How to Kill Mice Outdoors

Mice are known to carry disease and cause damage inside buildings and homes. They chew through wood and wires and build nests inside vents and drawers. Mice are not only bothersome indoors, but can cause problems outdoors. They multiply frequently and, when left uncontrolled, can contaminate stored food, disable vehicles and destroy structures. Killing the mice outdoors may be the only way to protect your property and assets. Taking a few simple steps can help diminish or rid your problem with outdoor mice.

Things You'll Need

• Mouse traps
• Bait
• Cardboard box
• Scissors
• Gloves
• Poison
• Small container

Instructions

1. Get a cat or two to live outdoors on your property. Cats are natural predators to mice and will help you kill the mice outdoors. Ensure that your cats are spayed or neutered and updated on all vaccinations to control your feline population and help avoid the spreading of diseases.

2. Clean up your property before you set any traps or use poison. This is essential to getting the maximum results from any poisons and traps, as mice will feed on available food sources and avoid the poison and traps. Ensure that there are no food bags or garbage on your property. Animal feed should be stored in an area that is inaccessible to mice.

3. Set snap traps on your property to kill the mice. Place them in areas where you find evidence of mice, such as droppings or torn paper and shreds. The best areas to put snap traps are along walls and baseboards and in small spaces such as drawers and cupboards. If the traps will be placed along a wall, turn them so they are perpendicular to the wall. The bait should be against the wall in the running path of the mice. Bait the traps with foods that have strong smells, like bacon, cheese and peanut butter.

4. Put out poison for the mice to eat. This may be effective in killing mice outdoors, but also may inadvertently cause an accidental poisoning in children and pets. Cut small holes near the bottom of a cardboard box to allow easy entry for the mice. Put on gloves and pour some poison into a container that is smaller than the box. Place the container of poison in the middle of the box. Ensure that the container does not get empty. By making this a food supply for the mice, they will continue to feed off of it and die.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful in using poisons and pesticides as they may inadvertently cause an accidental poisoning in children and pets.

• Always use gloves when handling poisons and wash your hands thoroughly afterward.

References

• Orkin: Mouse Facts
• The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences: Rats & Mice
• Epet Supply: Outdoor Mice