You’ve seen the droppings, the gnaw marks can’t be missed and you can hear something scratching away in the quiet of the night. All the signs are there that there’s a mouse in the house but how do you get it to come out of hiding?
Catching a mouse is no mean feat. As well as being nocturnal, they’re scared of humans which means they’re only likely to come out when everyone’s fast asleep. What’s more, they like to live in-between walls and other difficult-to-access places such as underneath cupboards and in the attic. Even if you do manage to spot one of these little rodents, they’re pretty quick so chances are they’ll be long gone before you can even think of catching it.
Below we list some effective and humane ways to lure a mouse of out of hiding.
Sprinkle scents they don’t like
A great way to bring mice out of hiding and steer them in the direction you want them to go is to sprinkle potent scents they find particularly unpleasant. Mice don’t like the smell of garlic, onions, cayenne pepper, cloves, ammonia and alcohol. If you don’t want to be driven out your home by unpleasant smells either, peppermint is another scent that repels mice.
Simply soak some cotton balls in oils from one or more of these sources and leave them in the areas of your home you’ve had a problem with mice.
Take away their food source
If a mouse has a supply of food, water and nesting materials nearby, it has no reason to move on. Make your home as unhospitable as possible and it will soon come out of hiding in search of supplies.
To discourage mice, store any food sources including grains, pet food and other dry goods in metal containers. Not only does this keep them safe, it’s more difficult to detect. Also hide any potential nesting materials such as fabric, rugs, blankets, cardboard, paper and lightweight plastics away in heavy plastic or metal boxes. Check there are no potential water sources such as water left around taps or leaking pipes.
Get a cat or use cat litter
Cats are brilliant hunters and if you have a mouse in the house, you can guarantee your furry friend will find it. Even if it doesn’t catch it, as soon as a mouse catches sight of a cat, you can be sure it will make a quick exit.
If you don’t have a cat, you can also place tubs of used litter around entrances to the house. Even just the smell of cat urine is enough to make a mouse think twice about coming into your home.
Call pest control
If you think you have a mouse infestation in your home, give Prokill a call. We have a team of local technicians who are on hand to provide a discreet and efficient service. As well as removing the problem quickly and safely, we’ll also be able to provide prevention tips for the future.
To book your free, no obligation quote today, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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