Mice

Mice in the home are a nuisance - they're unhygienic and cause structural damage. Learn how to tackle these unwelcome guests with the following FAQ.

Choose from the following list to find the advice you're looking for:

• How do I identify a mouse?
• Where do mice live?
• What do mice eat?
• What attracts mice?
• How do I know if I have a mouse problem?
• Are mice harmful?
• How can I prevent having mice in my home?
• How do I get rid of mice?
• Does the council remove mice for free?
• How much does it cost to remove mice professionally?

How do I identify a mouse?

The common house mouse is classified as a rodent. They measure about 8cm (excluding the tail) and have an average weight of 12-22g. The colour of their fur is brown/grey, with slightly lighter shading on their underside. They have comparatively large ears, pointed snouts and long tails. Mice are excellent climbers and can swim if necessary, although they tend to avoid water. Being mostly nocturnal, they have poor eyesight and are colour blind, but have acute hearing and a good sense of smell and taste.

Mice are capable of reproducing at 6 weeks old and have an average litter size of 4-8 young. Their life expectancy is 9-12 months.

Where do mice live?

House mice are mainly found in close contact with human beings. They do not live in sewers like rats.

Favourite habitats:

Outside

• Under wood piles or lumber that is not being used often
• Under bushes and vines and in tall thick grass
• In appliances and old furniture that is left outside and is not being used
• In and around garbage and trash that has been left out
• In holes or gaps under buildings

Inside

• Inside the insulation of walls or ceilings
• In or behind cupboards, counters and bathtubs
• Near the boiler
• In basements or attics where things like cardboard and cloth are stored

What do mice eat?

Rather than their stereotype of being cheese lovers, the foods most favoured by the house mouse are cereals, biscuits and chocolate. They need to continuously gnaw in order to file down their teeth. Mice don't need access to water, as they get the moisture they need from their food.

When in the house, they eat almost anything not sealed in an air tight container.

What attracts mice?

The following outlines the main attractions to mice:

• Uncollected garbage and litter
• Food for pets and birds that has been left out and not eaten
• Fruits and berries that have fallen to the ground
• Compost pile that is not taken care of in the correct way

How do I know if I have a mouse problem?

The most common signs are mouse droppings (typically 5mm long) found near food sources and scratching noises, along with evidence of gnawing, burrows, nests and greasy rub marks along walls/ floors.

Are mice harmful?

Yes. Mice contaminate everything they encounter with droppings, urine and hairs. They carry diseases and parasites that are harmful to humans and animals, such as Salmonella and Listeria.

Another significant problem is the structural damage mice can cause from their gnawing and burrowing activities. This ranges from minor holes in walls/doors/furniture/cupboards to structural collapse, flooding, electrical faults and fire (they gnaw through cables).

How can I prevent having mice in my home?

Preventative measures are important, otherwise the underlying causes of a mouse problem will remain, inevitably causing re-infestation to occur. Since mice can squeeze through a hole the size of a pen, ensure you thoroughly block the openings in your home where they tend to gain entrance. The following measures act as deterrents:

• Keep food in food in rodent proof containers.
• Cover holes/gaps in walls and around pipes.
• Fix a bristle strip to the bottom of doors. These can be bought at your local DIY store.
• Use thin wire mesh to cover ventilation holes.
• Place wire balloons (less than £2 from builders' merchants) in the top of drain pipes.
• Fit cone guards to the bottom of drain pipes to prevent them from crawling up.
• Dispose of rubbish and clear up spillages.
• Don't leave food lying around either inside or outside your home.
• Clear up fallen fruit from trees and leftover bird food in your garden.
• If you regularly find litter around your home from local shops, call your local council to arrange for them to clear it up.
• Stack wood 18 inches off the ground.
• Make sure birdhouses and trays are out of reach.
• Keep garbage lids closed.
• When planting bushes make sure they're at least 3 feet from your house. Short, tidy vegetation in your garden exposes mice to predators (in fact, encouraging predators, particularly cats, may provide additional protection).
• Keep yards and alleys clean.

How do I get rid of mice?

Despite good standards of hygiene and proofing, infestations sometimes occur. When this happens it's important to act fast, since the longer you leave it, the greater and more costly your problem becomes.

If you decide to tackle the problem yourself, first identify where the mice are living, feeding and drinking, as well as the routes they take between these areas. Look for holes/burrows, droppings and footprints. Find out how they're getting into your home by blocking any holes with newspaper (or similar) and coming back a day later to see which holes have been re-opened. You can then permanently block these access points.

The following options will help you rid you tackle the problem:

Chemicals for mice removal

Be aware that this method involves rodenticides/ poisons which are also toxic to humans and animals. Take care to read the product label before use and follow the label instructions. Another concern with this option is that the mice may die in hard to reach areas of your home, preventing you from disposing of them.

Traps for mice removal

These come in various sizes and forms, such as glue traps. They are environmentally friendly, widely available and effective if placed in the right locations. The drawbacks are that this method can be cruel to the rodent and you may have to kill it yourself once it's caught. You will also need to dispose of the mouse.

Electronic mice removal

This is a non-toxic way of killing mice. They are attracted to the unit using peanut butter placed inside the trap - a footplate is depressed once they enter which triggers an electric volt. The trap is designed so that there's no need to touch a dead body, you simply empty the trap into a bin.

For more humane solutions, there are the following options:

Cage Traps for mice removal

The device captures the mice for release elsewhere. The drawback is that they could become a problem in another home - beware the saying 'What goes around comes around'!

Electromagnetic & Ultrasonic Devices for mice removal

Combined electromagnetic and ultrasonic technology penetrates walls, ceilings and floors where mice live to drive them out. These are simply plugged into a wall socket; the sound emitted is only heard by the rodents, it will not affect your pets.

For an outdoor deterrent, a Repeller can be used. It has a motion detector which when triggered by movement emits a powerful burst of ultrasound, harmlessly scaring the mice away. This device may give your pets a slight scare however.

While there are many options to help you rid your property of mice, be aware that they are not highly inquisitive and trapping requires expertise. Electromagnetic devices are not always effective and mice are becoming immune to weaker DIY products. If you've tried to tackle the infestation yourself without success, or if you simply don't want to take care of the problem yourself, contact a professional pest controller.

Does the council remove mice for free?

Each local council has their own policy as to how they deal with rodent removal. While some offer a free service, approximately 60% charge a fee, although in certain cases they offer a discount to those on a low income.

You will need to make contact with the Environmental Health Department of your local council to report the problem and find out what applies in your area. It's important to note that councils don't provide a set timescale for their pest control service, which can be a problem if your mouse infestation is serious. The following link offers a Directory of Local Councils.

The 1949 Prevention of Damage by Pests Act requires local authorities (excluding Northern Ireland) to keep their district free from rodents, but they're not obliged to pay the bill.

How much does it cost to remove mice professionally?

When looking for a professional removal of your mouse infestation, it's a good idea to bear in mind that not all services offer a fixed and convenient time for solving the problem.

• Local Council (excluding free service): £15 - £68
• Private Firms: £41 - £229