How To Get Rid Of Mice Without Hurting Them

Rustling in the middle of the night, chewed up cereal boxes, teeth marks on woodwork and dark brown droppings? These are all sure signs that a family of mice have moved into your home. Given that mice breed at an alarming pace – one female can produce up to 10 litters per year, with about 10 mice in each litter – you are going to want to tackle this problem immediately.

Even the most devout animal lovers won’t want to share their home with mice. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rodents are responsible for several potentially serious diseases. Most of the diseases are passed on through eating food that’s contaminated with rodent urine or droppings. Some diseases such as Lassa Fever, can also be contracted just by breathing in dust that has been contaminated by rodents.

If you’re an animal lover then you’ll have ruled out any cruel, inhumane ways to get rid of mice. Glue boards and poisons are particularly cruel and should be completely avoided. Mice trapped on glue boards will struggle for hours, sometimes gnawing off their own limbs in an attempt to escape. Poison, can be potentially harmful to young children and pets. It can also enter the food chain if the poisoned mouse is eaten by a wildlife creature.

Multiple strategies need to be adopted to get rid of mice for good. The task can be achieved using humane methods, many of which are far more effective than snap traps, glue boards or poisons. Humane methods have also proven to offer more permanent solutions to ridding your home of mice.

Top tips to get rid of mice humanely

Use Peppermint Oil to get rid of mice

Mice absolutely detest the smell of peppermint oil so add a few drops to cotton wool balls and place strategically around any areas that mice may enter your house. The peppermint scent will act as a natural deterrent ensuring that your house remains mice free. You can also make up a peppermint solution with peppermint oil and water and spray around the perimeters of each room in your home. Remember to top up the peppermint oil every couple of weeks to make sure the mice stay away.

Tip:- As an added deterrent, grow peppermint plants outdoors near entrances to your home. You can buy on Amazon or at your local health store.

Use a Humane Mouse Trap

If using a humane trap, release the mice at least 2 miles from your home, preferably in a woodland area where they can easily re nest. Mice have a homing instinct so if you release them nearby, they will naturally make their way back to your home again.

TIP:- Humane mouse traps are a wonderfully effective way of ridding your home of mice without harming them. However, make sure that you check the traps daily as mice can perish if left inside for days.

These devices emit a high impact ultrasonic sound that drives mice and other pests away. Some devices cover areas up to 5000 sq ft. The beauty of these devices is that you could rid yourself of bats and all sorts of creepy crawlies as well as mice and rats.

Tip:- There are several ultrasonic pest control devices on the market, some which users claim to have limited success, so choose carefully. One of the best ones on the market is the ET Pest Control System by D&R Technologies which is highly rated by users on Amazon. It's also suitable for use by cat and dog owners as the ultrasonic sound can't be heard by them.

Forget using plastic, wood or rubber to seal holes around your house. Mice will just chew right through them! Use copper wool to plug and seal any possible entry points. Mice can squeeze their way through holes as small as 6mm. Copper mesh can be purchased in long rolls which can be easily cut and has the flexibility to be scrunched up to seal even the tiniest of holes.

Tip:- Copper mesh works better than steel wool as it doesn’t rust and won’t stain when it drips.

Rodent repellents such as Fresh Cab Rodent Repellents can be very effective in both ridding your home of existing mice and as a preventative use in non infested areas.

Simply place the pouches around potential entrance points. Pouches last up to 90 days.

If all else fails, why not get a cat? Cats naturally prey on mice and were first used as mousers in ancient Egypt. However, not all modern-day domesticated cats enjoy hunting, so if you’re looking for a pet cat that will also keep the rodents at bay you may be disappointed. Luckily, the scent of your cat should be enough of a deterrent though.

Tip:- If your cat’s more interested in taking naps than chasing mice, then put some used cat litter in trays and place around the entrances to your home. The cat urine odour should be enough to keep the mice away.

Companies such as Skedaddle can help you rid your home of mice and other pests, whilst respecting wildlife and the environment. This of course would be a more expensive option, but could be a worthwhile alternative for those who have an extensive and re-occurring problem with mice.

Have you found this article useful? Have you had success getting rid of mice or other pests with any of these humane methods? Do you have an ongoing problem with mice that won't go away! Maybe you'd like to share your experiences in the comments box below.