Mouse in the house
Posted by Devin Manky March 21, 2025
We have a mouse in the house!
If you’ve been following Grinder and Coola through their hibernation and watching the daily timelapses you may have noticed a little black dot scurrying around as our boy’s snooze away. This little mouse has found a cozy home for the winter. Did you know that in the wild, smaller mammals will often share bear denning sites? While the bears are sleeping it’s a great space to be in and protected from the bad weather and limited resources outside. Though once the bears wake up… here’s hoping he finds himself a new home otherwise he might find himself on the menu.
If you are having problems with mice in your home, you may want to deal with them a little differently than adding them to the menu.
Preventing wildlife from entering your home or unwanted space can be accomplished through the following steps:
1. Locate their entry points
There are many ways mice can get into your home but places to focus on include, basements, garages, attics, cracks around doors and windows. Once you have located their entry point or where they are nesting, you can focus on setting traps in that location
2. Set humane mouse traps
Mouse traps are one of the most effective ways to get rid of mice that have made their way in to your home. The most effective and humane being live traps or snap traps. While snap traps may seem cruel, they are the more humane trap, killing mice quickly versus inhumane traps such as sticky or glue traps. Not only are these sticky/glue traps cruel and prolong suffering but they are not as effective as mice can learn to avoid them. We also do not support the use of rodenticides as the poison digested by mice can actually move up the food chain killing other species that are predators of mice. When setting live or snap traps it is best to set them on the pathways that mice use, typically along the walls or near trash cans
How to prevent future mice infestations
Unfortunately, there's no single cure-all solution for pest control however following these next steps will prevent mice and any other wildlife moving back in
1. Seal off entry points
Walk around your home, checking any and all possible entry points, paying close attention to where pipes enter the home, basement foundations and around doorways. Seal narrow gaps with 100% silicone caulking. If you find larger openings, first stuff them with steel wool, this will prevent mice from chewing though, and then seal them with a joint compound. For very large openings, you can close them off with small wire mesh sheets. If you have gaps around your doors, use weatherproofing sealant or a door sweep to prevent mice from scurrying underneath
2. Remove attractants and food sources
Mice are more likely to enter your home during the colder months when food starts to become less available outside. Removing attractants and food sources from your home will reduce a mouse moving in. Not only human food but also pet food will be a food source for mice. To limit their access, we recommend storing any unsealed food or pet food in airtight containers. In food preparation areas, keep surfaces clean and try not to leave pet food in a bowl out all day long. Similarly, garbage and recycling are attractants. We recommend garbage cans with a lid that you can close tightly, keeping the area where you store your cans clean, as well as, washing these bins regularly to keep smells down
3. Install an owl nesting box in your yard
Owls are great natural predators of mice and inviting one to live in your yard is a great way to keep pest populations low. Firstly, you will need to do some research to see which species of owl live in your area as different species have different nesting requirements. Once you know which species of owl live in your area, you can either purchase a nesting box online or, if you feel up to it, make one yourself as there are a lot of templates and advice online
4. If all else fails, think about getting a cat…
