They are easy to get rid of. I didn't even know we had mice until my
daughter heard them moving around in boxes in our attic.
I picked up a package of (4) Victor snap traps at HomeDepot. They have a
yellow plastic plate with holes. I put creamy peanut butter on 2 of the
traps and set the spring arm to the "S" side (sensitive). I caught one
mouse within a couple of hours and another later that day. Then, just to
make sure- I set one near the pantry in the kitchen and got one there too.
I don't know how many we have, but the traps are working great so far. The
traps in the attic have been clean for 3 days now, so I guess the attic is
clear of the varmints.
I hates meeces to pieces!
Mouse Infestation
Summary: When you find evidence of a mouse infestation it's time to take action. Here's some information that will help you catch these rodent pests in no time.
It's fairly natural to think your entire house has a mouse infrestation when you discover your first mouse hiding in your pantry. When that little fellow jumps off the shelf and runs across your foot you feel totally violated. What nerve that mouse has fouling your fresh, clean shelves. Sort of makes you want to clear out the entire house and start over fresh.
Before you back up the dump truck to your back door however, let's understand how a mouse is likely to
operate should one gain entry to your fortress. We know mice have poor eyesight and are somewhat timid in new surroundings.
First, check the outside for possible entry points. Seal up all the holes including the tiny ones where you think "No way can a mouse get in there!" Just so happens, a mouse can negotiate a hole no larger than a dime. I like sealing holes with a product called Xcluder. It's cheap and easy to use.
'So, let's assume it has not gained the confidence to travel much more than fifteen to twenty-five feet from its nest. That small radius is about all that mouse really needs to satisfy its need to explore during its entire lifetime.
Armed with that information you need to discover where that mouse might be nesting. So, what does a mouse nest look like? Look for a tight little pile of torn up paper and cellophane, string, cotton and other miscellaneous bits and pieces of stuff. It should also have lots of little mouse droppings mixed in, a sure sign of a mouse home. Once you locate the nesting materials you will know exactly where to lay out your mouse traps and how many traps to put out.
We suggest purchasing a couple dozen small mouse snap traps or a multi-catch trap and placing the traps out all along the walls of the entire room where the nest or fresh droppings were found. Be sure to place the traps directly flush against the baseboards. Mice normally like to travel along walls to “feel” their way around a room.
There is no reason to place traps in every room when you understand the size of the roaming territory of the average mouse. This little bit of information will most like result in a fast catch and problem resolution.
Comments
dont panic
19 Jan 2010, 18:04
19 Jan 2010, 18:04
Leonard
03 Jun 2010, 13:48
03 Jun 2010, 13:48
I’ve just moved into a used trailer home and one night a left a bag of
chocolate Hersey candy on my counter and when I woke up the whole bag was
gone. Now 4 months later I’m finding the candy just laying in different
places on the floor and high on shelves. How would I get control of this?
Ask the Exterminator
03 Jun 2010, 13:58
03 Jun 2010, 13:58
You failed to indicate if you were still seeing signs of rodent activity.
If you are or are unsure, you can put out glue traps to see if there is any
indication of rodents. The traps I recommend can be found at
http://shop.asktheexterminator.com/rodents/mouse-glue-traps/trapper-ltd-mic
e-boards-272.html. Most people put out one or two traps, but pros would put
out 12 or more traps at a time. Be sure to place the traps flush against
baseboards or walls.
Steve
21 Jun 2010, 22:31
21 Jun 2010, 22:31
About 3 days ago I saw one run across the garage against the wall connected
to my house. Went out and got 6 traps, putting a tiny bit of peanut butter
on them, so far in the last 3 days it appears we have caught Mom, Dad, and
4 babies..Man I hope that is it. I out another one out there a litte while
ago, Ill check it in the morning.
Jon
07 Jul 2010, 15:47
07 Jul 2010, 15:47
We've had mice for about a year now. We've had pretty good luck catching
them with the electronic traps that electrocute them - a little pricey but
safer with younger kids around. Anyway, it was pretty bad up until about a
month ago - they seem to have mostly moved on for the summer. None in the
traps for a while anyway. I think I've heard one occasionally though, so
they're not entirely gone. We did put out some poison in the crawlspace and
inaccessible areas, but haven't found any dead ones just lying around.
