To get rid of mice, seal entry points and make inviting traps. Act the minute you see signs of a mice infestation. A female mouse gives birth to an average of six mice—and can do it every three weeks. All those babies will be ready to mate in about two months. Under ideal conditions, a single female can produce 2,500 heirs in six months!
At the first sign that you have mice, follow these tips for eliminating them:
- Seal cracks and crevices. Use steel wool, which the mice can’t chew through. Fill gaps between the outside of the house and the inside, and between unfinished areas, such as basements and crawl spaces, and finished living quarters.
- Set traps around a room’s perimeter. Place the trap perpendicular to the wall, with the baited side facing and touching the wall. Mice travel along walls, whiskers touching the walls, for security. Set enough traps in the right spots, exterminators say, and you won’t even have to bait them.
- Wear gloves when setting traps. Otherwise, mice may smell your human scent and steer clear. Rubber gloves work well.
- Bait traps with peanut butter. It’s fragrant and hard to snatch without triggering the trap. Smear the peanut butter on the top and bottom of the bait pedal.
- Bait traps with a cotton ball. Cotton makes a great nest liner, so this will appeal to a mouse’s nesting instincts. It’s also great for long-term traps—those you might set in the garage or basement to catch new intruders—because cotton doesn’t get stale and moldy.
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Mice reproduce quickly, so act right away if you suspect a mouse problem.
