How to Get Rid of Mice in the Attic

07.28.2004 - Most people object to mice in the attic because they hear the noises of the mice every night, running around in the attic, and scratching. Mice also chew on wires or pipes, and they defecate and urinate a lot, and can spread disease. With time, they can destroy an attic and make it unsanitary, and they eventually come down the walls and find a way into the house, where they'll break into the pantry and chew on and contaminate food. The sooner the problem is solved, the better. I'm going to examine the steps necessary to getting rid of mice in the attic:

Home Inspection - First of all, inspect your home to find out how the little buggers are getting inside! They can climb any surface, so you have to check every square inch of your home. They can get into any gap in the architecture, and like to use vents, plumbing stacks, and many other areas. The eave gap, where a soffit meets a roof, is a popular spot, and an easy way into the attic.

Seal Entry Points - The most important step! You have to seal shut every single last entry point, or the problem will never go away! No other step is as important as this one. As long as the mice still have a way in, you'll have the problem.

Trap and Remove Mice - In the above photo, you can see mouse trapping in a heavily infested attic. This job was somewhat daunting due to the high amount of mouse activity in the attic, including mouse trails, droppings, and chewing. I set 20 snap traps in this attic, and caught about 20 mice over the course of four service trips. The key to successful trapping is to set the traps on the runways that the mice use. On this job, they were travelling on the ductwork, as seen above, so that was an area in which I concentrated my trap sets.

Clean Attic - Mice are attracted to the scent of other mice, so it's important to clean and deodorize the attic. This will make it less attractive to mice. If you've had a heavy infestation, the scent will call in new mice, who will work to chew their way into the attic. An attic decon also kills the parasites and pathogens associated with mice in the attic.

Poison? - No, poison is a bad idea. It does not kill all of the mice, and if you don't seal the home as prescribed, your problem will never be solved. Plus, I consider poison inhumane, because it causes a suffering death, unlike the instant death from snap traps. Also, I removed all of these mice carcasses from the attic. If you use poison, the mice will die somewhere in the attic or walls, and even though they are small, they will create a big odor problem.

A proper mouse control job often requires the skill and experience of an expert. That's why I do my job as I do, and offer a full guarantee on my work, as do all reputable wildlife removal experts. Getting rid of mice in the attic requires experience and an eye for detail.

Do it yourself: Visit my How To Get Rid of Mice page for tips and advice.
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Having mice inside the house is so common that most homeowners don't mind having them around. However, this is not okay. The presence of mice, especially in the attic, can create numerous hazards and health risks. You are doing the right thing by reading this article and doing research on how to get rid of this problem!

In this article, you will learn all the important information you need to know on how to get rid of mice in the attic.

Why the attic?
This is the question that pops in the head of most homeowners when they learn that they have mice in their house. The simple answer is that the attic is often the least disturbed part of the house. It is seldom visited and used by humans so mice can run around safe and free from traps - undetected.

Dangers of having mice in the attic

The attic is usually the place where memorabilia are stored. If you think that mice only eat food that is edible to humans then think again. They can also eat paper, cloth, and even wood. If you suspect that there is a mouse presence in your attic, check your stuff that is stored up there because these little creatures might have already feasted on them for dinner.

Mice can also mess up your wires and plumbing. They can chew through metal and copper too, so make sure that you get a professional to evaluate whether there are damages done and have it fixed right away.

Mice are also carriers of several diseases that can be transmitted to humans. One of the most common illnesses that they can spread is hantavirus. This is a respiratory condition that affects children and adults. When not diagnosed and treated immediately, it can lead to serious complications.

DIY Methods


Trapping
Your local grocery and department store should have plenty of choices for you. The most recommended ones are snap traps and cage traps.

Snap traps are those that use a yummy bait - usually cheese but you can also use peanut butter or wet cat food. Once the trigger senses movement, the trap will be activated. The trap will most likely kill the mice instantly especially when it crushes the head. This will prevent the mice from having to suffer a painful death. Cage traps are those that use baits to lure mice inside the cage. Once the trigger is activated, the entry point shuts down and the mice won't have a way out. You have the option to let the animal out in an area where it can't go back to your house or you can also exterminate it by yourself.

Exclusion
Mice can use very tiny holes as entry points. By sealing gaps and small openings in your wall, you can prevent them from entering. Keep in mind that mice are nocturnal beings. It will be helpful to seal the entry points at night while they are out. The ones that are already inside your home will have to be dealt with in another way.

Repellent
No matter what type of method you choose, you can always pair it with some good old repellent. Mix the following natural repellents with water and using a spray bottle, spray down the area where you frequently see mice running around: peppermint oil, cayenne pepper, pepper, and cloves.