps where children or pets can reach them.

   A warning: do not put poisoned bait in mousetraps, especially if there are children or pets in the house that can find poison and get poisoned.

2. 2 Check your mousetraps regularly and get rid of dead mice. After you install any type of mousetrap, remember to check it daily. The bait may need to be replaced if the cunning mouse manages to steal it. If a mouse is trapped, it should not be left there for several days, as this will lead to unsanitary conditions. A dead mouse can attract insects and give off an unpleasant odor, so be sure to check the mousetrap.
   • If you find that a mouse is trapped, get rid of it immediately. Remove the dead mouse from the mousetrap, place it in a plastic bag and place it in a trash can with a tight-fitting lid.
   • To protect yourself from illness, wear gloves before disposing of the dead mouse, and then wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap.
3. 3 Do not use inhuman glue traps. Glue mousetraps look like small cardboard houses or trays. Their bottom is covered with a very sticky glue that keeps the mouse in place after it runs into the trap. In the end, the captured mouse dies of hunger. These traps cause unnecessary stress, pain and suffering in mice, which is why most animal rights organizations strongly advise against using them. Choose some other trap instead of glue.
   • US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also advises against using glue traps, as trapped mice or other animals may urinate or defecate, putting those handling the trap at risk of infection.
   • Glue traps are also dangerous for pets, as glue can stick to their paws or fur.
   • Some countries and regions have strict laws that regulate the sale and use of glue traps.
4. 4 Try to get a cat to get rid of mice for a long time. Cats prey on mice, so this is a great way to get rid of these pests. If you don't have your own cat, ask friends who have one to lend it to you for a few days. Note, however, that not all cats catch mice, although this method is often as effective as mouse traps.
   • You can take your cat at an animal shelter. Search the internet for information on this.

Method 3 of 3: How to prevent mice from entering your home

1. 1 Lock the doors. If there is a gap between the bottom edge of the door and the floor, the mouse can enter through it. Remember that mice can squeeze through very narrow holes and cracks. Go to your nearest building supplies store and buy a door seal to close the gap at the bottom.
   • Take a close look at the doorframe and check if there are any other areas where the mouse could enter. You may find holes in the foundation that need to be sealed with sealant. You can also plug them with metal wool.
   • Cover all ventilation openings in your home, such as a dryer or attic, with mesh screens.
   • Also check for holes in the mosquito nets.
2. 2 Store trash in closed containers. Mice are attracted to the smell of food, so keep trash in closed trash cans in your home and yard. Use canisters with tight-fitting lids. Take out the trash before you have to pick it up.
   • Mice can also be attracted to recyclable waste containers as there may be food debris in bottles, boxes and cans inside them. Keep these containers tightly closed.
   • If you have a compost pile, make sure it is far enough away from your home as it can attract mice.

   Advice: if you have bird feeders, it is best not to add food to them until after you get rid of the mice. You can also place foods in the feeder that leave no waste for the mice, such as lard or coated poultry feed.

3. 3 Maintain cleanliness. Keep your home and yard tidy so that there is no food or shelter for the mice. Do not leave food outside, remove all crumbs, and do not keep brushwood outside, as this can attract mice. Keep your home clean and tidy so that mice don't get in there.
   • To prevent mice from getting to food, store it in tightly sealed containers. For example, you can transfer cereals from cardboard boxes to resealable plastic or glass containers.
   • If you have pets, hide their food overnight.
4. 4 Try repellents and other remedies. Some people use peppermint oil as a natural repellent, but it's unclear how effective it is. Try mixing 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) of peppermint oil and 1 cup (240 milliliters) of water in a spray bottle and spray the solution where mice frequently appear. You can also purchase ultrasonic mouse repellents and place them around the house.
   • There is no conclusive evidence that peppermint oil or other essential oils are effective in repelling mice. Ultrasonic repellents can be effective for some time, but mice tend to get used to them eventually. Use these methods in conjunction with other methods of dealing with mice.

Tips

• Do not forget to seal all the cracks and holes - this is a rather laborious, but necessary measure. Steel wool is especially suitable for this purpose, and can be combined with plaster for walls, although over time the wire under the plaster will begin to rust. Seal walls properly where cables and wires pass through them, such as behind a stove.
• Contrary to popular belief, some mice don't like cheese. Chocolate, bread, meat, hard caramel, peanut butter are good baits. In addition, mice like corn feed for chickens.

Warnings

• In many areas, it is illegal to release trapped animals into other people's property. If you catch a mouse, release it on unowned land or on your own territory.