Virtually nobody loves the company of a mouse except a few who develop a bond with a pet mouse. A mouse is a disastrous rodent and a threat to humans. Thus, it is essential to know how to lure a mouse out of hiding before it haunts you.
A mouse hiding in a wall is very difficult to get out. It becomes worse when it dies right inside the tight and air-strapped hole. If you aren’t sure if you have mice in your wall, this post will show you signs that you have mice in your walls.
It’s obvious a mouse’s presence is already annoying, and you’re being encouraged to lure and get rid of it permanently. This article identifies the best practices for getting a mouse out of its hiding place without it ever returning. Also, there are a couple of things you need to understand which this article highlights.
Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Get Rid of Mice
Poisonous
One of the frequently asked questions is, “Are mice dangerous?” Mice are dangerous and are famous disease carriers. A mouse bite can make you feverish, and while it remains untreated, it may develop into something fatal. Mice are known carriers of hantavirus and salmonellosis. These diseases result from food poisoning, prevalent when mice droppings enter the food.
Destructive
A mouse spares nothing when on a rampage. It cuts through walls with cracks, rampages relevant documents, destroys crops, chops the adorned parts of the wooden furniture, and messes up the resident.
Unhealthily Ventilation
There is nothing like ‘fresh air’ when mouse droppings lie anywhere near the apartment. It irritates the nose and makes you feel like vomiting. Worst of all, even after packing the droppings, it returns late in the night to leave new ones since it is a nocturnal insect.
How to Lure a Mouse Out of Hiding without Involving Mouse Exterminators
There are ways to catch a mouse, but only a few are very useful. Here are some of the best practices on how to lure a mouse out of hiding.
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Use a Mouse Glue Trap
It is a highly recommended practice concerning how to lure a mouse out of hiding permanently. It traps the mouse without any foul smell, and you can hear the mouse squeaking while attempting to escape.
How to Place a Glue Trap Properly
Before you place a glue trap for a mouse, you must be sure of its most targeted point in the building. The best way to figure out is by finding its droppings. Where you find mice droppings is the spot where it rallies around before rampaging the building. Look around for cracks on the wall, doors, windows, and seal them. Now, place the glue trap board exactly where you find the droppings.
An empty glue board will still trap a mouse, but you need to spice up the trap to speed up the arrival of the mouse. You can use the feed baits that mice prefer most like cheese and vegetables. Don’t use raw beans or spice like onions; you’d only be sending them away, thus, rendering the glue trap useless. When a mouse is in a sticky or glue trap, it does not die immediately. However, in a matter of days, it will be dead, but it is not advisable to let a trapped mouse remain on the board. See how to dispose of a live mouse caught by a glue trap.
Price of a Mouse Glue Trap Board
A mouse glue trap costs anything between $5 and $14. For $2, you can still order one for yourself and say goodbye to mice threats.
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The Good Old Mouse Snap Trap
Using a snap trap is similar to using a glue board. You must frequently check on the trap because this practice results in the irritating smell of a dead mouse. Furthermore, using a conventional mousetrap is more technical, beginning from the setup to retrieving the trapped mouse.
How to Place a Mouse Snap Trap
Locate the area in the building stuffed with mice droppings. Carefully pack the droppings and do not immediately disinfect unless you want to scare off mice temporarily. Place the trap at that point and insert the bait. The trap must be kept near the wall because mice rarely operate away from the wall where they feel safer.
Note: You must have a hand glove on as mice have a slightly advanced perception system which aids them in detecting human scent.
While some baits scare the mice, some others attract them. Cheese is crisp, but cheese is not the only bait that summons mice. Consider using hazelnuts, vegetables, chocolates, peanuts butter, and even calorie-based feeds. Ensure that the bait is not scattered around. Concentrate the baits in the trap to increase the chances of success.
Most persons handle mouse snap traps directly with their hands, which reduces the chances of getting rid of a troublesome mouse. It isn’t a good practice on how to lure a mouse out of hiding. Alternatively, use any available material to prevent your hand from making contact with the snap trap.
