A Mouse in the House
It was a rough week last week. Holiday was over. Family time interrupted by work and school and I was SICK. Sinus infection and cough that wouldn’t quit, Fibro pain and Pink eye. Ugh – THEN while making kids’ sandwiches before school a mouse ran from under the oven to under the fridge!
This chick doesn’t get spooked my mice. But I do want them out of my house because of the trouble they can cause.
So OPERATION EVICTION ensued!
Over 10 traps set, storage areas cleaned up, garage swept
and utility access holes sealed up. So far…
ME – 1 MICE – 9
They ate the cheese and still escaped untimely death!
I feel like Bill Murray in Caddy Shack. This ain’t over since I found Hershey kiss wrappers in the basement!
I hope you don’t have any unwanted guests but if you suspect them or fear them coming soon,
check out these tips for mouse management.
Mouse Motel
You don’t want your house to be the winter retreat for the local mice. As temps drop they are looking for shelter but they can do damage to your home – chewing wires, leaving odors of pee and poo and just scaring the heck out of you.
Did you know a mouse can jump 12 inches high, climb up walls and sneak into a space as small as a dime? That’s really small.
At this time of year, you need to seal up and lock out drafts and critters. Let’s talk about the garage and the utility room. These are the places mice love to enter. I am all for doing pest control that is non toxic and cruelty free. I like to focus on keeping them out instead of exterminating them after. These tasks are easy and not expensive.
You can definitely do it yourself.
Critter Control
- Keep the garage door closed – Many of us leave the garage door open all day but it is crucial to close your door so birds, squirrels, cats and mice don’t just walk right in
- Clean out the garage – Bird food, dog food, extra pantry foods are very tempting for critters, especially cold critters seeking a spot to cozy up in.
- Check the garage door gasket – It is the trim along the bottom edge of your door. This rubber tube flattens and seals when it hits the floor. Over time it can tear and rot leaving an easy access for pests. Some tubes slide into the track and some are glue on. Call your manufacturer if you are not sure. A sticker should be on the door somewhere with info.
- Inspect the perimeter of your garage walls – Are there any breaks in the cement around the base of the floor or door frames that are sizable? Use a cement patch to fill gaps and seal up.
- Check utility line access into home – Walk around the outside of the house and make sure the spots where utilities enter the home are sealed. Mice can crawl in beside wires and pipes. Use caulk or a foaming insulation product like Great Stuff. Remember, Great Stuff is super sticky when wet. Apply small amount and let foam rise. Excess can be cut away with box cutter when dry and hardened.
- Make sure windows are fully closed – You would be surprised how often it happens. You close the window but not all the way, especially with double hung windows.
Extermination Options
Traditional traps – quick and hopefully less painful passing. Must be careful setting traps that you do not get snapped in process. You have to handle dead mouse on trap to dispose. Invert plastic bag on your hand like picking up dog doo and pick up trap base and dispose.
Sticky traps – Easy for you to set out but can be cruel as little critter struggles and death can take while. I hate these things.
Catch and release – Humane, often reusable. Only problem is where you release the mice. Let them go right outside and they will be back! Drive them far away to release.
Poison Bait – Easy for you to set out. Mouse eats bait, goes out into world to seek water and dies outside. You hope. If critter dies in the walls, you may have an odor. Be careful of your pets getting into the bait or possibly eating the poisoned rodent. Owls and other wild animals may also eat the poisoned mice and ultimately die themselves. Avoid the poison as much as possible.
Sound devices – Many devices are available that emit high pitched sounds to repel rodents. I have not had experience with them. But worth a look to avoid messier methods of mouse control.
Calling a pro – This is an option but these tasks are pretty easy and nothing I would spend money on unless an infestation ensues. It’s just a little mouse!
Letting your teenager drive is a much scarier idea!
