The Top 5 Effective Methods to Get Rid of Mice

With fall upon us and winter soon to follow, mice are looking for a nice warm place to nest, and your home could host some unwanted visitors before you know it. Mice not only cause damage to your home and property, but they also carry diseases that will put you and your family at risk.

But no fear, Major Pest Control in Edmonton knows tips and tricks to help you not only get rid of a mouse infestation but keep them from coming back!

Major Pest Control is an expert at controlling pest and mice infestations and has been doing it for years. This post will help you learn what you can do to take back control of your home and get rid of mice for good.

Quick run-down of all points

Always take all safety precautions, including wearing gloves, long sleeves, long pants, and goggles, and reading and following instructions and labels at all times. This will keep you and your family safe.

Become familiar with all the signs of mouse activity: chew, claw, and gnaw marks, food crumbs where they don’t belong, mouse droppings, strange pet behavior, and more.

Clean your home inside and out to remove their food sources and potential nesting materials.

Seal up any potential entry points – mice can get in through openings as small as a quarter of an inch. Sealing these up will ensure no new mice will enter while you’re trying to eliminate them.

Setting mice traps – learn about the various models, what the differences are, and find out which ones are most effective for your home.

If you have a larger infestation, or your efforts have not worked this far, there are different chemical baits that you can use – with caution – to get rid of mice from your home and property. Be advised that this should only be used as a last resort.

Learn common myths about what not to do to get rid of mice, such as depending on cats, ultrasound, fabric softeners, and more. Use your time on the effective methods to get rid of a mouse infestation.

Once you have eliminated the mice, make your home unattractive to them to avoid an infestation in the future, such as cleaning up food spills right away, fixing leaky pipes that can serve as a water source, and routinely inspecting your home for entry points.

If your efforts are unsuccessful, call a professional pest control company to help you address your mouse infestation.

Safety Precautions Before You Start

There are important safety considerations you should be aware of and follow when getting rid of mice in your home, business, or on your property. This will help you and your family or staff stay safe while protecting the environment.

• Handle pesticides safely: ensure all pesticide products are clearly marked, kept out of reach of children and pets, and stored in a locked cabinet when not in use.
• Do not use chemical baits inside – for safety reasons. In their place, use mouse traps, repellents, and exclusion tactics outlined in this article. If you must use them, ensure you use tamper-resistant bait containers to prevent children and pets from accidentally coming into contact with the bait.
• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, goggles, and long sleeves and pants, when handling baits, pesticides, or dead mice for disposal.
• Always read and follow the instructions on all rodenticides, pesticides, and any toxic products before handling them.

Major Pest Control Edmonton shares 5 Effective Methods to Get Rid of Mice

1. Know the Signs of Mice Activity

Mice are very obvious house guests, and they leave evidence of their infestation everywhere. Learning what to look for and where will help you eliminate these pests and prevent them from returning. Once you know where mice are nesting, hiding, and feeding, you can set traps in the right locations to eliminate them faster.

Signs of Mice Activity:

Chew and bite marks on food packaging in pantry shelves or cupboards. There may also be scratches or chew marks on the floor trim or on the baseboards.

Holes in the flooring and walls, just over an inch in diameter. You will notice that these holes are very clean-cut.

Food crumbs or debris on shelves, in the pantry, or unusual places – like the middle of the floor.

Mouse droppings will be left where mice are most active, such as behind cabinets, under sinks, and even in the corners of rooms. Use a light source to help you spot these droppings more easily. The droppings will be small, oblong, and dark brown or black.

You may see dark spots on floors or carpets; these are mouse urine stains.

Shredded fabric, paper, pet hair, string, and more make up mouse nests. If you spot this or these types of materials, those will indicate the presence of mice.

Your cats and dogs may know you have mice before you! Behavior such as barking, pawing, or scratching, especially under cabinets or appliances. They smell, hear, and may have seen the mice. Pay close attention to where the pets are most agitated and start your search here.

Anyone with a keen nose may smell a musty scent, indicating a larger infestation has taken hold.

You may hear scratches and squeaks. Especially in walls, where mice like to hide, and especially at night, because they are nocturnal, and therefore most active at night.

