Andrew Howe/Getty Images
One creature no one wants to see stirring around their house?
Seal Off Cracks and Gaps
The first defense?
double-check there’s no way mice can get into your home in the first place.
Photo:Andrew Howe/Getty Images
That includes spray foams.
“Mice will chew through the foam and even build nests in the cavities they create.”
And don’t forget the gaps around your doors and windows, where good weather stripping is essential.
Keep the Area Around Your House Clear
Make your house your castleand put a moat around it.
That bare space leaves them open and exposed to predatorsso they will be less likely to brave it.
Matts also recommends using pea gravel in these spots, which can help prevent rodents from making burrows there.
Spray a Mouse-Repellent Scent
Strong scents can help repel mice, Rooney says.
(And it will help fertilize your soil where it’s placed, too.
Those bare areas will give hawks and owls plenty of space to see mouse tracks.
“Don’t make them happy,” Rooney says.
One secret weapon for discovery: a simple sprinkle of baby powder.
And that’s when traps may come into play.
Rooney suggests using old-fashioned snap traps as the most humane optionas they will kill mice immediately.
Sticky traps need to be monitored closely to avoid subjecting mice to a slow painful death.
“That’s just bad karma,” Rooney says.
“They can recommend a treatment plan that leverages field-tested integrated pest management solutions.”
That can help ensure that your mouse problem ends as quickly and painlessly as possible.