So, my question is, even if we are able to get rid of the mice, we can smell them - it's an old house, and I was wondering if there's any good way to deodorize the house after a mouse infestation? We are planning to sell the house, so we will have less furniture, etc. around and can do a more thorough cleaning, but how do we get rid of the odor?
Thanks!
So, my question is, even if we are able to get rid of the mice, we can smell them - it's an old house, and I was wondering if there's any good way to deodorize the house after a mouse infestation? We are planning to sell the house, so we will have less furniture, etc. around and can do a more thorough cleaning, but how do we get rid of the odor?
Thanks!
kirstie
19 Jul 2010, 19:23
19 Jul 2010, 19:23
we have caught 3 mice now in the livin room in just wunderin if u cud tell
me if we will have them upstairs as well cus im scared them being round me
and my family i no they cant hurt you but im just scared off them i no i
shudnt be but its just the fort of them being round me!!!
Ask the Exterminator
19 Jul 2010, 23:46
19 Jul 2010, 23:46
They might migrate upstairs, but usually they will stay within about 15
feet of an available food source.
Beth Cochran
05 Aug 2010, 14:11
05 Aug 2010, 14:11
we've caught 10 mice in the space of a week, we know they are hiding under
the bath we have caught several babies and several larger mice. We have 2
traps in the bathroom directly flush against the wall and they are doing
the trick. How long do you think this is going to last? I've gone out of my
mind!
Ask the Exterminator
05 Aug 2010, 14:31
05 Aug 2010, 14:31
It will last until you've caught every mouse. Usually, if you put out
enough traps, you can eliminate the problem in about a week. I recommend
you triple the traps.
michelle
15 Sep 2010, 11:16
15 Sep 2010, 11:16
I heard a mouse about 3 weeks ago in my kitchen. I got glue traps and
placed 2 of them out and within 2 days cought 2 mice, however I heard once
again late at night them banging around the kitchen as if they were
preparing dinner! In the last week I have cought 6 yes 6 mice and there are
at least 2 more! I have lived here for 13 months and this problem is only a
month old now. What can I do to get rid of them ALL! They are taking over!
Ask the Exterminator
15 Sep 2010, 11:22
15 Sep 2010, 11:22
You'll never get rid of them until you determine how they are getting
inside the house from the outside. You need to close off any hole or fix
door thresholds to stop the mice from entering.
David
21 Sep 2010, 12:54
21 Sep 2010, 12:54
I had a mouse problem last year. I blocked all the holes that I could find
and caught at least 3 of them in traps the rest most of died by the posion
under the flooring as there was a terrible smell for about 2 weeks.
I hadn't seen anything until yesterday, looks like a different family as previous one were brown and this one was black (extra fast). I know that there was posion left from the previous year but this has dissappeared now. How could I have a new infestation? Also has it become immune to the posion as it seems to have finished it over the year and is now looking out for food elsewhere.
I hadn't seen anything until yesterday, looks like a different family as previous one were brown and this one was black (extra fast). I know that there was posion left from the previous year but this has dissappeared now. How could I have a new infestation? Also has it become immune to the posion as it seems to have finished it over the year and is now looking out for food elsewhere.
Ask the Exterminator
21 Sep 2010, 13:16
21 Sep 2010, 13:16
Obviously, you have not sealed up all the entry holes. With cold weather
coming, rodents are alreay seeking inside nesting opportunities. Check and
seal again. Get fresh bait and put it out there.
David
24 Sep 2010, 09:44
24 Sep 2010, 09:44
Thank you for your comments, although I haven't found any other holes I
have put additional traps down with a different type of bait, fresh new
poison and I have brought an expensive plug in device to vibrate the
electrical wires and send out the non audable sound for rodents £50. I
have also set up a video camera to monitor the whole are in the kitchen. I
haven't seen any evidence of mice. Has the electrical device worked (do
they work?) or has the mouse carried the poison back to its nest and died
there?
Ask the Exterminator
24 Sep 2010, 10:24
24 Sep 2010, 10:24
There is no laboratory evidence that the electronic devices do anything.
Zero! The mice could have died. If you wish to continue this converation,
please use the "Ask a Question" button at the top of this page.