Price of a Snap Trap
Snap traps cost $5.60 and could be costlier depending on the nature of the trap. Depending on the perceived number of mice, you may settle for at least two snap traps for more effectiveness.
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Bait Poisoning
A highly effective measure concerning how to lure a mouse out of hiding. However, it is the most detrimental practice, especially in homes or places, occupying pets, and young children. Young children can be ridiculous, you know. A child features an automatic system that wants to touch and taste anything on sight which may result in the child swallowing the poison. Although you will be careful while placing poisoned baits, you can’t always be perfect safeguarding a child and a pet.
You should be aware that poisons don’t attract rats, so you should know how to position your poison for it to be effective.
How Safely Place a Poisoned Bait for Mouse
Just like other measures, locate the areas of the building littered with mice droppings. Typically, a mouse does not produce the droppings in the open, so you’ll have to look at every corner and darker parts of the building. Apply the poison to whatever bait is in use and place them there. Endeavour to use gloves because you’re handling a lethal bait.
Results of Bait Poisoning and What to Do
Unlike other measures, bait poisoning does not trap a mouse on the spot. A mouse, not knowing that it’s feeding on a poisoned meal, will finish the meal and depart for a different area of the building where it dies. If you are using a mouse poison like RatX, there will be a smell of the dead mouse and this, in a manner, is not proper. An ordinary poison will kill the mouse and produce a bad smell which helps in tracing. Meanwhile, locating a dead mouse can be tasking; wear a nose guard, look into dark areas, back of cupboards, wall corners, etc. and you should find the dead mouse. Do this as early to prevent fleas from infesting the house.
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Employ a Killer Cat
Just like what you find on Tomcat series, real-life cats do murder mice. It is tested and confirmed but not a common way of luring mice out of hiding. The chance of attracting a mouse out of hiding using a cat is 50/50 as cats may make friends with the mouse. The possibilities become more significant if you employ such cats as American Shorthair and Maine Coons.
Some scared cats may even become the hunted by mouse. It’s recommendable if the level of mice infestation is low, and you’re a lover of cats. If you’ve never encountered cats, this is the right time. They can be silly and fun at the same time.
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Use Strong Scents
Did you know that some scents irritate mice? This practice on how to lure a mouse out of hiding does not exterminate mice but chases them away. If the area records a high infestation of mice, apply this measure alongside other measures, and these destructive agents should relocate elsewhere.
What Scent Will Keep Mice Away?
Proven scents that keep mice away include the following:
- Peppermint oil
- White vinegar
- Cloves
- Cayenne pepper
- Onions
Grind any of the available hard repellents into powder or liquid form and sprinkle around the building. Mouse detest the smell and would do anything to avoid it, including biding the environment farewell.
Can Mice See in the Light?
They can see under the light but not when it is too bright. Bright light scares mice away and gives them a feeling of exposure to threats. Moreover, although they are nocturnal rodents, they can’t see in the night because of their poor vision. They depend on walls and their pointed nose to make a move. So, if you’re going to lure them successfully, you must target the walls and the corners of the walls as well as darker portions of the house.
What Can I Do to Keep Mice Away Permanently?
- Seal all cracks on the wall, doors, and windows.
- Sprinkle strong scents like vinegar.
- Frequently clear unused items.
- Do not abandon certain places in the house.
- Lastly, keep your surroundings clean.
Final Thought
It is not a great option to move away from a particular resident because of a mouse infestation. Do the right thing as presented in this brief article, and your home, office, or storehouse should be mouse-free.
Keep things clean and seal every crack in the building. Avoid leaving the doors open at night because this nocturnal rodent will scramble its way towards that passage. Finally, inspect your home regularly for signs of a mouse. During the darker and quieter hours of the day, put off the lights and listen carefully for squeaks. This way, you’d be one of those not being haunted by mice.