It seems inevitable that a house will eventually become the new home to a mouse or two. There are ways, though, for you to keep mice away, removing them safely once becoming a nuisance. This quick look at mouse proofing identifies some problem areas in the home and how to get rid of mice.

Mouse Proofing the House

Keeping mice under control involves prevention methods that keep them at bay. The best way to do this is to “build out” by eliminating openings where they can enter. Seal up all openings that are larger than a quarter inch. You’ll need to smooth patching material over the surface to keep the mice from chewing through it. Fix any problems or cracks with the foundation, in the walls, up in the attic and so on.

Another way to proof the house from mice is to give them less reason to stay in your home. Store food, especially cereals, dried fruit and so on, in airtight jars and canisters. If you grow fruit or vegetables in the backyard, pick up any fallen or half-rotting food and throw it away. Maintain flowerbeds and trim back trees so you can look for evidence of burrowing and nesting.

Mouse Traps

Snap traps, or mousetraps, lure with a piece of food and quickly kill the mice with heavy steel springs. These traps are inexpensive, and while some may protest the humaneness of this method, it’s a much better alternative to glue traps.

Glue traps use a sticky substance to catch rodents on the hunt for food. While safe to use around children, glue traps do not kill mice immediately, leaving them for days or weeks to die from hunger. Snap traps, on the other hand, kill mice instantly, but are very dangerous, as the springs can easily break an adult finger. Use these with caution around children and pets.

Other Mouse Traps

Rodenticides, or rodent poisons, kill mice in a shorter amount of time than the glue, but not as quickly as mousetraps. Poison bait should not be used around kids or pets because they are likely to eat it before a mouse does.

Live traps are the most humane way of getting rid of mice, since you can trap and let them free outdoors. You can also leave food and water in the traps so mice don’t suffer before you find and release them. Make sure to drop off the mice several miles away from your house or else they will just return to their old nest.

Electronic mousetraps deliver an electric shock that kills the rodent in seconds. However, these traps are more expensive than the standard snap trap.

Sonic pest controllers use high frequency sound waves to keep rodents out of your home. These work somewhat well, unless you own a hamster or gerbil, in which case it can hurt your pet. If you think your home has a mouse infestation of more than several mice, call a pest or rodent control company to send a specialist to your home.