A mouse crossing the back of the yard is wildlife. A mouse crossing the kitchen at 11:30 p.m. has apparently signed a lease without consulting you.
Rats and mice look for food, water and shelter. The strongest long-term plan begins with prevention: reduce food and nesting opportunities, seal entry points and then use appropriate traps or other controls when needed.
Start outside: make the yard less attractive
Keep garbage containers closed, clean spilled birdseed, avoid leaving pet food outside overnight, pick up fallen fruit and reduce clutter near the house. EPA guidance also emphasizes removing nesting sites such as leaf piles and deep mulch while cleaning up food and water sources.
Store firewood neatly and away from places where it creates protected shelter immediately against the foundation.
Find out how they are getting inside
Inspect the foundation, garage, doors, vents, utility penetrations and places where pipes or cables enter the building. Also check beneath sinks and behind appliances. Seal appropriate gaps with durable materials suitable for the opening rather than assuming foam alone will stop an animal that can chew.
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DIY trapping
For a small, identifiable mouse problem, snap traps are a practical option. Place traps where you see evidence of activity and where children and pets cannot reach them. Follow manufacturer instructions and check traps regularly.
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What about poison?
Rodenticides require more caution. EPA warns that misuse can harm children, pets and wildlife. Consumer products should be used only as labeled, and traps or bait stations must be placed where children and pets cannot access them. Never scatter loose poison around a home or yard.
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Do not vacuum or sweep dry droppings
CDC guidance says not to vacuum or sweep rodent urine, droppings or nesting material before disinfection because contaminated particles can become airborne. For an enclosed space with rodent evidence, CDC recommends ventilating the area before cleanup, then wearing rubber or plastic gloves, thoroughly wetting contaminated material with disinfectant, allowing the labeled contact time and wiping it up.
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Things not to do
- Do not ignore droppings and assume the animal has left.
- Do not leave pet food, birdseed or accessible garbage available overnight.
- Do not depend on traps without looking for entry points.
- Do not sweep or vacuum dry rodent droppings or nesting material.
- Do not put traps or bait where children or pets can reach them.
- Do not use a pesticide in a location or manner not allowed by its label.
- Do not seal an opening blindly if you suspect animals may be trapped in an occupied wall, attic or other inaccessible space.
When to call a professional
Call a qualified pest-control professional when activity is widespread or persistent, rats are present, rodents appear established in walls, crawlspaces, ducts or attics, contamination is extensive, entry points cannot be located, or DIY trapping is not reducing activity.
A good professional should do more than place bait. Ask how they will identify the species, find entry points, correct access and food sources, monitor results and prevent recurrence. Ask about licensing and what products will be used.
Professional help
Need a rodent-control professional?
For now, Roof & Lawn recommends a properly licensed pest-control professional for infestations beyond a manageable DIY problem. Local-provider matching will be added only after we have a reliable provider database.
The best mouse trap may be your house itself
The long-term goal is not to become exceptionally talented at catching mice. It is to make your home difficult to enter and uninteresting once they arrive. Remove food and shelter, close openings, monitor for new signs and act early.
Safety sources: CDC: How to Clean Up After Rodents; EPA: Identify and Prevent Rodent Infestations; EPA: Safely Use Rodent Bait Products.