How to Get Rid of Mice? Natural, Herbal, and Chemical Treatment

Mice are small rodents with pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The house mouse is the best known common mouse. Mice are classified under order ‘Rodentia’ and the typical mice are classified in the genus ‘Mus’.

The population of mice is plenty because they can adapt to any situation. The higher population is on the backdrop of mice being prey for cats, wild dogs, foxes, and other animals. The white mouse is used as a lab subject because of its particular traits.

Mice spread diseases through their faeces and carry parasites too. They are very active and though they have poor vision, their strong sense of smell helps to locate them the food and even keeps them alert from predators.

There are three most common types of mice –

• Field Mouse
  • They usually will not venture into inhabited buildings but they can be seen in sheds or out-houses in the winter.
  • They are a big threat in farming and agriculture fields.
  • Adult length is 80-100 mm and tail can go up to 70-90 mm.
  • Male weighs 25 gm and female at 20 gm.
  • Sandy/Orange-brown fur.
  • Yellowish fur on flank and white on the belly.
  • The lifespan averages 2-3 months.
  • They eat a lot of seed crops like oak, ash, beech, etc.
  • They also eat apples and attack newly planted legume seeds.
• House Mouse
  • House-mice are active round the year. This means they can invade your house at any time.
  • Length is 75-90 mm with a tail around the same length.
  • Their head and feet are relatively small with large eyes and ears.
  • The life cycle is 4-16 per liter and 7-8 liters per year.
  • The gestation period is around 3 weeks.
  • It takes 8-12 weeks from birth to sexual maturity.
  • They eat around 3 grams of food a day and can survive without any water. They drink only about 3 ml. in a day.
• Yellow Necked Field Mouse
  • Adults – Head and body – 95 to 120 mm. Weights between 14 to 45 g.
  • They have brown fur on their backs and white on the underside with a distinct band of yellow fur.
  • They have large ears, protruding eyes, and a long tail.
  • Breeding is from March-April to October, with gestation taking 25 to 26 days.
  • Most mice do not survive beyond 12 months.
  • They consume or spoil food. They may even eat wiring.
  • More invasive than food mice.

Mice are common in experimental laboratories, hence, they are also referred to as lab subjects. Almost all the biology and psychology fields use them as subjects as mice are mammals and they have a lot of common habitats with humans.

Therefore, whatever research is needed to be done related to human behavior or psychology, the experiments are primarily done on the mice, the especially, the white mice.

Mice, being very small in size become prey for cats, wild dogs, foxes, birds, snakes, and certain arthropods. Talking about urban areas, if you see a mouse during the day-time, this indicates that the mouse population is considerably large because the pests are naturally secretive and nocturnal.

Identification of infestation is its presence, droppings, footprints & tracks, chewed debris, nests, and mice odor.

How to Get Rid of Indoor Mice?

Barring indoors, the mice plays a big role in the removal of many insects and they are part of the natural eco-cycle in which they are food of their predators like cats and owls. But once they are inside buildings or houses, they wreck havoc by damaging many things, cutting wires, and spreading dangerous diseases.

Because of their body size and ability to compress it further, they can easily invade any place. The three types of mice are generally found indoors.

• House Mouse – As the name suggests, it is the most common species found in the house. They will never travel more than 100 feet from their nest, so, it’s easy to find it if you see them around. They will not go far away from buildings or human populations.
  
  House mice spread diseases ‘rickettsialpox’ and lymphocytic choriomeningitis.

• Deer Mouse – It is also called a field mouse. They will mostly be seen in rural, bushy areas and in forests near agricultural lands. In winter, they might invade houses but they stay in the outer part of the house like attics or basements. They spread ‘hantavirus’ disease which is a deadly virus and around 40% of people die of this disease around the world.

• White-footed Mouse – They generally like warm, dry forests, and brushlands. They also live in high forests and semi-desert areas. They are the most abundant rodents in mixed forests. They prefer living single.
  
  You will hardly find these in your house, however, in winter they might take shelter in your ground floor walls. They also spread ‘hantavirus’ and ‘lyme’ disease.

How to Get Rid of Mice With Pets in Your House?

When you have pets in your home, you must avoid using any kind of poisonous material to use to kill the mice. The home remedies are perfect when the pets are around. These materials won’t harm the pets and they will remain safe while you take care of mice.