Kieta
07 Oct 2010, 05:50
07 Oct 2010, 05:50
Help!! I am losing my mind. I have been trying to catch a mouse for about
two weeks with no luck. I have glue traps set and they pushed away from
where I sat they. Got rid of those traps and bought victor gule traps. I
baited with peanut butter and still no luck. Any sugguests.
Ask the Exterminator
07 Oct 2010, 12:35
07 Oct 2010, 12:35
I've got lots of articles that discuss the proper way to set and position
traps. Click on "Rodents" on the left side of any page.
Joanna
19 Oct 2010, 13:36
19 Oct 2010, 13:36
Hi,
Help!
We are going crazy and I am loosing sleep at night. We have mice in our walls. We have cleaned well and checked to make sure all food was properly stored in safe containers. We had an extermination company come out and they set two c-con style traps with poison, regular traps and glue traps. The problem seem to be getting worse. We went out on our own and bought pellets, and peanut butter and placed them on extra traps. we caught a baby. we have not seen big mice since about 5 days ago. We sealed all tiny holes and creaks and wall borders to avoid entry and exit points. My husband is also working on sealing all entry points that we can see from the outside.
Is there anything else we can do?
Last night was the first night in weeks that we have not heard or seen activity.
could they have gotten spooked with our "over-kill-warfare gadgets" and left our home? We do not smell anything either.....
Please help!!!!
Desperate Joanna
Help!
We are going crazy and I am loosing sleep at night. We have mice in our walls. We have cleaned well and checked to make sure all food was properly stored in safe containers. We had an extermination company come out and they set two c-con style traps with poison, regular traps and glue traps. The problem seem to be getting worse. We went out on our own and bought pellets, and peanut butter and placed them on extra traps. we caught a baby. we have not seen big mice since about 5 days ago. We sealed all tiny holes and creaks and wall borders to avoid entry and exit points. My husband is also working on sealing all entry points that we can see from the outside.
Is there anything else we can do?
Last night was the first night in weeks that we have not heard or seen activity.
could they have gotten spooked with our "over-kill-warfare gadgets" and left our home? We do not smell anything either.....
Please help!!!!
Desperate Joanna
Ask the Exterminator
19 Oct 2010, 13:49
19 Oct 2010, 13:49
Doubtful that they left, but the poison may have killed them. Fresh
activity is the only way you'll know if you still have them.
Joanna
19 Oct 2010, 13:57
19 Oct 2010, 13:57
Hi Again,
Thanks for the info...
We never saw droppings either which was very strange to us. My hope is that they have died. We have not heard them or seem them but it has not been 48 hours yet.
thanks again,
Thanks for the info...
We never saw droppings either which was very strange to us. My hope is that they have died. We have not heard them or seem them but it has not been 48 hours yet.
thanks again,
Abby
25 Oct 2010, 06:14
25 Oct 2010, 06:14
We are moving from a rental, into our first home. Some of our belongings
have been in boxes for a week or longer, while we wait to close on our
house. The rental has recently become infested with mice. Each time we
seal off a hole, a new hole appears, each time we set a trap we catch a
mouse. Obviously, we need to seal again. How do we prevent this problem
from following us to our new house? I am worried that the mice will
stowaway in the boxes that we've already packed. Also, I have heard of
people "sealing" the crawl space. How does one "seal" a crawl space?
Ask the Exterminator
25 Oct 2010, 14:54
25 Oct 2010, 14:54
You seal a house from the outside. Any hole larger than a dime should be
sealed. Spaces under door and garage door thresholds should be closed
tightly. Only then can you start to eliminate the interior mice with
confidence that you are getting all of them.
Melissa
29 Oct 2010, 18:37
29 Oct 2010, 18:37
Hi, I found out I have mice recently. We found them under the kitchen sink,
and it looks like it was about a week or so of activity, we cleaned it all
up and sealed the visible holes, and placed a human mouse maze in as well
as electronic deterrent. Yesterday, my cat killed one on the second floor
and then i found one in the humane trap, then when my friend was leaving
the house we caught one rushing into the house from a corner in the front
door. We live in a townhouse complex. And we dont know where this is coming
from- if the neighbors have it. My homestay student is on the 3rd floor and
she had a garbage outside on her balconey. We think it was that combined
with warmth that attracted them. They were a mottled brown and really tiny
maybe an inch and a half. What do we need to do to get rid of them? I have
a cat and dog in the house. Thank you!
