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2. Modify the Habitat.
Make sure that the areas around the perimeter of your home are cleaned of debris and weeds. Cut the tall grasses and weeds around the home or office, eliminate any piles of debris, and secure any storage containers so rodents, like rats and mice can't seek shelter. For trash cans, secure the lids. For compost containers, make sure they are covered and latched. Proper sanitation is an important step in controlling house mouse populations. In particular, eliminate places where mice can find shelter. They cannot survive in large numbers if they have few places to rest, hide, or build nests and raise their young. Total elimination of mice through sanitation alone, however, is almost impossible. Mice can survive in small areas with limited amounts of food and shelter. Most buildings where food is handled or stored will have problems with house mice, no matter how clean they are if they have not been "mouse-proofed."
The interior of your home, especially the kitchen, is a primary target for Rodents like Mice, Rats or field mice, so keep the counters clean, and all food tightly sealed. Eliminate leaky faucets, fix leaky pipes, don't leave food on the floor for your pets at night, remove the clutter from you counters, and keep your kitchen sink clean and free of food particles.
3. Exclusion.
Mouse-proof construction is the most successful form of house mouse control. "Build them out" by eliminating all openings larger than 1/4 inch through which they can enter a structure. Steel wool makes a good temporary plug. Seal cracks in building foundations and openings for water pipes, vents, and utilities with metal or concrete. Doors, windows and screens should fit tightly. Cover the edges of doors and windows with metal to prevent gnawing. Latex, plastic, rubber, wood, or other gnawable materials are unsuitable for plugging holes used by mice.
There are many ways, as you can see, for the Mice to get into your home. Follow the above three steps and you will be on your way to living mouse free!
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