Mice find their way inside during the winter looking for a a warm place of comfort (just like us). If you'd rather that place not be your kitchen, bedroom or living room, there are ways to keep mice out in the first place. An ounce pf prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to rodents, so we turned to an expert on the inside scoop on keeping mice from scuttling behind your refrigerator or below stove.
Laura Dillard, research director at the Rodent Control Company Tom is an expert in pest management and prevention. “Rodents are especially active in winter as they seek food, water and warmth to survive the colder months,” she says. “Infestation prevention requires vigilance and preparation to keep these pests at bay.
We asked Dillard's for her top tips for protecting your home and making sure the holidays remain rodent-free.
Use all-natural deterrents
Peppermint oil is a well-known rodent repellent.
There are several all-natural substances that can be placed in place of traditional traps. CNET Home & Kitchen Editor David Watsky peppermint spray found to be a particularly effective way to prevent rodents from settling in the home.
“Peppermint oil is one of the most popular options,” Dillard says, although some people go so far as to put predator urine from animals like foxes or coyotes around their homes. This often scares the rodents so they don't end up being dinner on a larger animal.
Seal entry points with steel wool
Seal entry points with steel wool.
Not surprisingly, rodents can squeeze through openings of all shapes and sizes, even as small as a quarter inch in diameter.
“Check the exterior of your home, including around pipes, vents and foundation cracks,” says Dillard. “Seal the gaps with materials such as steel wool combined with caulking or metal flashing to prevent chewing. Pay special attention to areas around doors and windows.”
One approach is to add weather stripping, which blocks regular entrances from animal entry. Products like expanding foam barrier get the job done and are not difficult to use and install.
Eliminate tempting food sources
Consider a robot vacuum to keep crumbs from piling up and attracting mice.
Perhaps the best part of winter is cooking and baking our favorite comfort foods. Unfortunately, these foods, along with leftover crumbs, pet food, birdseed, and improperly stored pantry items can attract rodents looking for a feast.
“Keep all food in tightly closed containers made of glass, metal, or heavy-duty plastic,” says Dillard. “Clean up spills promptly and take out trash regularly.” Avoid leaving pet food or water bowls out overnight.
Read more: Best cordless vacuum cleaners, tested by CNET Labs
Remove the clutter
Giving rodents piles of clutter to hide in and around will make your home an attractive place for them to roost.
There's a reason why most homeowners on shows like Hoarders deal with mouse and rat infestations. Rodents like to seek out nesting materials such as paper, cloth and insulation to burrow into and keep warm.
“Keep storage areas organized and avoid leaving piles of newspapers, cardboard or clothes in basements and attics,” says Dillard. “Outdoors, trim vegetation near your home, remove debris piles, and store firewood at least 20 feet from your home and off the ground.”
Read more: These kitchen organizers will give you miles of extra counter space
Watch for signs of activity
Watch for signs of mice, including claw marks and droppings.
Early detection can often prevent an entire infestation, but you have to know exactly what to look for.
“Look for droppings, bite marks, or scratching sounds in walls or ceilings,” says Dillard. “Identifying the early signs can help you act quickly.”
Know when to rely on traps
Traps are good for killing mice, but they don't do much to prevent more from coming later.
If preventative techniques have failed, there are various baits and traps to lure rodents into an enclosure and/or mechanism that kills them. Although standard mouse traps and glues continue to exist, they are not the most humane.
Alternatively, live bait traps exist to offer no-kill options as a thoughtful non-harm rodent management solution. “These traps are designed to capture rodents safely so they can be released back into the wild,” says Dillard. That said, they must be used effectively. Here are her top tips for getting the most bang for your buck.
Tips for setting rodent traps
Knowing how and where to place traps will help increase their effectiveness.
- Choosing the right trap: “Choose a live hunting trap that matches the size of the rodent you're targeting. Brands offer a range of humane trap sizes that work for mice, rats and other small rodents. Tomcat offers both single and multi– capture live trap options, but remember to check traps twice daily to ensure trapped mice are not deprived of regular food and water.”
- Correct setting: “Rodents usually travel along walls, baseboards and other edges of rooms. Place traps along these trails and near areas where you have observed droppings, bite marks or nests.”
- Baiting the trap: “Use a high-protein, aromatic bait such as peanut butter, sunflower seeds or small pieces of fruit to attract rodents into the trap. “Make sure you don't over-bait, as rodents may take food without triggering the trap.”
- Release the rodent: “When releasing a captive rodent, take it to a remote location, away from your home to prevent it from returning. Choose a natural area such as a wooded or grassy field where the rodent will have access to food, water and shelter. Consider wearing gloves when handling the trap to avoid direct contact with the rodent.”
- Effectiveness and considerations: “Live traps can be effective, but they can require more effort than other methods because the traps must be checked frequently to ensure the rodent is not left in for too long. Always clean and disinfect traps after each use.”
Of course, by combining trapping with preventative measures, homeowners have the best chance of eliminating the risk of pest infestation. Consider both methods and rodents may very well seek solace in a lost glove rather than the walls of your home.