Discovering a mouse problem in your home can be frustrating and alarming. Mice are more than just a nuisance—they can cause significant damage to your property, spread diseases, and contaminate your food. Whether you’ve noticed droppings in your pantry, heard scratching in the walls, or spotted a mouse darting across the floor, it’s important to act quickly. Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do if you have a mouse problem in your home:

Step 1: Confirm the Infestation

The first thing you need to do is confirm that you have a mouse problem. Here are the most common signs of mice in your home:

• Droppings: Small, dark, pellet-like droppings are a clear sign of mice. They’re often found near food sources, such as in kitchens, pantries, and under sinks.
• Gnaw Marks: Mice need to constantly chew to keep their teeth from growing too long. Look for gnaw marks on food packaging, wires, furniture, or baseboards.
• Nests: Mice build nests out of materials like shredded paper, fabric, and insulation. These nests are often hidden in walls, attics, or behind appliances.
• Scratching Noises: If you hear scratching or scurrying sounds, especially at night, it’s likely that mice are active inside your walls, ceiling, or attic.
• Odd Smells: A strong, musty odor may indicate the presence of a mouse nest or droppings, especially in enclosed spaces like cabinets or crawl spaces.

If you’ve spotted one or more of these signs, it’s time to take action.

Step 2: Identify Where Mice Are Entering

Mice can squeeze through openings as small as a dime, making it easy for them to enter your home through cracks, holes, or gaps around doors, windows, and the foundation. Inspect the exterior of your home for potential entry points, paying close attention to areas where pipes and wires enter the house. Seal these gaps with materials like steel wool, caulk, or hardware cloth to prevent more mice from getting inside.

Inside the house, focus on areas where you’ve noticed activity. Common spots where mice enter include:

• Gaps around utility lines
• Cracks in the foundation
• Spaces under doors without proper sweeps
• Openings around windows
• Unsealed vents or chimneys

By identifying and sealing these entry points, you can stop more mice from entering while you work on eliminating the ones that are already inside.

Step 3: Remove Food Sources

Mice are primarily attracted to food, so cutting off their supply can help reduce their population. Here’s how to limit food sources for mice:

• Store Food Properly: Keep all food in airtight containers, especially in the pantry. Mice can chew through plastic, so use metal or glass containers whenever possible.
• Clean Regularly: Make sure your kitchen and dining areas are free of crumbs and spills. Regularly sweep floors, wipe down counters, and clean up food spills immediately. Don’t forget to clean under appliances and furniture.
• Secure Trash: Use trash cans with tight-fitting lids, both inside and outside your home, to prevent mice from accessing your garbage.
• Pet Food: If you have pets, avoid leaving their food out overnight. Store pet food in sealed containers and clean up any spills promptly.

By removing food sources, you’ll make your home less appealing to mice and help control the population.

Step 4: Set Traps or Use Bait

Once you’ve sealed entry points and removed food sources, the next step is to eliminate the mice that are already inside. There are several methods to do this:

1. Traps

Traditional snap traps are a quick and effective way to catch mice. Place traps along walls, near entry points, or in areas where you’ve noticed activity, such as behind appliances or under furniture. For best results, use peanut butter, cheese, or chocolate as bait.

• Glue Traps: Glue traps can also be used, but they are less humane since they trap the mouse without killing it immediately. If you use glue traps, check them frequently to avoid prolonged suffering.
• Live Traps: If you prefer a more humane approach, live traps can catch mice without killing them. However, you’ll need to release the captured mice far away from your home—at least several miles—so they don’t return.

2. Poison Baits

Poison baits (rodenticides) are available but should be used with caution, especially if you have children or pets in your home. Poisoned mice may also die in hard-to-reach places, like inside walls, which can create unpleasant odors and attract other pests.

Step 5: Monitor for Continued Activity

After setting traps or using bait, monitor the situation to ensure the mice are being effectively eliminated. Check traps regularly and look for continued signs of mouse activity, such as droppings or gnaw marks.

If you continue to notice signs of mice after several days or weeks, the infestation may be more severe than you initially thought. At this point, it’s a good idea to call in a professional pest control service.

Step 6: Call a Professional if Needed

While small mouse infestations can sometimes be handled with DIY methods, larger infestations often require professional help. A licensed pest control expert will be able to:

• Conduct a thorough inspection of your home to identify the extent of the infestation and locate all entry points.
• Use professional-grade traps, baits, and exclusion methods to eliminate the mouse population safely and effectively.
• Help rodent-proof your home to prevent future infestations.

Professionals have the experience and tools needed to tackle even the most severe mouse infestations. If you’ve been battling mice without success, or if you just want peace of mind, calling a pest control expert is the best course of action.

A mouse-free home is not only more comfortable, but it’s also healthier for you and your family. By taking proactive steps and seeking professional help when needed, you can protect your home from the damage and risks that mice can bring.