Ask the Exterminator
31 Oct 2010, 08:40
31 Oct 2010, 08:40
Melissa,
I just answered a similar question right before yours. Sealing the holes on the inside just made the mice move to other areas of the house. Read my articles on how to properly position mouse traps.
I just answered a similar question right before yours. Sealing the holes on the inside just made the mice move to other areas of the house. Read my articles on how to properly position mouse traps.
Jane
02 Dec 2010, 15:28
02 Dec 2010, 15:28
I have a serious mouse problem. Old adobe house with lots of entry points
that can't be sealed. Should I use poison?
Ask the Exterminator
03 Dec 2010, 15:20
03 Dec 2010, 15:20
Anything can be sealed, but if you don't want to deal with that task you
should set up traps. I never recommend putting poison bait inside a home.
Read my other articles on how to properly set up traps and pre-bait.
Ann
03 Dec 2010, 21:09
03 Dec 2010, 21:09
We have a new home with spray foam insulation around the interior of the
foundation but found a mouse that we assume got in through the open garage
door when we were doing exterior work. We saw & caught one 6 days ago,
have set traps but have seen no more signs. What additional steps can we
take to ensure there are no more mice.
Ask the Exterminator
04 Dec 2010, 08:55
04 Dec 2010, 08:55
Make sure you continue to monitor for new activity with numerous trap
placements. Close any openings to the outside that are larger than a dime.
jenn
05 Dec 2010, 01:10
05 Dec 2010, 01:10
Hello. We have mouse problem. We cought one under the kitchen sink and a
total of 6 in the garage. 5 of them were tiny little babies. We are just
wondering how many more could there be? How many Babies do they normally
have?? And what kind of material should we use to seal the gap on the
bottom of the garage door?
Ask the Exterminator
06 Dec 2010, 09:35
06 Dec 2010, 09:35
Mice have about 5 to 6 babies per litter and they can reproduce every 3
weeks.
You may need a new garage door gasket. Watch my short video at http://www.asktheexterminator.com/video/Mice_-_Garage_Door_Seal.shtml.
You may need a new garage door gasket. Watch my short video at http://www.asktheexterminator.com/video/Mice_-_Garage_Door_Seal.shtml.
Jen
25 Jun 2011, 18:44
25 Jun 2011, 18:44
Well we have a VERY old home (almost 100 years old. We have never actually
saw a mouse, but there are droppings EVERYWHERE!! First they started just
in the pantry in our kitchen (in which the little critters also chewed
through some of the goodies in there as well). We then purchased blocks of
green rat poison & placed the poison on the ground in the pantry. The
suckers finished all the poison. However, we are now finding droppings in
other areas of the house & still finding them in the pantry, in my son's
room both on the ground as well as in his clothing drawer under his
clothes. My husband also found droppings upstairs in our closet & under a
pile of clothes waiting to be donated. We continue to put poison down, but
it appears that the mice are eating it & not dying!! HELP!
Ask the Exterminator
26 Jun 2011, 11:17
26 Jun 2011, 11:17
Make sure you clean up droppings everytime you find them. Otherwise, you
will never know if you are looking at new or old rodent activity. I never
recommend putting rodent poison inside a home. Rodents stuff the poison in
their cheeks and often drop small amounts as they scamper about. That means
they can contaminate your pots and pans. Plus, the EPA has just passed a
law that will prevent the sale of rodent baits to homeowners. My suggestion
is to use snap traps. There is no mistaking when you win that battle.
It sounds like you have multiple pockets of rodent activity. Usually, mice stay within about 20 feet of their nesting site their entire lives.
Here are two links to short videos on how to properly pre-bait and position mouse traps:
http://www.asktheexterminator.com/video/Mice_Trap.shtml
http://www.asktheexterminator.com/video/How_To_Catch_A_Mouse.shtml
It sounds like you have multiple pockets of rodent activity. Usually, mice stay within about 20 feet of their nesting site their entire lives.
