Tips for Dealing With Mouse Problems

If you own a home that is anywhere near woods or a field, there is a good chance that you have had a run in or two with some small, furry invaders at one time or another. Of course I am talking about mice. When the weather starts to get cold, these pesky little rodents start looking for a way to stay warm and often, the most convenient solution for them is to move in to the nearest house. Here are some simple tips and ideas to help you keep these unwanted visitors from calling.

The first thing you should do is to make certain that you are not inadvertently inviting mice into your home. Seal off all openings that a mouse might see as a way in to your house. Cracks in the foundation of your home should be sealed off. Any doors or windows that do not close securely will need to be fixed. Mice need only a very small opening to squeeze through. Do not make it easy for them to get inside.

Next, be certain that you don't have any piles of debris anywhere near your house. This includes yard waste and even wood piles. A mouse that has set up camp in a stack of firewood next to your back door will have only a short trip to make to get inside and out of the cold. Anything that is stacked or piled up near your home should be moved away from it.

Another trick that people are learning about is to use peppermint oil as a way to repel mice. It seems that the strong scent of pure peppermint oil is too much for mice to handle. They do not like the smell one bit and will try to avoid it. You may want to consider putting down a bit of this inexpensive oil near any entrance to your home before the mice try to gain entrance. At the worst your home will have a nice peppermint smell.

If, despite your best efforts at prevention, you find that you do have mice in your home, it is essential that you take action quickly. Mice can reproduce very quickly and they have a real talent for destroying food and property. Set out traps along the areas where you suspect they are running, and check them every day. Ignore the old advice to use cheese as bait. Peanut butter actually is much more attractive to mice. If you get the problem handled quickly, it should not be a major ordeal. If you suspect that you have a serious infestation though, it may be time to get a professional exterminator involved.

Please stop by my site at Kyle and Kristy to read about how to get rid of mice and other topics related to daily life at home.