Mouse Control: Prevent & Eliminate Infestations in Your Home

As temperatures drop in autumn, mice seek warm shelter—often finding it in your home or garage. Beyond the shock of an encounter, mice cause structural damage, contaminate food, and transmit diseases like salmonella, tularemia, and murine typhus.

Why Mice Are Hard to Control

A single female can produce up to 10 litters of 5–6 pups per year, with young reaching reproductive maturity in just 6 weeks. A small problem can explode into a full-blown infestation rapidly.

Integrated Control Strategy

1. Sanitation

• Clean spills immediately; eliminate crumbs before bedtime.
• Store dry goods in sealed glass, metal, or heavy-duty rubber containers.

2. Trapping (Done Right)

• Place traps along walls and behind furniture—mice travel edges.
• Use peanut butter or dried fruit, not cheese.
• Set traps every 10 feet; check and reset daily.

3. Rodenticides: Proceed with Caution

Poisons require multiple feedings over days and pose risks to children, pets, and non-target wildlife.

4. Exclusion (Mouse-Proofing)

Seal all openings larger than ¼ inch with caulk and steel wool. Focus on foundation cracks, utility penetrations, and gaps around doors/windows.

When to Call a Professional

DIY control is often a long, difficult process. For persistent or large infestations, a licensed pest control service (like an exterminator in NJ) provides the most reliable eradication.