Mouse in Attic - Trapping & Removal

03.15.2008 - Here is a rare photo of a mouse in an attic. If you want to solve a problem with a mouse in the attic, you have to follow the steps I've outlined many times on this site.  Step one, inspect the entire house, top to bottom, identify the areas of mouse use in the attic, and find any possible entry holes that lead into the house. Step two, seal the entire house shut, with steel repairs.  Step three set a dozen or more mouse traps on the prime locations in the attic.  Step four, remove trapped mice and reset traps until no more are caught.  Step five, clean and decontaminate the attic.  Now for a mouse in the attic poem, inspired by the customer in this house where I took this photo.

Eek, there's a mouse in my attic!
Squeak, I hear noises sporadic!
I'm all out of breath
And frightened to death
I hope I don't sound dramatic!

Yoink, there's a mouse in my ceiling!
Zoinks, that's most unappealing!
I'm wringing my hands
And making some plans
Do do some frantic squealing!

Yikes, there's a mouse in my house!
It's going to run down my blouse!
You'll hear no more complaint
Because I shall faint
All because of this devilish mouse.

...the customer that inspired this poem was a man, by the way.

Below are some links to other articles I wrote that you might want to read, about mouse control. These articles, especially this top one on the list, "how to get rid of mice" provide excellent practical information telling you how to get all the mice out of your attic permanently:
How to get rid of mice
How to trap mice
How to kill mice
How to catch mice alive
How to keep mice away
How to get rid of mice in the attic
Mouse removal methods
Do mouse repellents work
Pictures of mouse droppings
How to get mice out of your walls
Mouse in the wall scratching
How much does mouse removal cost?

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Why Do Mice Go Into The Attic? - Mice, like most wildlife, are opportunistic. If the weather is getting cold they will want to have a nice warm place where to spend the winter. Or, they may be looking for a safe and comfortable place to give birth and raise a family. Attics are great places for both needs. Mice there are safe because attics keep predators away. A food source is incredibly near. Space is not a problem. Nesting in all that insulation is pure heaven for them. They are warm. Mice couldn't ask for more than that.

Sometimes an opening that will lead to the attic is found serendipitously as the mice are scurrying, looking for food outside. Sometimes the mice may be actively looking around a house for an entry. Climbing all the way to the attic to find an entry into a cozy new home seems more than chance but probably isn't. Something drew the mice to your house in the first place. Perhaps some food left outside, a garden, bowls of pet food or water bowls. After they are near the house, they will investigate and most houses have some little spot somewhere that will gain a mouse access to your house or attic. The urges to be safe, to have food and raise their young are very strong survival instincts. Attics provide all that.

Mice are known to carry various diseases that if transmitted to a human, can be fatal. Aside from exposing you to health hazards, mice can also compromise the structure of your home or building. They are known to chew on PVC pipes and insulators in houses that may cause you a fortune in repairs. We don't want these little adventurers to live in our home especially because of all the diseases that they can transmit and damage that they can cause. Fortunately, there are ways to trap and remove mice from your attic for good! Here are 6 ways to trap and remove mice from your attic:

#1 Patch up holes
Sealing off holes will prevent the mouse to enter your home. Take your time to inspect any possible entry holes where a mouse can fit in through like power lines, gas lines, vent covers, and damaged walls. Thanks to their size, they can fit in through any small openings inside your home so make sure that you patch all possible entry points.

#2 Remove shrubs and hanging branches
Mice are agile animals and can climb up to trees or shrubs to enter your home! Hanging branches and shrubs serve as a ladder to climb inside your house. By removing these “ladders”, you're preventing mice from entering your home and making their lives much harder.

#3 Tightly seal garbage bins
Proper sanitation is the key to prevent mice from infesting your home. They see garbage bins as an all you can eat buffet! Sealing the garbage bins properly will prevent mice from coming inside your home.

#4 Choosing the right trap
There are a wide range and variety of mouse traps that you can choose from! There are live traps, snap traps, electric-powered traps, and glue boards. The benefit of trapping mice inside your attic is that, since this is the part of your house where your family does not usually hang out, your children or pets are out of harm's way.

#5 Placing a trap
The effective way of placing a trap is to set it where mouse activity is prevalent. Observe their routines to find out when and where they're most active. Then place your traps along their paths and walkways. Use a yummy bait to lure the mice into your trap. Cheese is the typical choice but you can also use peanut butter. #6 Check your traps regularly
Make sure that you check up on your traps at least every eight hours. This is also to prevent any pungent smell that the dead body produces and to prevent any other unwanted animals from coming to your property and preying on the dead body. Immediately dispose of the body once you see it. Place the body inside a garbage bag then put it in the garbage bin. Make sure to empty the garbage bin on the same day.