What’s Scratching in Your Roof?

House mice are one of the most common pests found in homes. They can breed quickly and give birth to six babies every three weeks! They may look cute but they can spread diseases, such as include salmonella, leptospirosis, and even Hantavirus. They’re also devastating to your home because of their destructive nature, which is why it’s important that you get rid of this problem quickly.

Before you try to get rid of the mice in your attic, check to see if there are any signs that they are there. Here are some things to look for:

If you hear scratching in the attic, it is probably mice. If you don’t hear anything, that doesn’t mean they’re not there –  especially if it’s during the day. Mice sleep during the daytime, but at night, they are active and you should be able to hear them moving around.

Be on the lookout for signs of mice in your roof, this includes urine marks, mouse droppings, greasy rub marks against walls and skirtings, chewed-up items and shredded items formed as nests.

Be on the lookout for any holes that could be used as a mouse’s passageway or burrow. These could lead to other areas in your house and create more problems. The holes might also go through the insulation.

In addition, be aware of possible entry points that mice use to get into the roof. Common entryways include gaps around windows and doors, as well as openings around vents and pipes.

Mice and other rodents can enter your home through cracks in the foundation. They can fit through very small spaces, so be sure to seal up any cracks you find to keep them out.

There are several reasons why mice might nest in your roof. One possibility is that they are looking for a food source. Another possibility is that they need shelter, and the attic is a good place to find it. Finally, mice might choose to nest in the attic because of the insulation, which keeps them warm.

Mice gather in areas where they can find food. Even if you don’t store food in your roof, mice might eat things like cords or insulation, especially if it’s something they like to gnaw at.

Mice like to live in areas where they feel safe. This means that they want to be away from predators and threats, and they also want to be sheltered from the weather. These critters also use your boxes and insulation to create tunnels and passageways.

There are many ways to get rid of mice in your roof. Some methods prevent mice from entering in the first place, while others involve catching and removing the mice that are already there.

After finding the areas where the mice were entering your roof, the best way to stop them from coming back is to seal and block those entrances. The first step is to seal up the holes that are bigger than 6mm in size.

Use caulking and steel wool pads to seal up the smaller holes. Meanwhile, use concrete mortar, flat metal, or even hardware cloth to seal up the larger ones.

If you have loose-fitting doors, you can also use weatherproofing strips to keep the cold air out and the warm air in.

Mice can use branches to reach the roof of your home. Trim any trees and bushes near your home with branches that could help mice climb to the roof. This will ensure that they have no way of getting into your attic.

Since mice go towards food sources, make sure your storage areas are mouse-proof. Store items like dried grain and meats in sealed containers. These can be metal containers, glass jars, and so on.

Make sure you use materials that prevent mice from chewing through. This will help to keep your food safe from these pests.

Ensure that you regularly dispose of garbage, keeping it away from the house if possible, and sealed in proper garbage bins. Make sure to clean up after cooking immediately, not leaving dirty dishes and garbage out in the open.

Apart from disposing of garbage in your house, you can also clean up and de-clutter the attic. This helps prevent nesting spots and nest-building materials for mice.

There are different types of traps that you can use. Some traps catch the mouse so you can release it outside (Live Catch and Release Trap). Other traps kill the mice (Electronic Rat Trap).

We discourage the use of cheese as bait for traps because it becomes rancid over time. We recommend using food like peanut butter or chocolate that lasts longer.

At Dead Easy, we are passionate about using humane methods, no matter which route you choose. Avoid glue traps and poisons from department stores (to learn more about secondary poisoning click here).

If the DIY methods don’t work, then it’s time to call the professionals.

Our professional technicians have the training and the right tools for the job, this ensures that they can get rid of the mice in a safe and effective manner. Should you wish to go the poison route, we only use Multi- Feed formulations for controlling mice in Cape Town because they are safer for the environment and our wildlife.