Mice tend to venture indoors during the winter and look for a warm place to rest (just like us). If that place you want isn’t your kitchen, bedroom, or living room, there are a few ways to keep mice out of your home. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to mice, which is why we turned to an expert for the insider info on how to keep mice from taking up residence behind your fridge or under your stove.
Laura Dillard, research director at rodent control company Tomcat, is an expert in pest management and prevention. “Rodents are especially active in the winter as they seek out food, water, and warmth to survive the cold months,” she says. “Preventing an infestation requires vigilance and preparation to keep these pests at bay.”
We asked Dillard for her top tips for protecting your home and staying rodent-free during the holidays and beyond.
Use an all-natural deterrent
There are some all-natural substances that can be placed in place of traditional traps. CNET Home & Kitchen editor David Watsky found that peppermint spray is a particularly effective way to prevent mice from entering the home. “Peppermint oil is one of the most popular choices,” says Dillard, “though some people also put the urine of animals such as foxes or coyotes around their homes.
This often scares mice away so they don’t become a meal for a larger animal.” Seal entry points with steel wool Not surprisingly, mice can easily get through holes of all shapes and sizes, even those as small as a quarter-inch in diameter.
“Inspect the exterior of your home, including pipes, vents and foundation cracks,” says Dillard. “Seal gaps with materials such as steel wool and metal shimming to prevent chewing. Pay special attention to areas around doors and windows.” One method is to apply weatherproofing, which prevents animal entry. Products like expanding foam barriers get the job done and aren’t difficult to use and install.
Remove tempting food sources
Perhaps the best part of winter is cooking and baking our favorite comfort foods. Unfortunately, these dishes, along with leftover crumbs, pet food, birdseed and improperly stored pantry items can attract rodents looking for a meal.
“Store all food in tightly sealed containers made of glass, metate or heavy-duty plastic,” says Dillard. “Clean up spilled food immediately and take out the trash regularly. Don’t leave pet food or water bowls out overnight. And if you feed birds, keep the feeder away from your home and clean up any fallen seed.”
Most homeowners on shows like Hoarders deal with infestations of mice and rats. Rodents like to look for nesting materials like paper, fabric and insulation so they can burrow and stay warm.
“Keep storage areas organized and avoid leaving piles of newspapers, cardboard or clothing in basements and attics,” Dillard says. “Outdoors, cut vegetation near your home, remove piles of debris and store firewood at least 20 feet away from your home and above the ground.”
Early detection can sometimes prevent an entire infestation, but you need to know exactly what you’re looking for.
“Look for feces, gnaw marks on walls or ceilings or scratching sounds,” Dillard says. “Recognizing early signs can help you take immediate action.”
Know when to rely on traps
If prevention techniques have failed, there are a variety of baits and traps to lure rodents into an enclosure and/or kill them. Although standard mouse traps and glue still exist, they are not the most humane.
As an alternative, live catch traps exist to provide a no-kill option as a discreet solution to managing rodents without harm. “These traps are designed to safely capture rodents so they can be released back into the wild,” says Dillard. However, they must be used effectively. Here are his most helpful recommendations to get the most for your money.
Tips for Setting Rat Traps
Of course, by setting traps as well as taking preventative measures, homeowners have the best chance of eliminating the risk of pest invasion. Keep both methods in mind and mice may seek solace in a lost glove, not within the walls of your home.