With cold weather here, mice and rats seek warm places for their survival, which could mean your house.
If your cats and dogs are like my daughter’s pets, they believe in live and let live. Which means it’s up to us to rid our homes of those unwelcome guests. Of course there are pets that are good mousers, but we prefer more humane ways to clear them out.
Here are some safe ways to remove rodents from your home.
Use live mouse traps, checking them a few times a day as air supply in them may be limited and the trapped animal can suffocate. Make sure whatever food you use as bait is fresh. Release the trapped rodents as far from your house as possible so that they won’t return, preferably in a wooded area.
Some spices are great deterrents as mice don’t like their smell and they are safe for most pets. Cinnamon sticks can be placed in closets and drawers. Cayenne pepper can be sprinkled or used in a spray – 3/4 water, 2 drops of dish detergent, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons of powdered cayenne pepper.
Grow mint plants, peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, around the foundation of your house or in pots on a windowsill. Regular trimming of the plants will prevent them from becoming invasive. Sprinkle dried or fresh leaves in kitchen cabinets and drawers, closets, near any cracks or openings where rodents may enter. Mint spices also deter fleas, ants and flies.
Don’t leave food out as it can attract mice. Clean up any crumbs right after eating.
As soon as your pet finishes eating, remove the dishes and wash them. Have specific feeding times and don’t leave any pet food out. Keep all pet food in containers that mice and rats can’t open.
Holes and cracks can be stuffed with steel wool or caulked closed.
These tips should help keep your home rodent-free humanely while keeping your pets safe.
