How to get rid of mice? How to keep out mice pests?

Your first defense against mice is a cat. The cat’s scent alone will deter most rodents. The next is neatness; keep all food in metal, heavy plastic, or glass containers.

Finally, plug all holes, however small, with steel wool, plaster, or sheet metal, especially around pipes and wiring. Mice climb, so plug high holes too. If you’re unable to keep a cat or if the problem persists, try spring traps or poison bait. If you use poison, be sure to place it where pets and children cannot get at it.

Mice usually build their nests within 25 feet of a food source. They forage at night, running along walls and stopping to eat the first morsel they find. Place traps near the wall, baited with food that mice like: bacon fat, peanut butter, raisins, or cheese. Two traps are better than one.

To keep mice from becoming trap shy, bait unset traps for 2 or 3 days. Then, to avoid catching your fingers, use a pencil to move the set traps into position. If the mice escape with the bait, secure it with thread or wire.

Traps with a glue surface need no bait. Place them on a pathway; once stuck, the mice will die in 2 or 3 days. Nonlethal traps-safe around children and pets-are expensive and will leave you with live mice to dispose of. Release them in a wild area away from houses . Caution: Place traps or bait out of the reach of children and pets.