The Best Way to Keep Mice Away, According to a Rodent Research Director

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There is a beloved children's book titled The Mitten where various animals seek refuge during the winter in a -- you guessed it -- lost mitten. These animals take turns crawling into the woven cold-weather accessory for warmth, stretching it out and even sharing it in an adorable gesture of friendship and generosity.

While this story is sweet and teaches a wonderful lesson for kids, real-life rodents are unwelcome visitors in our adult homes. In fact, they can be downright annoying and unsanitary -- a far departure from the illustrated critters in author Jan Brett's timeless classic.

Laura Dillard, research director at 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," she says. "Preventing an infestation requires vigilance and preparation to keep these pests at bay."

We chatted with Dillard to share her top tips to safeguard your living space and ensure that the holidays and beyond remain rodent-free.

Set out all-natural deterrents

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There are a handful of all-natural substances that can be set out in place of traditional traps. CNET Home and Kitchen editor David Watsky found peppermint spray to be a particularly effective way to keep rodents from taking up residence in the home.

"Peppermint oil is one of the most popular options," Dillard says, though some people go so far as to put predator urine from animals like foxes or coyotes around their homes. This often scares rodents away so that they don't end up as a bigger animal's dinner.

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Seal entry points

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

"Inspect your home's exterior, including around pipes, vents, and foundation cracks," Dillard says. "Seal gaps with materials like steel wool combined with caulk or metal flashing to prevent chewing. Pay special attention to areas around doors and windows."

One approach is to add weather stripping, which blocks common entryways from animal trespassing. Products like expanding foam barrier get the job done and aren't difficult to use and install.

Eliminate food sources

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

"Store all food in tightly sealed containers made of glass, meta, or heavy duty plastic," Dillard says. "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 far from your home and clean up any spilled seed."

Remove clutter

There is a reason why most homeowners on shows like Hoarders deal with mice and rat infestations. Rodents love to seek out nesting materials like paper, fabric and insulation to burrow and keep warm.

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

Monitor for signs of activity

Early detection can oftentimes prevent an entire infestation, but you have to know exactly what you're looking for.

"Look for droppings, gnaw marks or sounds of scratching in walls or ceilings," Dillard says. "Identifying early signs can help you act quickly."

When to rely on traps

If prevention techniques have failed, there are a variety of baits and traps to lure rodents into an enclosure and/or mechanism that kills them. Though standard mouse traps and glues continue to exist, they aren't the most humane.

As an alternative, live catch traps exist to offer no-kill options as a thoughtful solution for managing rodents without harm. "These traps are designed to capture rodents safely so they can be released back into the wild," Dillard says. That said, they must be used effectively. Here are her most helpful recommendations to get the most bang for your buck.

Selecting the right trap: "Choose a live-catch trap that matches the size of the rodent you're targeting. Brands offer a range of humane trap sizes that work for mice, rats and other small rodents. Tomcat offers both single and multi-catch live-trap options, but remember to check traps twice daily to ensure trapped mice are not prohibited from regular food and water consumption."
Proper placement: "Rodents typically travel along walls, baseboards and other edges of rooms. Place traps along these pathways and near areas where you've noticed droppings, gnaw marks or nests."
Baiting the trap: "Use high-protein, aromatic bait like peanut butter, sunflower seeds or small pieces of fruit to attract rodents into the trap. Be sure not to over bait, as rodents might take food without triggering the trap."
Releasing the rodent: "When releasing a captured rodent, take it to a remote location, far from your home to prevent it from returning. Choose a natural area like a wooded or grassy field where the rodent will have access to food, water and shelter. Consider wearing gloves when handling the trap to avoid direct contact with the rodent."
Effectiveness and considerations: "Live-catch traps can be effective, however they may require more effort than other methods since traps must be checked frequently to ensure the rodent isn't left for too long. Always clean and sanitize the traps after each use."

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

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