It can be quite annoying when mice decide to move into your home. These cute, but unwelcome creatures, can carry diseases, chew through your wires, and leave messes everywhere. If you’re reading this article, chances are you have already encountered a mouse in your home. If so, try the following method to catch the unwelcome tenant. Then, take the necessary precautions to keep future mice from invading your territory. Here are some tips, steps, and what you will need on how to get rid of mice humanely.
Catching Mice
Materials:
Cardboard tube from a roll of toilet paper
Peanut butter
A cracker
Trashcan
Table
Long piece of cardboard (ramp for table)
1. Fold two vertical lines into the cardboard tube to flatten one side of it. The opening should look like a “D”. Make sure the flat part of the tube can lie flush against a surface.
2. Place a dab of peanut butter onto a small piece of the cracker.
3. Put the cracker inside one edge of the cardboard tube.
4. Place the cardboard tube halfway off of the table; the end with the cracker should be over the edge.
5. Place the trashcan under the overhanging cardboard tube.
6. Connect the long piece of cardboard to the table at an angle to form a ramp. Make sure the angle is not too steep or else the mouse will not be able to reach the food.
7. Stand back and wait. Once the mouse travels up the ramp and toward the food, the cardboard tube will topple over into the trashcan. Once the mouse is in captivity, you can release the mouse into the wild (at least a mile away from your home).
Repelling Mice
Peppermint Oil — Put a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball. Place the cotton ball in entrance areas such as vents and doorways. The scent is too strong for mice and will repel them from your home. The scent also masks food odors that may be attracting the mice in the first place.
Kitty Litter — If you have a cat, place litter boxes by entrance areas. The smell of cat urine will also ward off mice.
Steel Wool — Seal holes around your gutters, vents, and doors with steel wool covered in caulk. If you use steel wool alone, mice can chew through it and suffer from internal bleeding. The caulk will protect the mice from hurting themselves as well as effectively seal your home.
If you’d like a pest control service to take care of the problem instead, TalkLocal can find you help immediately! Just submit a service request on the website and talk with a professional in minutes.
