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Protect your house from mice this winter

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Contributed by: Tri-County Health Department on 11/6/2007

Now that colder weather is here, mice are trying to find shelter inside homes and around the garden.

"Following a few simple precautions can protect you from these pesky intruders who can cause property damage and spread diseases such as Hantavirus," states Lloyd Williams, Director of Environmental Health at Tri-County Health Department. "There are three basic steps to rodent prevention-eliminate their food, restrict their shelter, and trap or exterminate them."

To get rid of any food that may attract mice: do not leave pet food in feeding dishes, especially overnight; remove all fruit that has dropped off trees and any vegetation left in the garden; pick up dog droppings in the yard; store grass seed, birdseed, grains and animal feed in rodent-proof containers; keep trash containers tightly closed; and do not place trash outside in bags the night before curbside pickup, as it is an easy source of food for rodents and other scavengers.

Eliminate any rodent shelter within 100 feet of a house by raking leaves, trimming shrubbery and cutting brush; keep wood piles away from the home and at least twelve inches off the ground; clean sheds and storage areas; and remove abandoned vehicles, discarded tires, piles of trash and other items that might become nesting sites.

Fill all cracks over one-quarter inch with steel wool or cement; and weather-strip doors, windows, garage doors and vents.

Mice can be caught in the home and garden with spring-loaded traps baited with peanut butter or cheese. It is a good precaution to set out traps, even if there is no current indication of mouse activity.

Traps can be set on paper plates or inside paper bags for easier removal after trapping. Use a large paper grocery bag with mouse holes cut out on two bottom sides, and place the trap inside the standing bag, with the holes placed against the baseboard.

Commercial rodent poisons can be used, but are discouraged in homes with children or pets. In addition, poisoned mice can die inside the walls and create a bad odor problem.

For cleaning up rodent nests or droppings: ventilate the area for at least half an hour; wear disposable rubber or plastic gloves; thoroughly saturate the area with a household disinfectant or 5% bleach in water solution; place rodents and droppings in a sealed plastic bag before disposal; mop floors with disinfectant; and avoid vacuuming or sweeping dry surfaces in order to prevent spreading rodent droppings in the dust.

Wash or disinfect the gloves before removing them, and thoroughly wash your bare hands with soap and water; disinfect brooms, dustpans and other cleaning supplies; launder all clothing or bedding that may have been exposed to rodents; and launder all clothing worn while cleaning up the debris.

More information on health and safety topics is available on the Tri-County Health Department website, www.tchd.org.

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