Why do people resort to poisons and deathly traps when combatting a mouse problem? Humane mouse removal is a safe and effective way to eliminate a problem without resorting to pain and death. Mice are not aggressive, but they can overwhelm a home if given time and access. Still, inhumane tactics are immoral and unnecessary, especially when there are more natural methods you can employ.
3 Techniques for Keeping Mice Away
When someone hears of natural methods, they might think of organic treatments. While you can use peppermint or clove essential oil-soaked cotton pads, the efficacy of such treatments is subjective. The more practical approach is to use ingenuity and habit to combat and prevent infestations. Consider the top three techniques for keeping mice away.
1. Keep Your Home Clean
Mice love clutter. Stacked boxes, piles of magazines, clumps of dirty laundry, and whatever else represent potential hiding places, making it easier for mice to sneak around your house. Even outdoors, piles of leaves, tall grass, or other yard debris encourage mice to explore your property.
Keeping things clean is the best prevention strategy. If you keep your lawn cut and clean of any leaves or piles of wood, mice may never enter it. If the inside of your home is free of clutter and crumbs, mice are less likely to find it a suitable home, even if they might make their way inside. Also, when you habitually clean your property, you will notice when something is awry. You might see piles of mouse droppings that weren’t there only a day or two ago or new chew marks along your TV cabinet or deck railing.
Cleanliness is key to prevention and intervention. When you are on top of how your home and property look, you are more likely to notice subtle changes, allowing for quick action.
2. Remove Access to Food Sources
Like all living things, mice need food and water. When the animal finds a place that provides access to one or both necessities, it tries to make a home. As a homeowner, you can work to limit access to food sources and dissuade mice and other critters from your property.
Bird feeders are popular backyard decorations, but they feed more than just the birds. Birds are not the cleanest eaters, so as they enjoy their nuts and seeds, they inevitably spill some of their feast onto the ground. Mice will happily consume the scraps, as will other critters. You can remove the feeders to ensure spillage doesn’t happen, or you can keep the area underneath clean to deter foragers.
When mice find food in your yard, they will explore the area for shelter and more food or water sources. Your home might become the center of attention for a good reason: pantries, trash, plumbing systems, etc. To discourage mice that may find their way into your home, you must perform thorough cleanings after every meal: wash the dishes, throw away leftovers, vacuum the floor, and wipe down countertops. If you already have mice, contact mice removal near me for professional assistance.
3. Lock Them Out
Houses are not always the most secure against tiny intruders. Water supply lines can provide access to the inside of a home if the exterior seal is flush and snug against the structure, and the same is true for power lines and other utilities. Beyond poor installations, property damage can also provide access points, such as foundation cracks, wall holes, and vent damage.
If you want to keep mice out of your house, seal all potential openings unless there is evidence of the mice inside. Sealing entry points during an infestation will only trap the animals.
Professional Services Offer the Best Defence
Coquitlam mouse removal services offer the best defence against infestations. Using a three-step process, the team at Skedaddle will remove all traces of mice from your property, and prevent their ability to return. Contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control to schedule a property inspection and service estimate.