What do mice eat, and how can I keep them from coming into my house? Mice have always been an extremely common pest to find in the home, and that doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon. Unfortunately, though, mice can also carry diseases that are easily transmitted through their droppings, urine, and saliva.
It’s also insanely easy for mice to get into your home, considering that mice have collapsable skeletons and each mouse only needs a hole about as wide as a dime to be able to sneak in.
This article will cover the various things mice eat (AKA what attracts them to your home), as well as what to watch out for and how you can get rid of them.
Let’s get started:
What Do Mice Eat?
What do mice eat is the first question you need to know the answer for. Mice are technically omnivores by nature, meaning they can eat just about anything you have. However, like anything, they do have certain preferred meals.
Here is a list of the top mouse foods that attract rodents into your home:
- Pet Food
- Leftovers
- Grains (such as rice or oats)
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Nuts
Now, it is important to note that, even though these are a mouse’s favorite things, that doesn’t mean you have to purge them from your dwelling. In fact, getting rid of these things will likely do very little to solve your rodent issue, as mice can live off of just about any food—including dead insects.
Rather, there are other preventative measures you can take that don’t include restricting your diet.
Signs of a Mouse Infestation
The most common signs that you have a mouse problem are:
- Damaged cardboard containers with ragged edges around the holes
- Any food scraps that have gnawing or nibble marks
- Finding tiny, rod-shaped nuggets (feces).
- Unprecedented electrical damage, or wires that appear to have been chewed
A mouse’s teeth are always growing, so they gnaw and chew to keep them worn down. Because of this, the most common sign of mice in your home will be things being chewed that shouldn’t be.
Additionally, mice reproduce extremely quickly, with one female able to birth up to six young every three weeks. Because of this, it is imperative to address the problem head-on, rather than waiting for it to go away.
How to Get Rid of Mice in the Home
There are many ways you can get rid of mice in your home; some of these are considered to be more effective or humane than others, so you’ll have to look over the options and decide what is best for you.
The top ways to get rid of mice in your home are:
- Baited spring traps
- Glue boards
- Poisons
- Non-Lethal Box traps (for relocation)
Please note, however, that certain levels of infestation will require more in-depth treatment than what the above can provide.
How to Prevent Mouse Infestations
Preventing mouse infestations is tricky, simply because mice are very resilient and intelligent creatures. Knowing the answer to the question, What do mice eat, is a good place to start. No matter what you do, they can usually outsmart it. Because of this, the best thing you can do is set out bated traps and poisons before a few mice become a major problem. Over time, the mice will learn that your home is a dangerous place and find somewhere else to source their next meal.
Most people bait their traps with things that emit strong smells, such as cheese or peanut butter. We find peanut butter to be better, simply because it’s hard for the mouse to grab it and run as they could do with most cheeses.
Additionally, it’s always a good idea to look around your home for holes or cracks that lead to outside. This will stop the problem before it starts, while the traps will catch any little critters that trickle through.
What Do I Do if I Already Have an Infestation?
As we mentioned before, major infestations require a little more attention than the standard homeowner can provide. Just knowing the answer to what do mice eat, isn’t always enough. In cases like these, we recommend calling a pest control professional to come out to your home and advise you on what to do next.
If you’d like to prepare your home in advance to prevent infestations, you can also contact your local pest control company to come out and regularly service your house with preventative measures.
At Problem Solved Pest Control, our door is always open and our phones are always on. If you have a problem with mice or want to prevent them, be sure to call us today for a free consultation and quote. We’d love to hear from you!
