When you have mice in the home, you can expect two things: disease and damage, so you want to get rid of them as soon as possible. Unfortunately, mice are very adept at survival, knowing to hide in dark, secure locations, such as in the areas found under the floorboard. This does not mean however that you cannot get rid of them with the right approach. Here is what you need to do if you have mice under the floorboards.
Step 1 – Try to find all the mouse entrance and exit holes in the home. These holes can be as small as a dime, so you want to look carefully.
Step 2 – You next want to place traps near these mouse holes, and along common pathways in the home. Mice will prefer to travel along walls and through areas that are dark and have some cover. If you notice any droppings or markings on the floor or wall, you can assume that a mouse will use that path regularly.
Step 3 – Check the traps on a regular basis for dead mice. To remove the dead mice and reset the traps, you will need to wear a pair of latex or plastic gloves, and throw the dead mouse in a sealable plastic bag. You then want to disinfect the trap with bleach if you want to reuse it. If you don’t, you can throw the trap away with the mouse and simply set a new one.
Step 4 – The final step is to prevent any future infestations from occurring. Check the exterior of the home, especially near piping that goes through the walls, for gaps that are larger than a nickel in diameter, and then use steel mesh wire or caulk to seal them.
As you can see, dealing with mice that are under the floorboards is very similar to dealing with mice in almost any other situation. The emphasis is on trapping them and then sealing any entry points into the home. This method can work really well against smaller infestations, but for larger ones, you will need the help of a pro if you want to eliminate them. For more information, or if you want to set up a pest control appointment, you can get in touch with us today and we will send one of our team members over to assist you.