How to Get Mice Out of Attics With Blown Insulation

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Gloves

  • Broom and dust pan

  • Garbage bags

  • Twist ties

  • Mess wire

  • Aluminum snips

  • Screw gun

  • Mouse traps and bait

  • Peanut butter or cheese

  • Mint plants

  • Cat (optional)

Mice are small, furry members of the rodent family that can cause as many problems as the related species of rats and larger rodents. Mice are capable of chewing through duct work and even making nesting homes inside the blown insulation found in attics and between walls. When these little rodents take up residence inside an attic, there are many places to hide. A several-pronged approach is needed to get them out of the house.

Advertisement

Step 1

Put on gloves, and get a broom and dust pan. Clean your attic space of all mouse droppings and nests, if you are able to find them. Place the nests in a garbage bag and seal it with a tie. Dispose of the garbage bag in your curbside pick-up trash or a dumpster. This will help to discourage mice from returning.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Seal all holes in the attic with mess wire. Cut the mess wire to fit the openings, using aluminum snips, and secure the wire to the hole's edges with screws, using a screw gun.

Step 3

Place mouse traps around the attic, near the blown-insulation. Bait the traps with peanut butter or cheese. Do not set the traps right away. Instead, wait 24 to 48 hours before rebaiting and setting the traps. This will create a false sense of security. You may use other traps to capture mice and release them, but the mice will likely fall prey to other predators such as owls and snakes because they are not well-equipped to survive outdoors.

Advertisement

Step 4

Remove the mice that are caught in the traps. Check the traps every one to two days to remove any trapped rodents, and rebait the traps.

Step 5

Place mint plants in your attic. Mice are repelled by mint's odor and will avoid it. Monitor the mint plants and replace them as they wither.

Tip

Another method for getting mice out of an attic is to adopt a cat that isn't declawed from a local animal shelter. Cats are natural rodent predators and will instinctively hunt and kill mice.

Advertisement

Video of the Day