Mouse Sighting! Get a pencil?

If you see mouse droppings, or a mouse, it is time to take action. The first step is exclusion (to exclude the mice, the start of effective rodent pest control). To do this, take a pencil, and use the eraser end as your mouse entry gauge. Start under your kitchen sink by looking for any cracks or openings, start around pipes and electrical lines. If the eraser end fits into the opening, you have the potential for a mouse to fit it. After you locate an opening fill it with an appropriate material. Smaller openings around pipes can be filled with copper wool (or stainless steel wool) or rope and caulk. Repeat this process under the dishwasher, then under your stove, behind your refrigerator or anywhere you have seen a mouse or its droppings. If you are uncertain where your mice may be, focus on warm areas, like under the refrigerator where the compressor keeps the area warm. After inspecting the areas around your food, move outward, to areas like your pantry, then your basement or crawl space, and finally the exterior and garage. Filling mouse holes is like filling pot holes, it should be done regularly because rodents will make new openings and the expansion and contraction of buildings in the northeast climate can create openings, particularly where wood and cement or concrete meet (the foundation) or around door seals, such as garage door bases and trim seals.
Clean up, carefully, by spraying the droppings with water, or a light soapy water (to keep dust down) and then pad the droppings up with a disposable paper towel or napkin. Please don't vacuum rodent droppings since action may pull any harmful microorganisms into the air or onto other surfaces where they can cause an illness.
-Lauren Greenhow, General Manager, GreenHow, Inc.
www.GreenHow.com. Effective Organic & Low Impact Solutions, Lawn Care, Pest Control & Termite Control in Newton and Metro Boston.