Finally, live mouse sightings are the most sure-fire sign that you have a mouse infestation.

2. Make it Difficult for Mice to Find Food and Shelter

If mice can no longer find food, water, and shelter within your home, they will not be so eager to stay. Start by cleaning up your home – inside and out. This means cleaning up any food messes, taking out the garbage promptly, and avoiding leaving your pets’ food out all the time. Reducing clutter will also remove their hiding spots and eliminate potential nesting material. This will also help you avoid a re-infestation in the future.

Clean Inside Your Home:

Store dry goods in airtight containers – glass or metal is best, since mice are unable to chew through these types of containers. Avoid plastic containers, as these will not stop a mouse.

Do not leave your cat or dog’s food out all day. Feed them, then remove their food dish and wash it thoroughly. Clean up any food spills immediately, and wash dishes promptly after eating.

Take out the garbage and recycling regularly. Mice can find food in garbage cans and will chew up paper, plastic, and cardboard to make their nests.

Mice will also make nests out of clothing, rugs, blankets, towels, and more. Store these in heavy-duty plastic storage bins with lids to keep mice out.

Look around your home and eliminate any areas that may be particularly attractive to mice – dark corners, furniture to hide under or behind.

Clean Outside Your Home:

If your pets have food and water dishes outside, remove them when not in use to make the area less attractive to pets.

Have lids on tight to outdoor garbage and recycling bins to prevent attracting mice.

Remove foliage and tree branches within 3 feet of the house foundation, and remove any clutter, junk, rocks, or lumber that could provide hiding spots for mice. Store any equipment in a shed.

Wood piles should be stored off the ground by at least 18 inches and a minimum of 12 feet away from your house.

Keep your home well landscaped. Regularly mow your lawn and trim plants and trees back to reduce the amount of cover mice have around your home.

3. Seal Up Any Entry Points

The reason mice want into your home is that they are looking for food and shelter. Especially as autumn gets colder, mice will be attracted to warm indoor spaces to spend the winter. You may think your home is safe; however, mice are small and can squeeze through tiny gaps. It is recommended that you patch any holes larger than a quarter of an inch, as mice can gain entry through them.

Fix or replace windows and doors to eliminate cracks and gaps, and seal holes in your siding, doorways, and foundation. You can do this inexpensively with a tube of caulking from a hardware store.

Also, look for any utility entry points into your home, such as water, air conditioning, and electricity. There are many ways to fill these gaps, such as heavy-gauge wire screen and metal-mesh fillers.

Finally, install metal screens over vents to eliminate that access point. The professionals advise against expandable or spray foam, as it is not mouse-proof; mice will chew through it to gain access to your home.

Once you’ve eliminated mouse entry points into your home, you can further make your home uninviting to these rodent pests by adding door sweeps to the bottom of every external door to help prevent mice from squeezing in through the bottom of the door. Prevent mice from climbing drains by adding sheet metal 12” up the pipes. Paint with a glossy varnish to make it more challenging to climb.

4. Put Out Mouse Traps

Now that you’ve cleaned up inside and out, as well as sealed up entry points into your home, you can start focusing on getting rid of your mouse infestation with mouse traps. There are several different styles to choose from. Read about all the different types and make the best choice for your property.

• Glue Traps
• Live Traps
• Snap Traps
• Automatic Multiple Catch Traps
• Baiting the Traps

i) Glue Traps

As the name suggests, glue traps are coated in sticky glue. As a mouse steps onto the glue, its feet stick, and it cannot escape. Not only is this type of trap less effective than other traps, but it is also inhumane and must be adhered to the floor to be effective. For these reasons, these mousetraps are the least recommended.

ii) Live Traps

Live traps are used to catch and release mice. While many people like the idea of these traps, they aren’t ideal. If you release the mice back into your neighborhood, they are likely to find their way back to your yard, and if you have not sealed up entry points into your home, they will likely end up back where they started.

Relocating the mice to a less inhabited area will likely result in the mice dying from exposure, and live traps are significantly more work! If you decide to use live traps, check with your municipality, as they aren’t legal everywhere.

iii) Snap Traps

The most popular traps are affordable and easy to find. These traps can be placed and reset easily, and are price-conscious, so they can be disposed of when necessary. The snap provides an instant kill for these pests, making them relatively humane.

