Unless they’re in a cage, you probably don’t want rodents like rats, mice, and squirrels inside your home. Every year, many UK homeowners deal with these pesky creatures, especially as the weather gets colder. Rodents seek shelter and a steady food source in homes during colder seasons. If you’re facing this issue, you’re likely wondering how to get rid of rodents. In this guide, we’ll discuss some DIY methods and how they might be entering your home.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Rid of Mice?

If you’re looking for a quick and effective solution, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. A full-service extermination visit, including setting traps, leaving bait, and inspecting for entry points, costs between £300 and £550. A more extensive mice infestation could cost even more due to the need for multiple visits.

The Dangers of Rodents

Dealing with rats and mice might be a hassle, but it’s crucial to act quickly. Rodents multiply rapidly, and a mild problem can become serious in no time. Rodents can spread diseases, worsen allergies and asthma, and their urine and droppings may contain harmful pathogens. Promptly addressing rodent problems is essential.

How Do Rodents Enter Homes?

To address the issue of how to get rid of rodents, start by figuring out how they entered your home. You can use DIY methods or hire a professional, but preventing their entry in the first place is key.

How to Prevent Rodents

Here are some steps to prevent rodents from entering your home:

  • Remove overgrown bushes, shrubs, and trees close to your home.
  • Keep pet food out of reach, clean up after feeding, and don’t leave pet food lying around.
  • Seal any gaps along the outside of your home using steel wool.
  • Caulk cracks in windows, doors, and the foundation.

How to Get Rid of Rodents?

 

Method One: Traps

  • Snap Traps: Simple and effective for mild to moderate mouse problems.
  • Sticky Traps: Adhesive pads that catch rodents but require proper disposal.
  • Electric Traps: Lure mice into an enclosed chamber and deliver electric shocks.

Method Two: Get a Cat

Cats are natural hunters and can help control current rodent problems and prevent future infestations.

Method Three: Use Essential Oils

Mix pungent oils like tea tree, eucalyptus, and peppermint with water and spray along baseboards and door jams.

Note: Consult with your vet before using essential oils if you have other pets.

Method Four: Use Bait Stations

Bait stations contain rodent killer and can be used alone or alongside other methods. They are safe for kids and pets.

Remember, staying vigilant is crucial to ensuring rodents don’t return.

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Good traps! Read instructions and be patient...

Bought a couple of different traps, had most success with these. They are bigger and seem to be stronger than the others we purchased. And these were cheaper.

Gloves and instructions were very useful.

Keeping human scent off the traps and allowing the rats time to get used to them (baiting but not setting) etc. has helped catch a trap-shy rat.

Work every time - with the right bait

I have a neighbor with a huge overgrown garden (her house looks like a horror movie set as well). Consequently over the last few years we have the autumn influx of critters which move into my sheds for the winter. They even dug under the ground to come in via the floor! I have tried everything available to be kind to them, then to poison them then to trap them. Only death works because there are so many breeding mice next door. These traps are failsafe. Box has warnings in about useless bait (like cheese, peanut butter etc) and also comes with gloves and brushes to get rid of fleshy ick. You need a 2-pronged attack – I have heeded the advice and only put about six grains of poison in the middle well in each trap. I then set trap and dropped only about 2-3 grains beside trap to have a trail going to trap. Every single day I have set two traps as an experiment and every day I have caught two mice.

Note at end of November: I have now caught two mice a day for 16 days – found out they came in via a mole tunnel underground then chewed through a wall. I filled up hole n have no more since – using this method NOT ONE MOUSE HAS BEEN TRAPPED BY LEG ETC and all die quickly by instant effect as their eyes are still open in surprise. Not cruel and no lingering suffering for them, just instant.