How to get rid of infestation of mice

Prior to engaging in any extermination or control methods, it is necessary to properly identify your pest population. Noises within walls may be a result of a mouse infestation; however, insects and even the building itself may make similar noises and will require different solutions.

How to Keep Mice Out of Your Home

All possible feeding sites and entry points must be identified and eliminated. Human food sources should be kept in metal or glass containers with tight lids. Trash cans should be similarly resilient and sealed. Countertops, sinks and kitchen floors must be kept clean, and all possible entry points should be sealed. Cracks, holes and crevices should be sealed with steel or concrete. The open areas around pipes, gas lines and dryer vents should also be sealed. Holes as small as pencil erasers may allow entry and should not be disregarded.

Are mouse traps or bait effective?

Home extermination techniques vary from traps to baits. Snap traps may be dangerous for humans and house pets if not placed properly. Glue traps are similarly used to trap mice but also require proper placement to be effective. Live traps require homeowners to dispose of captured rodents. All traps require an intimate knowledge of mouse habits and behavior to use them effectively.

Baits may also be used but carry a heightened risk. Improper placement and use of baits can affect people, pets and wildlife. Homeowners would not be advised to perform baiting at their home.

Why are mouse infestations dangerous?

Mouse infestations are troublesome and dangerous to humans. Mice feed on human food sources and destroy cartons, paper, boxes and plastic in order to construct their nests. The urine, saliva and feces of some mice may contain viruses and bacteria, such as salmonella and hantavirus. It is therefore necessary to exterminate any mouse infestation. It is advisable to take action at the first sign of a mouse infestation. Populations grow rapidly and are extremely difficult to eradicate. It is best to target infestations when colonies are small.

How to Get Rid of Mouse Infestations

Mouse infestations can be extremely dangerous if not controlled, and keeping mice out of your home is an ongoing process. Trained to recognize mouse infestation signs, Orkin Pros use the proper tools and knowledge for the most effective strategies in mice prevention. Keeping rat infestation health risks in mind, Orkin knows exactly which steps to take in order to ensure safety and sanitation within your home. Based on the layout of your property, an Orkin Pro will design a unique mouse control and treatment plan that’s suited to your specific needs. Through a specialized approach to pest control for mice, Orkin can provide the right solution to help keep these critters away. To learn more about how to keep mice out of your house and how to get rid of mice, contact your local Orkin branch.

More Information

How Mice Enter Homes

Learn how mice can enter homes and what measures you should take to prevent them from getting in.

Mouse Repellent Spray

While there’s no magic mouse repellent spray that can get rid of these rodents, you can take these steps to prevent a mouse infestation.

Electronic Mice Repellent

Read about the effectiveness of these types of mouse repellents and how they work.

How Mouse Traps Work

From traditional to live-catch traps, explore the variety of mouse traps available and which are most effective.

How to Get Mice Out of House Walls

Explore what steps to take to ensure proper identification of mice in your walls and how to successfully remove them.

How to Kill Mice

Read about the many ways to get rid of mice and which ones are the most effective and safe for household pets or young children to be around.

How to Keep Mice Out of Ceilings

Mice only need a hole the size of a dime to enter and infest your home's ceiling and attic.

How do I stop mice from getting inside the house?

Sealing any entry points into your home is the first step to preventing a mouse infestation.

How much will it cost to get rid of a mouse infestation?

The cost of controlling and removing an infestation of mice depends on several factors.

Trapping Mice

Learn which methods of trapping mice prove most effective and how to do so safely.

How to Clean Up After a Mouse Infestation

Mice infestation health risks are serious, so it’s important to learn the proper steps in removing and sanitizing after an infestation.

While small in size, mice are considerably resourceful creatures, capable of quickly adapting to new environments and, ultimately, causing big problems for homeowners.

As a result of the “Rodents Revealed” project, the National Pest Management Association found that rodents are one of the most prevalent and dangerous public health pests in the country. When the cold weather rolls in, rodents instinctively seek warmth and invade approximately 21 million U.S. homes every winter, presenting significant health risks and property threats too serious to ignore.

Once they’ve made their way indoors, it’s only a matter of time until these small, elusive creatures make themselves at home.

But can you completely get rid of mice? Fortunately for homeowners, there are a number of prevention measures to take in order to keep both people and property safe.

Tips on How to Completely Get Rid of Mice:

• Early detection is the key to minimizing a rodent infestation. Stay on the lookout for signs of potential intruders, including droppings as well as gnaw marks on food items and wooden surfaces such as door corners
• Seal any cracks or holes in your home larger than a dime or gaps under doors greater than a quarter inch
• Store food, as well as pet food and bird seed, in airtight containers
• Keep your home and storage areas free of clutter
• Dispose of kitchen and household garbage cans frequently
• Replace loose mortar and weather stripping around the foundation of the home and windows
• Make sure attics, basements and crawl spaces are dry and well-ventilated
• Insert door sweeps and repair damaged screens, leaking pipes and clogged drains

A mouse infestation will not go away overnight, and it will only get worse if left untreated. In order to keep rodents at bay, it’s imperative for homeowners to remain vigilant for the tell-tale signs of an infestation, which may also include scratching or scurrying sounds in the walls, attic or other crawlspaces. The good news is that with proper pest control and prevention, you can indeed ensure all mice are completely out of your home.

If you suspect a mouse infestation or have questions about how you can be sure to completely get rid of mice in your home, seek help from a licensed pest control professional immediately. They will conduct an inspection and determine a proper control program before it gets out of hand.

What Happens to Pests in the Winter?

Temperatures are dropping and snow is starting to fall across the U.S. So what happens to pests as the weather turns colder?

Nuisance Wildlife

They may look cute and cuddly, but you don't want to find nuisance wildlife pests like squirrels and raccoons in your home.

NPMA's Will They Eat It?

Check out episodes from NPMA's video project, Will They Eat It?, to find out what termites will chow down on. 

How do you get rid of a mouse infestation fast?

How long does it take to get rid of an infestation of mice?

What keeps mice away permanently?

Is it possible to get rid of all mice in your house?