HOW TO PREVENT and CATCH MICE IN YOUR HOUSE - with Chocolate

Many old and not so old houses can attract mice. This is a terrible problem, not only
because so many people are disgusted at the thought of these creatures loose in their
house, but also because they are a health hazard, even more so if they get into kitchens.
How to tell if you have mice

You can tell if you have mice if you see droppings, and often they can come in through
tiny little cracks in the skirting board or wall, or come in from outside through a crack in
your doorstep.

Where to look for mice
They are often found in cupboards, so if you store cardboard boxes or other containers of
things and you find they are chewed, then it is likely you have a mouse that can gain
access to your home in some way.

Pest Control
If you really don't want to deal with the problem yourself, or if you think it could be rats or
other rodents then you can call a professional exterminator to take care of things for you.

How to trap a mouse
The first thing to do is get a trap. There are 2 types of trap, humane and snap traps. The
former are little cages which trap the mouse inside but don't kill it, so you have to be
prepared to get rid of it still alive. Also with these traps there is the danger it could simply
come back into your home or someone else's.

The other kind of trap is supposed to kill the mouse the minute it hits the spring, but
occasionally they can go wrong and it can hang onto life, so either way you have to find
somebody who is prepared to dispose of it!

Place the traps where they will not be disturbed by other household members. In corners,
the cupboard under the stairs, behind furniture are all possible venues. If you see a hole in
the skirting board, behind the fridge etc then you might want to place one there.

Mice can get out of very tiny cracks so look carefully. Remember too that mice will run
away when they hear noise of footsteps and so on, and also take care that noisy
footsteps or running does not set the trap off!

Mouse Bait
Put a small piece of bait, cheese is one option, but surprisingly chocolate is excelllent, in
the appropriate place on the trap, and place it very close to the wall. Don't touch the trap
too much or else your scent will overpower that of the bait, which the mouse will detect
then avoid the trap. Keep checking the traps every morning, and after a few days replace
the bait. If nothing happens then you might want to reconsider your positioning of the
traps.

Once you have trapped the mouse then you must dispose of it. If it is dead then the best
way is to wrap it, including the trap if you want, in a plastic bag and dispose carefully in
the outside bin. If you used a humane trap you must find a place to set it free. It is
probably best to take it somewhere in the car a distance from your home because
otherwise if it is let out in the back garden, it will inevitably come back in.

Stop mice entering the home
To prevent mice entering the house you could try stuffing all the little cracks in your steps
and walls with steel wool as this is one material mice cannot chew through.

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