Here are a few of them explained –

• Peppermint Oil – This is a very easy and pet safe method to implement. Mice hate the strong peppermint smell and run away from it. Keeping cotton balls with peppermint oil placed at the mice’s entry points is a good remedy.

• Camphor – Camphor laden cloth can be kept at the entry points like windows and attics which gives good results to stop mice.
  
  
• Ultrasonic Emitters – These electronic devices send pulses of ultrasound at high frequencies that mice find irritating so much that they start leaving the place.

• Mouse Trap – An advanced trap that can be used where a bait lures mice. When they step inside, they get trapped due to the automatic closure of the trap.

Chemical Treatment to Get Rid of Indoor Mice

Some mice may have got habitual of the ingredients you are using to keep them away. They will not get deterred by those methods. In such cases, it is essential to go for some advanced methods to catch or kill them.

If you are killing the mice, remember to dispose of them very carefully in a safe place or call relevant service providers. There are some listed rodenticides that can be used.

1. Cholecalciferol – Non-coagulant, multiple, or single-dose treatment. High acute oral toxicity. Primary and secondary poisoning potential is low to moderate in birds and mammals.
   
2. Zinc Phosphide – Non-coagulant, single-dose treatment. High acute oral toxicity. Primary poisoning potential high in birds and mammals. Secondary poisoning potentially low in birds and mammals.
   
3. Bromethalin – Non-coagulant, single-dose treatment. High acute oral toxicity. Primary and secondary poisoning potential low in birds and mammals.
   
4. Diaphacinone – Anticoagulant, multiple-dose treatment. High acute oral toxicity. Primary poisoning risk low in birds and mammals. Secondary poisoning potentially low in birds and high in mammals.
   
5. Warfarin – Anticoagulant, multiple-dose treatment. Moderate to high acute oral toxicity. Primary poisoning risk low in birds, moderate in mammals, high in cats. Secondary poisoning risk moderate in birds and mammals.
   
6. Chlorophacinone – Anticoagulant, multiple-dose treatment. High acute oral toxicity. Primary poisoning risk low in birds and mammals. Secondary poisoning risk low in birds and high in mammals.
   
7. Brodifacoum – Anticoagulant, single-dose treatment. High acute oral toxicity. Primary and secondary poisoning risk high in birds and mammals.
   
8. Bromadiolone – Anticoagulant, single-dose treatment. High acute oral toxicity. Primary poisoning risk moderate in birds and high in mammals. Secondary poisoning risk moderate in birds and mammals.
   
9. Toxic Bait Traps – The insecticide is used in the form of cake bait eating upon which the mice die after crawling to some distance. Typically used in the corporate industry.
   
10. Glue Trap – The pad contains the glue made of insecticide which catches and kills mice and also other pests like lizards.
    
    All in all, you need to keep the pets away when any chemical treatment is underway in your home.

How to Get Rid of Outdoor Mice?

The rodents usually come to our place in 2 ways, one is burrow and another is through the compound opening or gate. Their activity is more near food or any unattended material like paper or clothes. The typical characteristic of the mice is if they are located near us means the population down under ground is heavy. This leads them to come up in search of food.

Clamping or blocking the opening and continuous inspection of the garden, yard, and garage will allow you to know and stop the activities of mice.

Natural Home Remedies to Get Rid of Outdoor Mice

There are some methods that don’t need chemicals to keep the mice away. It starts with making your outdoor entry-proof by using natural ingredients to keep them away. There are a number of methods to do this out of which following are some –

1. Structural Remedy – If you want your space natural, make it forge entry-free. There should not be any structural defects or damages physically which can make way to mice easily.
   
2. Space Management – Maintain the surroundings free of any food or food waste. Never put any waste material outside thinking that you will remove it later. This will lead to piling which will invite mice to nest.
   
3. Essential Oils – Essential oils that possess a strong fragrance will be useful as mice hate their smell. Oils like peppermint and eucalyptus can be used to keep mice away. The cotton balls soaked with peppermint oil and kept at places will deter them quickly.
   
4. Mouse Traps – The mechanical traps can be put at two or three places (preferably of a different design) with luring bait. Bait can be replaced as and when needed.
   
5. Repellent Plants – You can plan to have some mouse repellent plants like mint, pennyroyal, garlic, and onion. They are quite good repellents.
   
