A rodent researcher told us how to keep mice away this winter

The mice find their way in the winter in search of a warm place to welcome (like us). If you prefer the place not to be your kitchen, bedroom or living room, there are ways to keep mice out in the first place. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to rodents, so we turned to an expert for the inside scoop on keeping mice from crawling behind yours. cold or under stove.

Laura Dillard, director of research at the rodent control company Tomcat is an expert in pest management and prevention. “Rodents are especially active in winter as they search for food, water and warmth to survive the colder months,” he says. “Preventing an infestation requires vigilance and preparation to keep these pests at bay.”

We asked Dillard’s for their top tips for safeguarding your home and making sure the holidays and beyond remain rodent-free.

Use natural deterrents

There are a lot of natural substances that can be installed in place of traditional traps. David Watsky, editor of CNET Home and Kitchen found peppermint spray to be a particularly effective way to keep rodents from taking up residence in the house.

“Peppermint oil is one of the most popular options,” says Dillard, although some people go so far as to put predator urine from animals like foxes or coyotes around their homes. This often scares off rodents so they don’t end up as dinner for larger animals.

Seal entry points with steel wool

Unsurprisingly, rodents can squeeze through openings of all shapes and sizes, even ones as small as a quarter inch in diameter.

“Inspect the exterior of your home, including around pipes, vents and foundation cracks,” says Dillard. “Seal gaps with materials such as steel wool combined with caulk or metal flashing to prevent chewing. Pay particular attention to the spaces around doors and windows.”

One approach is to add the weather strip, which prevents the common entrance from the intrusion of animals. The products like expanding foam barrier they do the job and are not difficult to use and install.

Eliminate tempting food sources

Perhaps the best part of winter is cooking and baking our favorite comfort foods. Unfortunately, these dishes, along with leftover raspberries, pet food, bird seed and improperly stored pantry items can attract rodents looking for a feast.

“Store all foods in tight containers made of glass, meta, or heavy-duty plastic,” says Dillard. “Clean up spills promptly and take out trash regularly. Avoid leaving pet food or water bowls out overnight. And if you feed birds, place feeders away from your home and clean up every spilled seed.”

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Eliminate engagement

There’s a reason why most homeowners on shows like Hoarders deal with mouse and rat infestations. Rodents love to look for nesting materials like paper, cloth and insulation to dig in and keep warm.

“Keep storage areas organized and avoid leaving piles of newspapers, cardboard or clothes in basements and attics,” says Dillard. “Outdoors, cut back vegetation near your home, remove piles of debris and store firewood at least 20 feet from your home and elevated off the ground.”

Read more: : These kitchen organizers will give you miles of extra space

Monitor for signs of activity

Early detection can often prevent an entire infestation, but you have to know exactly what to look for.

“Look for droppings, gnaw marks or scratching sounds on walls or ceilings,” says Dillard. “Identifying the early signs can help us act quickly.”

Know when to rely on traps

If prevention techniques have failed, there are a variety of baits and traps to attract rodents into an enclosure and/or mechanism that kills them. Although there are standard mouse traps and glue, they are not the most humane.

Alternatively, live capture traps exist to offer no-kill options as a thoughtful non-harmful rodent management solution. “These traps are designed to capture rodents safely so they can be released back into the wild,” says Dillard. That said, they must be used effectively. Here are their top tips for getting the most bang for your buck.

Tips for setting traps for rodents

1. Choosing the right trap: “Choose a live capture trap that matches the size of the rodent you want. Brands offer a range of human trap sizes that work for mice, rats and other small rodents. Tomcat offers both. single and many– catch live trap options, but remember to check the traps twice a day to make sure that the trapped mice are not prohibited from regular consumption of food and water.
2. The actual location: “Rodents usually travel along the walls, baseboards and other edges of rooms. Place traps along these paths and near areas where you have noticed excrement, rose marks or nests.”
3. Attack the trap: “Use high-protein, aromatic baits such as peanut butter, sunflower or pieces of fruit to attract rodents into the trap. Be sure not to over-bait, as rodents may take the food without activating the trap”.
4. Release of the rodent: “When you release a captured rodent, take it to a remote location, away from your home to prevent it from returning. Choose a natural area such as a wooded or grassy field where the rodent has access to food, water and ‘abri. when handling the trap to avoid direct contact with the rodent.”
5. Effectiveness and considerations: “Live capture traps can be effective, however they may require more effort than other methods, as the traps must be checked frequently to ensure that the rodent is not left for too long. Always clean and sanitize the traps after each use.”

Of course, by combining the trap with preventive measures, homeowners have the best chance of eliminating the risk of a vermin invasion. Take both methods into consideration and rodents may very well seek solace in a lost mitten and not in the walls of your home.