However, because they need to be baited and set out, these should be used in areas where curious children or pets are unlikely to be tempted to investigate. Great places for snap traps include under appliances, in attics, and in crawl spaces.

iv) Automatic Multiple Catch Traps

These traps are great for large infestations, as they allow multiple mice to be caught at once without needing to be reset. They can be easily set in hard-to-reach areas, making them quite attractive to homeowners with large infestations. However, it’s important to note that these trap styles do not kill the mice; the mice must be disposed of.

v) Baiting the Trap

Regardless of the trap you choose, you will want to bait it with foods that mice love, such as seeds or peanut butter. Placement of the traps is also important – put them in areas frequently travelled by mice, where you’ve seen the most evidence of mouse activity. Check your traps often to ensure they are still in working order, and replace your traps as they become used, as mice can smell dead rodents on the traps after a while.

Click here to read our blog on getting rid of mice: https://majorpestcontrol.ca/mice-control-edmonton/

Chemical Mouse Baits for Large Infestations

If you are having difficulty getting rid of your infestation, or if it is particularly large, chemical mouse baits, also called rodenticides can be used, but only as a last resort. Chemical baits contain poisons designed to kill rodents. If you do go this route, always read the instructions thoroughly and take all the precautions.

They are fast-acting but can be dangerous, as mice may move chemical baits throughout the home, where pets, children, or wildlife may find them. You also have to search your house to find the dead mice. There are two different types to choose from:

i) Anticoagulants

These chemical baits affect the mouse’s ability to clot blood, and the mice then die of internal bleeding. Chemicals include chlorophacinone, warfarin, and diphacinone, and often come as pellets or blocks. For these chemicals to work, the mice must eat them more than once.

They aren’t always effective, so if you still have mice after using this type of chemical bait, you will need to get the second-generation anticoagulant.

The second generation will work on mice that are resistant to the first type of anticoagulant bait. If those don’t work, there are also second-generation anticoagulants (designed to kill mice that are resistant to first-generation formulas), such as difethialone and brodifacoum.

ii) Non-Anticoagulants

These chemical baits use zinc phosphide, cholecalciferol, and bromethalin. Be aware that some non-anticoagulants are single-dose, while others require multiple doses, so know which type you have. These work in various ways and are usually sold in grain or seed mixes, such as corn, oats, and wheat. They can be in block, pouch, packet, or pellet form, all of which have their own pros and cons:

iii) Pellet and Block Baits

The pros are that blocks and pellets are moisture-resistant and easy for mice to pick up and consume. The cons are that they are easy for mice to carry off and relocate, which can cause concern, especially with children or pets in the house.

iv) Loose Meal Baits

The pros are that these baits are less likely to be relocated. The cons are that they absorb moisture easily, which can cause them to spoil; therefore, don’t use them in damp areas.

v) Packet Baits

The pros are that they are sealed in their own package, allowing them to last longer than other types of bait. They also let you see if the mice have eaten any of the bait, since they have to chew through the package to access it. The cons are that these packets also attract other wildlife, pets, and curious children.

While chemical baits, also called rodenticides, can be effective, there’s an inherent hazard to them as well. Use them with caution, check them often, and keep them out of areas where pets and children are present.

vi) Baiting Techniques

It’s important to place the bait strategically. Ideally, between where you suspect the mouse nest is and their food source. That way, mice will be more likely to see the bait every day. However, mice can be wary of bait; therefore, you can make it more attractive by setting out food without rodenticides, so mice will be more likely to take the bait when you place it. This is called pre-baiting, and you should pre-bait for three or four days before adding the chemical bait.

If mice have not visited the bait station, move it five feet in any direction in hopes of attracting mice. Keep your bait fresh, since mice will not be attracted to it if it’s moldy, insect-infested, or too old.

vii) Safety Concerns with Chemical Bait

When using chemical bait, read all instructions thoroughly and follow all outlined precautions, including gloves, goggles, closed-toe shoes, and long pants. When using chemical bait indoors, always use a tamper-proof bait station that you place out of reach of pets, children, and wildlife you do not want to be affected, and avoid placing it in areas where it could get knocked over.

