How to Get Rid of Mice in the Walls

Mice find human residencies just as appealing as we do. They are perfect for hiding away from the colder temperatures of winter. They also provide protection from hot conditions during summer. One place in your home that’s particularly attractive to mice is the inside of your property’s walls. As mice can spread disease, chew at electrical wires, steal food and cause structural damage to your property, you’ll want to know how to get rid of them fast. Before we look at how to get rid of mice in the walls, though, we’ll look at how they get in there in the first place.

How Mice Get into Your Walls

Due to their diminutive size, and the flexibility of their body, mice can squeeze into tight spaces no bigger than a penny. To make matters worse, they are expert climbers. So, they can even reach higher entry points and holes than just those at ground level. When they gain access to your property, they can then use their size and climbing skills to get inside the walls.

Mice also prefer to live in tight and confined spaces like walls. This is because they are free from predators, so it’s safer for them.

Identifying the most likely entry point can help pest control experts figure out how to get rid of mice from the walls. Some of the most common points of entry for mice are:

• Chimneys and vents in roofs
• Window and door frames with damaged sealing
• Gaps and cracks in building materials
• Foundation cracks
• Property siding that’s deteriorating
• Gaps around wire and pipe entry points

Understanding How Mice Operate

Obviously, the best way to get rid of mice in the walls of your property is to hire a professional exterminator like Empire Pest Control. We deal with mice on a regular basis, know all the most up-to-date methods of removing them, and can prevent them from returning to your property. Let’s find out a bit more about mouse habits and routine.

Mice are always on the lookout for something to eat, and will always check out any new source of food. As they are nibblers, they also have a habit of moving from one source of food to another. Even if they wander, they will normally never go more than 10 to 30-feet away from a source of food.

How to Get Rid of Mice in the Walls – Various Methods

There are three commonly used methods for getting rid of mice:

• Humane Traps
• Glue Traps
• Bait (Poisonous) Stations

We will look at each type in a bit more detail below…

Live Traps

As the name suggests, these are for anyone interested in knowing how to get rid of mice in the walls without killing them. While they are easy to set up, they do have a major downside in their design. They typically only have space for one mouse. Not ideal for larger infestations. These traps usually lure the mice by placing baits inside. When a mouse enters a trap, the door closes behind it. You need to be vigilant with these devices, as it’s cruel to leave animals in the trap for too long.

You can then let the mouse go free into the wild. But be sure to follow proper safety and common sense practices. These include making sure you don’t get bitten, and taking them far enough away from your home that they don’t find their way back.

Glue Traps

Glue traps are another, less humane method of catching mice. They consist of a board that’s covered with glue. When a mouse walks over the board, it gets stuck. These are best for catching younger mice, as the adults are often wise to them and tend to avoid them.

Use safety precautions as mentioned above. And be aware that glue boards can be a distressing and lingering way for a mouse to die. Using a humane alternative is always preferable.

Bait (Poisonous) Stations

Again, the name is quite self-explanatory. You need to be extremely cautious when handling this kind of mouse removal device, and always wear gloves.

Normally they consist of plastic boxes with space to hold a poisoned titbit. Only use them indoors though, as the poison could attract and kill other kinds of wildlife. So, always place them in enclosed or hidden spaces, like entry points to where you think the mice may be nesting.

How to Keep Mice Away from Your Home

They say prevention is better than the cure and that is certainly true when it comes to pests. Once you’ve followed through on the procedures for how to get rid of mice in the walls, you’ll want to make sure they never come back.

 

• Regularly remove any rubbish from your home and don’t let it accumulate.
• Also, make sure your property is free from clutter and junk, especially in the corners of rooms. Mice love it all because it gives them great hiding places.
• Seal and block any cracks or holes there are in the property
• Keep your garden clean and tidy too. This gives them fewer places to hide outside, and makes your property less attractive to them.

We hope you have found this post helpful and you now have a clearer idea of how to get rid of mice in the walls of your property. If you have any doubts, contact us here at Empire, 24 hours a day.