Here are two links to short videos on how to properly pre-bait and position mouse traps:
http://www.asktheexterminator.com/video/Mice_Trap.shtml
http://www.asktheexterminator.com/video/How_To_Catch_A_Mouse.shtml
Leah
09 Jul 2011, 05:03
09 Jul 2011, 05:03
I have had mice for since the fall. I thought they would move out for the
summer, but I am still finding droppings. I live in the country, so am I
doomed to keep having mice issues? I am not sure how they are getting in,
but I have heard them in the attic through the winter. I am wondering if it
is possible to get ill from droppings in places I can't clean such as
behind walls? I have caught probably 6 or 7 so far over the winter and
still have signs of more. I keep my food in containers and can't understand
why my house is attracting them as there seems to me to be no accessibly
food available to them. Is it time to call an exterminator? Also when I
clean my attic space out should I be wearing a respirator? Help!
Ask the Exterminator
11 Jul 2011, 12:06
11 Jul 2011, 12:06
Mice don't "move out" once they have established a nest. So, fix the
exterior holes that allow them inside and then set traps. Make sure to keep
grass and weeds trimmed low and remove any piles of things that are against
the exterior foundation walls. If you allow the mice to continue you will
smell their urine for years to come. You'll need a respirator and goggles,
depending upon how many droppings have collected.
Alicia
22 Aug 2011, 09:53
22 Aug 2011, 09:53
Please Please Please help. My elderly mother and I just found what we think
is a mouse infestation. We went into our pantry and found a candy bar
gnawed on. Upon inspection of the house it made a hole in a bag of dog food
and our basement area with a lot of clothes had droppings all over. I
checked our living and dinning room and it seems their droppings are around
the parameter of the room. Not a lot in a specific area, but around the
rooms. Since it is in our basement and living/dining room areas we are not
sure who to treat it. Why do they like to go through clothes? Besides
traps and poison, how do we handle clean up...throw out food in fridge and
freezer?? Is the air in the house contaminated? Any advice would be greatly
appreciated.
Ask the Exterminator
31 Aug 2011, 16:55
31 Aug 2011, 16:55
The house air is not contaminated. They will chew on clothing in order to
obtain nesting materials. Clutter provides ample nesting areas for mice.
Get things organized and sweep up all the droppings with a broom and
discard.
Mice urinate as they move about, so you'll need to clean up where they have traveled. Any detergent will do the trick. You can buy an inexpensive black-light flashlight to shine on surfaces to determine where the mice have been. Their urine glows under the shine of black light.
Mice stay fairly close to where they nest. Usually within 15 to 25 feet. Set up lots of snap traps along walls as described in the article above. You'll need no less than a dozen traps or more.
Mice urinate as they move about, so you'll need to clean up where they have traveled. Any detergent will do the trick. You can buy an inexpensive black-light flashlight to shine on surfaces to determine where the mice have been. Their urine glows under the shine of black light.
Mice stay fairly close to where they nest. Usually within 15 to 25 feet. Set up lots of snap traps along walls as described in the article above. You'll need no less than a dozen traps or more.
mary dietz
04 Oct 2011, 09:20
04 Oct 2011, 09:20
have had the exterminator in to set traps, but I have three air vents that
smell like urine and not sure what else. What should I do? Get a duct
cleaner in?
Ask the Exterminator
05 Oct 2011, 12:57
05 Oct 2011, 12:57
The collected urine needs to be cleaned out of the air vents. The smell
will, otherwise, last a long time.
WorriedWoman
01 Nov 2011, 05:19
01 Nov 2011, 05:19
HELP US!!!!! We have a HORRRRRIBLE infestation. A school across d street is
being torn down and now our house is infested. I have 3 kids all 3 or less
and 1 is now crawling. They are in EVERY room and even in my kids beds. We
can't afford an exterminator and the walls where they are the most, I
believe, or being insulated tomorrow so im scared they will roam our house
more. We've spent hundreds on glue traps. We can't take much more our
sanity and pockets wont allow it. What can we do to keep our family safe.
Please HELP! Also it's winter so im freaking out
Ask the Exterminator
17 Nov 2011, 13:21
17 Nov 2011, 13:21
You need to work on sealing up the entry points where the mice are getting
inside. If you don't you will just be inviting them in. You cannot begin to
control the problem until you have closed all the entryways.