Mark on each bait station “RODENT BAIT – DO NOT TOUCH”. Store unused rodent bait out of reach of children and pets, and lock it up for added safety.

5. Avoid Ineffective Removal Techniques

While there’s a wealth of knowledge on how to get rid of mice all over the internet, be aware of the methods that aren’t effective, and save your time and energy on methods that will generate results. Here are some methods you can disregard:

i) Cats for mouse control

While a cat may in fact catch a few mice, a cat will not be able to eliminate an infestation. Also, since mice carry diseases that pets can contract, it’s not a good idea to get a cat to control your mouse problem.

ii) Mouse repellent plants

Many people swear that certain plants repel mice, such as onions, mint, lavender, daffodils, and even garlic. Simply planting these varieties in your yard and at the perimeter of your home will keep the pests away. Unfortunately, there isn’t any evidence that this works.

iii) Ultrasonic sound devices

These devices emit high-frequency sounds in order to drive mice and other pests away. However, while they may initially deter mice from coming into your home, they don’t actually work in the long term. The same can be said for hazing devices, like motion-activated sprinklers or imitation hawks. They will scare the mice at first, then the mice will get used to the devices and will not be deterred.

iv) Cheese please

Everyone knows the trope of a mouse loving cheese; however, this is just fiction. Mice prefer many other foods, so when baiting your traps, use high-aroma bait. Bacon, chicken, and peanut butter, to name a few things. If you don’t have that on hand, nuts or dehydrated fruit work well. Look at what food the mice are getting into in your home and use that instead of cheese.

v) Fabric softener

The idea behind this one is that mice will not be able to withstand its strong scent. However, while it might keep the mice away for a day or two when you first place the fabric softener, they will get used to it, as they did with the ultrasonic and hazing devices, and within days, they’ll get used to the scent and return to your property.

Be Mindful of Decreasing Mice Activity

Once you’ve stopped catching mice in the traps, you will want to verify that your efforts have been effective. Continue to watch for signs of mouse activity in your home. For example, check if you wish to watch for signs of reduced mouse activity in your home. Walk the perimeter of your home to ensure that entry points remain sealed, and there aren’t any new potential entry points.

Continue to have mouse traps in strategic locations. Watch for mouse droppings, and food or crumbs in areas they don’t belong. If you don’t see a decrease in mouse activity or are unsure whether all the mice are gone, your next step should be to call a professional pest control company to assess the situation and help get it under control.

How Do I Keep Mice Out of My House?

Prevention is far easier than elimination. Mouse-proofing your home stops infestations before they start.

Seal Entry Points

• Replace worn weather stripping on doors, windows, and screens immediately
• Install wire screens over vents (dryer vents, chimneys, roof gaps)
• Repair damaged door and window screens promptly
• Add door sweepers to all external doors
• Fill gaps smaller than ¼ inch—mice squeeze through tiny openings

Use Mouse Repellents

• Apply commercial or homemade repellent around your home’s perimeter and indoor entry points.
• DIY option 1: Equal parts apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle
• DIY option 2: Mix chili flakes, sliced habanero peppers, water, and dish soap
• Reapply monthly to maintain effectiveness
• Safe for pets and wildlife

Eliminate Water Sources

• Fix plumbing leaks immediately
• Improve home ventilation to reduce moisture
• Keep moisture barriers intact
• Close doors and windows during rainy or snowy weather
• Use a dehumidifier as needed
• Keep your home dry—mice are attracted to damp environments

Control Food Sources

• Clean up food spills and crumbs right away
• Do dishes promptly; don’t leave them sitting
• Remove pet food bowls after meals
• Establish a kitchen-only eating rule to contain mess
• Store food in sealed containers
• Keep garbage in sealed bins

Bottom line: Combine sealing, repellents, and eliminating water and food sources for maximum protection against mice.

FAQs About Mice

If mice have taken over your Edmonton home, we can help! While mouse infestations are frustrating, the good news is that the experts here at Major Pest Control will help you eliminate them, giving you back your home.

Our team offers various humane and eco-friendly mouse control services to residential and commercial properties all over Northern Alberta, including Edmonton, Leduc, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, and more!