Not a Creature Was Stirring, Not Even a Mouse
Having a mouse problem in the house can be an uncomfortable and sometimes scary experience. They are known to walk all over the house with reckless abandon, destroying anything they can get their paws on.
A rat infestation can also be quite embarrassing especially when you have people over and a rodent casually strolls across the living room. Rats are closely associated with poor hygiene; this is why you should do your best to nip this problem in the bud. Here's how to get rid of mice.
Close Entry Points
Mice are known to have the ability to squeeze themselves through some of the smallest openings to gain access to your home. This may be through cracks in the wall, vents or even utility pipes. Your house may be spotlessly clean but if you have openings around the house, there is a very good chance you will have a mouse problem.
When you choose to seal off any openings, the material that you will use will determine the effectiveness of the procedure. Mice have a knack for chewing through things, therefore materials like wood or rubber may not be the best for this job. Where possible, try to use steel or concrete for a longer lifespan.
Get a Cat
Once you have closed off all the entry points and restricted their movement in and out of the house, you will need to eliminate the ones that are already inside the home. One of the oldest and most effective ways of doing this is to get a cat. Although cats are bigger than mice, they are quite agile and naturally predisposed to prey on mice.
This will put the mice under constant threat, which means they will either get caught or attempt to exit the house for safety which solves the problem. If the house is fairly large you might need more than one cat to get the job done.
Check Sanitation Levels
Although maintaining high standards of hygiene does not protect you from a rat infestation, having low standards will increase your chances. It is important to periodically check all areas of the home to ensure that there is a high level of hygiene that is being maintained.
This should be done both inside and outside the house, especially when it comes to waste disposal. Improper waste disposal is one of the biggest contributors to rat infestation.
Use Rat Traps
For people who are allergic or do not like the idea of having a cat in the house, you can try using rat traps. Rat traps are simple to use and are quite inexpensive compared to some of the other tips on this list. When using this method, most people have not yielded the desired results, mainly because they underestimate the severity of the infestation.
Although they have bait, mice don't always fall into one specific trap. You should always buy multiple traps and put them in different places in the house for the best results. Be sure to pay attention to the areas with the most mouse activity.
Be sure to secure the bait with some glue or dental floss to reduce the chances of the mice getting away with the bait before being caught by the trap.
Create Bait Stations
Bait stations are sealed packets that contain bait for mice. They are sealed with a plastic wrapper that allows the mice to chew through them to get to the bait. The bait, in this case, will be laced with chemical components that will kill the mice after it has been ingested.
It is always advisable to take the highest safety precautions possible when using this method and seek the advice of a professional when needed should you choose to use this method to eliminate mice, especially if you have children and pets around the house.
Get an Exterminator
The quickest and most conclusive way of dealing with a mouse infestation is to get an exterminator. Although some cases can be managed at home with the remedies mentioned above, some are too severe and will require professional assistance. The only drawback with this method is that it is likely to cost more as compared to the rest. If the infestation requires an exterminator, be sure to get the best on the market to make sure the job is done right.
Mice infestations occur more often than people care to admit. A common misconception about it is that it only occurs when one does not maintain proper hygiene, but this is not the case. Whenever you suspect you might have such an infestation, it is advisable to get ahead of it before things get out of hand.
The tips mentioned above should enable you to completely get rid of this problem, or at the very least, keep it at bay.