Mice are common pests, especially during the chill months. When the weather is chill, mice come inside garages and homes to find food and a hot place to nest. They might be little, cute, and furry – but they can contaminate your food, chew up wiring, and spread diseases.
How to know if you have mice
It can be difficult to spot signs of mice before an infestation really takes hold. Signs can include:
- Little, dark dropping that are around the size of grains of rice
- Chewed holes in boxes and bags – mainly in food and pet food
- Greasy smear marks against floors, walls, and skirting boards
- Nest filled with wood shavings or shredded paper – these are generally found behind fridges under cabinets, or in other dark
- A powerful smell of ammonia from the mice urine, you can detect urine with the help of Arkfeld Pro Flat UV light easily.
Ways to get rid of rats & mice
- Reduce entry points
- Search for and block off common mouse & rat entry points
- Cracks in the foundation
- Gaps around utility pipes
- Cracks or pipes under door and ground-level windows
- Gaps around A/C pipes
- Tears, rips, or gaps in siding
One of the top ways to get rid of rats and mice is to get rid of their entry points. Look around your home and view if you can spot any openings or cracks these creatures could use to get inside.
Remember, the only need a little opening to squeeze though. Even the little crack should be sealed. Use steel or caulk wool to fill any spaces.
If you have any holes in your walls, patch them with hardware cloth or drywall. And if you have a chimney, ensure it is rightly capped.
Also be sure to take look at your windows and doors. There are other general entry points for rodents. If your windows are drafty and old, consider changing them.
Like hardware materials such as steel wool, silicone-based caulking, or weather stripping under exterior doors, and steel mesh or fencing with at least ¼ inch gauge or little to get rid of any rodent entry points.
Don’t give rodents shelter
Rodents are looking for shelter when they enter your house, it is very important to get rid of any potential nesting sites.
The primary place you should look is your attic. These creatures like to nest in this area because it is dark and secluded. So, if you have any openings in your attic, ensure they are sealed. Remove any storage items or old boxes that might provide shelter, and use metal or plastic storage where possible.
The next thing to perform is to check behind appliances and your crawl areas. Dispose of any nests you find and sanitize the place.
Remove their food sources
Getting rid of rats and mice is easier when you remove their food source. You can lessen their chances of coming inside by making water and food less accessible, so keeping your food sealed tight and wiping up any spills quickly is essential.
In your kitchen, wipe down all areas, sweep and mop the floor, and empty the waste regularly.
If you have pets, don’t leave their food out overnight. Instead, pick up their bowls after eating and put the food away.
You should also keep your yard tidy and clean. If there is anything rodents can eat outside, they will be attracted to your property.
Use smells
Mice are extremely sensitive to scents so using substances that have a powerful smell is a best way to deter mice. Peppermint essential oil and clove essential oil have powerful scents that will repel mice. Did you know that mouse don’t like spicy things? Putting spicy warm sauce in dishes around potential entry points will prevent them from entering. Ensure you use truly spicy hot sauce and not a sweet one.
There are also plants that you can plant in your garden which provide out scents that naturally repel rodents. These contain
- Rosemary
- Marigolds
- Lavender
- Onions
- Sage
- Tomatoes
Trap mice and rats
Trapping is another way to remove rodents, though it can take a long time and may not be successful once they begin breeding. Glue traps, snap traps, and live traps are examples of trap you can use.
Snap traps are the most general type of trap. They are easy to use and affordable, and they can be baited with anything from peanut butter to cheese.
Glue traps are also successful, but they are a bit messier. These traps work by using sticky glue that immobilizes the rat or mouse. Once they are stuck, they cannot escape.
Whichever kind of trap you pick be sure to place it in an ar3ae where rodents are active. You will likely need to set a few traps to hold all the rodents.
Get gardening
It might be the winter but if you hesitate about mice, you can exercise your green finger year-round. Mice can use plants and hedges around your house as somewhere to nest and shelter. You should try to keep your lawn perfectly manicured to stop them from hiding there. If you have plants like wisteria or ivy growing up the side of the home, mice will be capable to climb it and use it to get onto your roof and into your attic.
End words
Detecting mice urine can be important in identifying their presence. The powerful smell of ammonia emanating from mice urine is disincentive and can be simply detected. Use tools like Arkfeld Pro Flat UV light can help in this detection process. This specialized UV light can get rid of urine stains that are otherwise invisible to the bare eye, making it easier to pinpoint areas where mice have been active. By utilizing this technology, you can successfully track and address mouse infestations, enabling prompt and focused action to get rid of these pests from your atmosphere.