Why Rodent Poison & Other DIY Methods Don’t Eliminate Mice

Tired of fighting a losing battle against mice?

It’s frustrating when you spend money on products that are supposed to solve a problem. This is especially true when the problem crawls into your house and proceeds to use different parts of your home as their bathroom; attic insulation as their nursery; electrical wires, building materials, and items in storage as their chew toys; and your pantry as their grocery store. Ah yes, DIY rodent control products often fall short and leave concerned homeowners frustrated and unwillingly hosting nuisance, disease-spreading, destructive mice. So why do rodent poisons and other DIY rodent control methods and measures fail? Let’s discuss.

Common reasons why your DIY rodent control efforts don’t work

Rodent poisons are often an ineffective tool in the hands of homeowners but not because poison won’t kill mice because it surely will. Poison applied in close proximity will exterminate rodents that it comes into contact with but it can’t keep up with the reproduction efforts of mice already installed in the house AND because it doesn’t address how these pests get inside in the first place.

In order to successfully eliminate mice or other rodents that infest your home you need to understand them. Though cartoons may depict rodents as hungry critters willing to go anywhere and do anything for a piece of cheese, mice are actually suspicious (yet curious) and will not expose themselves in a way that puts them in jeopardy. In other words, mice that travel along the edges of rooms will not dart across the middle of the room because they spy a trap loaded with bait. Also, mice don’t really like hard cheese. They’re more likely to be lured in by peanut butter, a softer cheese, fruit, nuts, chocolate syrup, and other sweet or salty enticements. Finally, mouse traps fall short of the mark because they are reactive and not proactive- they will not stop mice from entering your home or from multiplying while they’re there.

DIY rodent control is just a band aid if you don’t address the root cause of the rodent infestation

As you probably already surmised, mouse traps, rodent poison, and other DIY products and methods provide a temporary solution to a serious problem. That’s it. They are a band aid or a stop gap. If you really want to eliminate mice activity and prevent these critters from re-infesting, you need to address the root cause of the problem. 

DIY rodent control and OTC products only take care of the pests that you see or that are active in the area you’re targeting. There could be, and in the case of mice, are likely dozens more hiding out behind the walls and in other areas you cannot easily access. But how do they get in – well friends, now we’re talking about the root cause or causes as the case may be.

Identifying the root causes of a mouse problem

It’s fairly easy to satisfy mice – feed them, hydrate them, and house them. If your property provides all three elements necessary to their survival, you’re going to have a mouse problem. The root cause(s) behind an infestation of this type can be boiled down to the availability of food and water and the ease in which they can enter your home undetected.

How to keep mice out of your Colorado home

Don’t want to share your home with mice? We understand and support your decision 100%. If you’re not quite sure how to achieve a mouse-free home, check out these prevention tips from EnviroPest that not so coincidentally address the underlying conditions that make your home appealing to rodents.

• Seal every single crack, gap, and opening on the house exterior- from a crack in the foundation to an opening around a utility line to a hole at the roof level.
• Practice good sanitation methods inside the house by wiping up spills and crumbs immediately and outside by storing trash properly.
• Remove clutter from your attic, garage, and even your yard if applicable.
• Fix leaky pipes and appliances, run dehumidifiers, or in other words, correct all moisture issues.
• Don’t give mice easy access to your food, rather store people and pet food in glass containers with lids that seal.
• Trim back tree branches and shrubs so they don’t touch the sides or roof of your house.
• Clear clogged gutters and make sure downspouts point away from the foundation.

In addition to the suggestions noted above, you may consider signing up for pest control services that offer year-round protection against rodents and house-infesting insects.

Ongoing home pest control services from EnviroPest

At EnviroPest, we’ve been protecting homes and families from pests since 1965 and are ready to help you evict creepy crawly things that have made your home theirs. In order to eliminate and prevent pest problems for our customers we offer our Colorado’s Choice Smart Service, a comprehensive home pest control service available to homeowners in Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Loveland as well as throughout Northern Colorado. Check out the plan benefits below or, if you have questions, fill out our form or simply give us a call to discuss!