How Not to Need a Mouse Exterminator

Nothing sends us scurrying for a chair, couch, or countertop faster than seeing a mouse run across the floor of our home. If there’s one mouse, there’s probably another – if not a horde of them, which is why the first response for so many people is to call a mouse exterminator.

Mice reproduce fast and can spread diseases, which is why you want to contain the problem before it’s truly a problem. They chew on about everything, including household wire, plastic containers, toys, and books. When they’re not eating their way through you home, they’re leaving behind urine and feces, which can spread viruses and bacteria.

So, if you’re not dealing with an infestation (if you are, then call a mouse exterminator as soon as you’re finished reading this article), but instead a single mouse or two, then here are our tips for getting rid of these little critters – aside from getting a cat or calling a professional mouse exterminator.

8 Ways to Deter Mice

1. Remove food sources. Mice do not need a lot of feed to survive. The smallest amounts will do, and they particularly enjoy grains, pet food, and other dry goods. As such, it is best to store these items in glass or metal containers, which mice cannot chew through. Also, that bird seed you’re storing in the garage or shed? Make sure it is kept in tamper-proof bins or you’re sure to need a mouse exterminator before long.
2. Set traps. Of course, we’re talking about humane traps; the kind that doesn’t kill mice, so you can release them into the wild (release captured mice at least one mile from your home and in an area that is not inhabited; don’t make your mouse problem someone else’s mouse problem). Because mice usually come out at night in search of food, bait your traps with treats mice like the most – cheese, peanut butter, and buttered popcorn. Place the traps in the areas of your home most frequented by your mouse or mice and remember to check them every morning. When you capture your little rodent, don’t touch it, as mice are known to carry a variety of diseases.
3. Spray with a hot pepper solution. As professional mouse exterminators, we don’t like to use poison baits, because they can be harmful to your family and pets. Whenever possible, we recommend using nonpoisonous baits and treatments, of which one is a hot pepper solution. You can make your own by mixing chili flakes, sliced habaneros peppers, dish soap, and water. Spray the mixture in spots out of reach of children and pets, but where mice frequently visit, such as under the stove or behind cabinets. While this mixture is not poisonous to people and pets, it can irritate your eyes, nose, and mouth, so be sure to avoid clothing, furniture, and any place people or pets frequent. Re-apply monthly.
4. Apple cider vinegar works, too. Make a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water, put it in a spray bottle, and spray it around the perimeter of your house, as well as in any indoor access points. Re-apply monthly.
5. No static, no mice. Many people report that fabric softener sheets, which are great for keeping your clothes static-free, are also amazing for deterring mice. Stuff these sheets into entry points to stop mouse traffic immediately and keep the professional mouse exterminator idle a while longer.
6. Essential oils work, too. Mice hate the smell of clove oil and peppermint oil. While essential oils, by themselves, won’t be enough of a deterrent for mice, they can work in conjunction with other methods. Just saturate cotton balls with these essential oils and put them in areas where your mischief of mice is known to visit, such as home entryways, drawers, and cupboards.
7. Pack hiding spaces with steel wool. If you see a mouse or two sneaking in and out of a hiding spot, pack the spot with steel wool. Steel wool is impossible to chew, and mice find it very unpleasant (as do most people), so this creates a natural deterrent.
8. Cover holes with duct tape: Once you find the entry points for your mouse problem, cover them with duct tape. Remember, mice can squeeze through spaces as small as ¼ inch.

How Do I Know if I Need a Mouse Exterminator?

If you have a mouse infestation, then you need a mouse exterminator, as the problem is likely too big for you to manage yourself. So, look for these tell-tale signs that your mouse problem is actually a mice problem, and if you can check off any of them, our advice to you is to call a mouse exterminator.

• Strange noises at night, especially the sound of scratching or squeaking coming from inside your walls.
• Small, black, oblong pellets that are slightly smaller than a grain of rice. In plain language (heck, even in professional mouse exterminator terms), this is mouse poop. If the poop is bigger than ¼ inch, then your problem might not be a mouse problem; it may instead be a rat or bat problem.
• Marks on shelves, around food packaging, or on baseboards that resemble chew marks or scratch marks (which they are).
• Food crumbs or debris on shelves, in the pantry, or in unusual places – such as the middle of the floor.
• Nests made of fabrics, shredded paper, pet hair, string, or other soft, shredded material.
• Odd pet behavior such as barking and scratching or pawing at or under appliances. This may indicate your pets are aware of a pest infestation.

Why Did Mice Invade My Home, Anyway?

You may be surprised to learn that rodents invade 21 million U.S. homes each winter. In fact, a recent survey from pestworld.org found that 37% of Americans have spotted a rodent in their home in the last year. That means you or one of your neighbors has likely had a rodent problem. Yikes!

Buy what attracts a mouse – or mice – to one home and not another? There are three reasons.

1. Shelter: While mice are the most common mammal in the U.S., they prefer to live outside in the wild. However, when the weather gets colder in the fall and winter, they will seek warmth and shelter – for which your eastern Virginia home is perfect. The easier it is to get inside, the more attractive a home becomes.
2. Food: If mice can’t find adequate food supplies outside, the lure of your kitchen pantry will be more than they can manage. If your home is offering up an all-you-can-eat mouse buffet, they will bypass the neighbor’s home for yours.
3. Nesting Materials: Mamma mice need nests to give birth and rear their offspring. They prefer soft materials, such as shredded paper and cotton, which your home probably has plenty of, and they will also use pet hair, insulation, and about anything else soft and fluffy. Make nesting materials hard to come by, and mice will scurry to the next home, keeping you from not needing the services of a professional mouse exterminator. Warning: A female mouse can give birth when they are only two months old, and they are able to have to up to a dozen babies every three weeks. This means she could have as many as 150 offspring in a single year – all while her offspring are also having offspring (it’s time for a mouse exterminator).

How Does a Professional Mouse Exterminator Get Rid of Mice?

By professional mouse exterminator, we mean Eco Pest Control – the leading mouse exterminator in the greater Richmond, Newport News, and Williamsburg areas. Depending on your situation, we use various tactics, but our process works like this.

1. Initial Consultation: Each project begins with a phone consultation, followed by an onsite inspection. During the inspection, we will identify the access points mice are using to get into your home, look for signs of mice, such as droppings and damage, and gauge the severity of the infestation.
2. Action Plan: Once we’ve gathered that information, we’ll establish a management plan using a selection of practical, natural, humane, and holistic methods.
3. Mouse Control: Finally, we’ll deploy our selected mouse control method so you can breathe easy. We rely heavily on trapping, which contains and removes mice without risking wildlife, pets, and children.

Our professionally trained mouse exterminators have years of experience in pest and rodent control and are specially equipped to help you navigate your mice issue with humane, no-kill methods. Just call us at (804) 575-7054 to get started. The initial inspection is always complimentary.

Eco Pest Control is rated 5/5 from 1,664 reviews & testimonials.

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