6. Sound Deterrents – One can also try to place ultrasonic sound emitters to repel the mice. They find the sound irritating and keep themselves away from such areas.
   
7. Potato Flakes – It is a good remedy to kill the mice as it gets expanded in the stomach of mice due to which they die. You can spread some flakes at the places of mice activity.
   
8. Cloves – Clove bulbs produce a strong scent that is not liked by mice and they turn away from them. Keep some cloves at the places you see the mice activity.
   
9. Onions – Best and easiest of the home remedies outdoors to keep mice at the bay. You just need to put onion chops to generate a pungent smell which repels the mice. Ensure to replace for good effectiveness.
   
10. Bay Leaves – It is another mouse repellent. Place some bay leaves around the outdoor corners which will make the mice go away from there.
    
11. Garlic – Apart from the garlic plant, you can also spread garlic cloves around the garden, trees, or yard to create a strong odor to keep the mice away.
    
12. Ammonia – Exposure to ammonia around the outdoors will help to get rid of mice because of its irritating smell. You can keep a very small amount of ammonia open in some containers.
    
13. Cocoa Powder – Cocoa powder in combination with Plaster of Paris is a lethal combination to the mice. They will die soon after the ingestion of this mixture.
    
    Care to be taken for home pets and children.
    
14. Baking Soda – Equal parts of baking soda and sugar powder and flour to be mixed and put for the mice, on eating which their intestines bubble up and explode.
    
15. Vinegar – Diluted with water, vinegar can be sprayed all over the outside area to make an impact. It drives away mice very quickly.
    
16. Mothballs – Strong repellent of mice due to its odor is naphthalene. Use it in strong doses.

Chemical Treatment to Get Rid of Outdoor Mice

When it is evident that the mouse infestation is at an all-time high, we must adopt some strong remedies to keep them at bay. If one feels it is too much dense, then, it is time to call the professionals.

Most professionals will do a survey. First, they will try to block all entry points, and then they will go for the eradication of outdoor and indoor mice. We can study some of the chemical treatments with commercial products done to get rid of mice outdoors –

1. Farnum Just One Bite Bait Chunks – This contains Bromadiolone as the active ingredient and the success rate of it is 100%. The quantity is 8 pounds, sufficient to treat medium size property.
   
2. Bromethalin-based poisons – Especially effective rodenticides with neurotoxin contents. These are fast-acting ones.
   
3. Phosphine – Phosphine is used in fumigation and kills the mice effectively.
   
4. Chronic Rodenticides – They are anticoagulants and stops blood clotting in mice making them bleed on and die. These chemicals work slowly but the results are definite.
   
5. Vitamin D-Based Poisons – A bit slower in action. These types of vitamin-based poisons and result in fatal overdose due to the build-up of fat-soluble vitamins.
   
6. Fumarin-Based Poisons – These are slowest-acting and need repeat dose.
   
7. Bait-cake – The poison is placed in the form of cake and secured in the lock system bait station. Can be placed along with the walls to get more effect.
   
8. Bait-Trays – Mice gets lured thinking it is food. On eating, it gets poisoned and gets killed. Take care to keep out of reach of children and pets.
   
9. Warfarin – It is an anticoagulant and needs a repeat dose to make it effective. If treated properly, gives great results.
   
10. Zinc Phosphide– It is a quick-acting rodenticide resulting in death within an hour and is effective in just a single dose.

How to Get Rid of Mice in Your Yard?

There are several types of mice that may be present in your house and yard. In the winter, mice often invade your house looking for a warm atmosphere.

Therefore, it is important to know how we can eliminate them from the yard itself. You can implement the below methods to check on the mouse infestation –

• Clean The Yard Routinely – Like you do it indoors, do clean your yard periodically and insist on the removal of wood piles, tall grass, and the fallen leaves.

• Set Bait-Traps – Snap traps can be arranged very near to the wall as the habitat of mice includes movement along with the walls. This is because they are short-sighted and move with the sense of smell.
  
• Do Not Keep Food Open – An open food outside is nothing but an invitation to the mice. They will never leave this chance and you will regret it. Also, make sure that you remove fallen fruits from the ground in the yard.

• Check For Burrows – In the grassy area, always check if they are forming any burrow. Mice will do it very calmly and you will not know till they are inside your lawn. Any burrow needs to be blocked immediately to prevent entry.
  
