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What are some preventative measures to keep pests at bay?

What can we do to keep mice out of our building?

Here some basic tips for preventing pests from entering your building:

• Chimneys are typically the largest opening to a house and host a number of occupants such as squirrels, bats, and birds. Use chimney caps or wire mesh to keep pests out. (Northline Express sells chimney caps and has good info on how to order the right size.)
• Attic vents can have openings large enough for small animals and birds, so make sure they are covered with wire mesh.
• Gutters can be a great breeding ground for insects and other animals. They should be kept free of decaying debris to prevent them from becoming a breeding ground for insects.
• Garbage should be kept in sealed containers and preferably in a dry place. If you leave garbage cans outside, consider putting a brick or other object on the garbage can lids to make it more difficult for animals to open the cans.
• Interiors should be kept clean and food should not be left in the open.
• Cut back tree branches, shrubs, and vines from your house to make it more difficult for animals to gain access.

There are many steps you can take if you have a mouse problem in your building..

Use cement or steel wool to seal all openings that are larger than about 1/4 inch. These openings can be found around pipes and vents, behind built-in cabinets, as well as wherever broken windows and torn screens are found.

Don't provide a source of food for mice. Be prompt about cleaning up spilled food and throwing away uneaten food. Make sure your garbage cans seal tightly. Keep pet food in tight containers. Store lawn seed and organic fertilizer in mouse-proof containers.

Outside, prune bushes so that they are away from your building and a few inches off the ground. The goal is to eliminate hiding places for mice. Some experts recommend eliminating ivy from the exterior because it not only provides a place for mice to hide, it makes it easier for them to climb.

Buy traps to capture any mice that might already be in your building. Place the traps in the basement where you find evidence (droppings or tracks) of mice and in areas where you think they might look for food or hide, such as garbage rooms and dark corners. Traps should be placed no more than every 10 feet apart and moved every few days. Some people recommend placing them with the trigger near the wall and using bait, such as peanut butter, chocolate, or nuts. Use a lot of traps so that you can capture all the mice in a relatively short period time before they learn to avoid certain areas.

Traps are readily available at most hardware stores, but you can also visit sites like Woodstream Corporation and Kness Manufacturing for more information about the types of traps available.

Do not use pesticides especially if there are children or pets around. Pesticides are toxic to humans and can kill pets. If you must go that route, be sure to hire a qualified exterminator, who should have the appropriate training, license, and insurance to place and handle poisons. One important drawback to poisons is that they can cause mice to die in the walls of your building, resulting in terrible odors.