What is the best way to get rid of house mice?

Question

Preferably a cheap way... and one that wont make them suffer.....

Answer 1

Go around the house, and check to see if there are any holes that are letting the mice in. You can stuff them with steel wool or caulk them, if there are any. Remember, mice can squeeze into extremely small holes, so look carefully. Maybe at night, with the houselights on -- you can see the lights from the outside if it is dark.

Then, put all your food into mouse-proof containers. Tins or plastic bins are favorites. This may be quite an investment, unless you can pick up good mouse-proof containers at a charity. Mice won't stay when they can't find food.

You must tidy up the kitchen every day -- sweep the floor, and wipe down the counters. Make sure there is no water around, either. If you have a pet, you might consider feeding it at certain times of the day, or feeding it outside.

Then, if you must, go for old-fashioned snap-traps. They usually die almost instantly, which is better than glue traps. You can use "humane traps" but you have to empty them constantly, and are the mice really better off in the wilderness?

We have mice every autumn, and it's quite frustrating when they ruin food and leave droppings around the kitchen. These steps have worked for us.

Good luck!

Answer 2

You can get human traps that don't kill them. You could also try a cat, but be warned that most house cats will not kill the mice all the way, they just play with them and bring them to you alive, so then you have to kill it or catch it to get it out of the house. Sometimes they play with them until they're dead if you can stand to watch it. They won't eat them unless they're hungry and it would be cruel not to feed your cat...so basically not the best method. Glue traps are bad too...the mice don't die they squirm around stuck in the glue and you have to whack them in the head.

Answer 3

Cat. I've used humane mousetraps before and half the time the mouse dies anyway. With a cat you can feel like you aren't the one condemning it to death, it is all just nature and the circle of life. Furthermore, once you are rid of the mice you have a deterant to stop them returning.

Answer 4

Get a cat. I had my first house mouse in 1979. Got my first cat, and have never had to set a mousetrap since--and I've lived in some pretty interesting places where mice were prolific. Had to have two cats then.

Answer 5

Glue traps are the best method to trap rats and mice.

Answer 6

Mouse traps are cheap and it kills them quickly.