• Do Proper Pest Control – If by chance, there is already a heavy infestation, then, you ought to call professional pest control services. Their expertise in the field will let you relax.

How to Get Rid of Mice From the Trees?

If one goes by data, approximately 20% of the agricultural products in the world are destroyed by different types of rodents. Such is the trouble caused by overall rats. They also eat eggs of birds and preys on baby birds too.

The biggest trouble is to get rid of them from trees. It is not that easy to place traps in the trees and it will also be not effective. Placing baits will have a chance of poisoning birds so it is risky to do.

How to Get Rid of Mice From Trees?

To balance the treatment between toxic and non-toxic is important as there is a chance of birds getting toxicity. One can follow the below methods and tips to keep the mice away from trees.

• Mouse Repellent – Mouse repellents available in both chemical-based and non-chemical forms.
  
  The typical scent of the repellents is most hated by the mice and they prefer to keep away from such material. The sonic repellents can be also tried but may not be effective outdoors.

• Natural and Herbal Mouse Repellents – Natural oils repel mouse and rat populations and will be effective if you place them in the area of activity. Peppermint oil is the most preferred natural mouse repellent.
  
  
• Soap – It is surprising but soaps can work as mice repellent if used the right one. Use soaps with a strong smell to deter the mice. The reason may be the same as peppermint oil.

• Use of Cat-litter – As natural predators, mice fear cats and are aware of the smell of their litter too. This can be an easy method indoors as well as outdoors to keep it on the trail of the mice.

How to Find Mice Nests?

Mice are fond of people and have been in the populated areas for a long time. This is for their survival as they can find their best food in the areas where humans reside. If you have a mouse infestation in your home, then, first you need to learn the signs of it.

If you observe some uncharacteristic movement of small things like paper or pencil, pieces of paper and cardboard, in your house, there may be the presence of mice. Based on their activities, you can guess to find out where they nest. The characteristic places can be –

• Drawers – Drawers with paper materials is an ideal place and if it is not used regularly, then it is a sure place for them.

• Voids under floor cabinets – They can hide here very easily.
  
• False ceiling – This is an all-time favorite of mice. They find plenty to eat and disrupt what is placed there. Even if nothing is there, they will search for wires and bite them.

• Non-visited places in the house – Like refrigerator motor and compressor area and behind washing machines.

• Garage – A place is there for them in a corner for sure. As we keep some spares, tyres, and other parts that are not required to move, mice will make their nest there.

How to Treat Mice Bites?

If you ever feel that you have a mice bite, you may check for some symptoms, within 8 to 13 days, like fever, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, headache, and vomiting. You must then, consult the doctor.

This can lead to more serious infections causing meningitis. If you are bitten or scratched by mice, make sure to clean the wound with warm water and soap. After that, dry it with a clean towel and apply an antibiotic cream and bandage.

Seeing a doctor will be better because they will be able to inspect and decide whether you had caught rat-bite fever or not.

FAQ

Q. How to Get Rid of Mice Under Pavers?

• Use the insecticide spray to pierce in the cracks and crevices. Preferred action should be blocking the cracks by caulking.

Q. How to Get Rid of Mice Around the Pool?

• There are 2-3 things you can do like avoid the puddle of water around. Pour some chlorine water around the pool or you can use the insecticide spray.

Q. How to Get Rid of Mice Under the House?

• The best remedy is to block whatever gaps you find to prevent the possible entry. You can use quality steel wool as mice can’t chew it.

Q. How Vegans Get Rid of Mice?

• Those who don’t want to kill mice can use full-proof mouse-traps that will catch the mice in the house. Try different types to catch most of the mice in the home.

Q. How to Get Rid of Crickets Under Carpet?

An easy way to identify a bed bug infestation is bite marks on the face, arms, neck, hands, or other parts of the body while sleeping. The signs include –

• The bed bugs’ exoskeleton after molting
• Bed bugs in the fold of bedsheets and mattresses
• Rust-like blood spots on the mattress and nearby furniture
• A sweet musty odor.

Q. How to Get Rid of Mice Under and Behind Refrigerator?

• Regular inspection and cleaning is the key to prevent mice activity below the refrigerator. Clean with a wet cloth dipped in chlorine water. You can wipe the refrigerator from inside too with mild chlorine.