Mice Infestation

Mice normally live outdoors in fields, brush and woodpiles, but once they move into a house they settle where people rarely go: the attic, garage, crawl space, the back of a closet or the hollow space inside a wall. Because they stay out of sight, the first clues are usually the things they leave behind. Look for small chewed holes in bags and boxes of food, scattered dark droppings about the size of a grain of rice, and wads of shredded paper, cloth or insulation tucked into a corner. Seeing even one mouse indoors is reason enough to check for more. If you think mice have moved in, book a free inspection with Florida Bug Control. Our rodent removal service is available throughout the areas we serve.

Sounds, Smells and Smudges: More Ways to Confirm Mice

Droppings and chewed packages are the classic signs, but mice leave other clues as well.

• Sounds at night: light scratching, scurrying or gnawing inside walls, ceilings and under cabinets, mostly after dark and before dawn.
• A musky, stale odor from urine, strongest in closed spaces like pantries, drawers and cabinets under sinks.
• Rub marks: faint dark smudges along baseboards, pipes and the edges of holes where mice brush past on the same routes every night.
• Gnaw marks on baseboards, cabinet corners, plastic containers and wiring.
• Pets acting interested in one spot, such as behind the stove or a cabinet kickplate.

Where to check: behind and under the stove, refrigerator and dishwasher, the hollow space behind cabinet kickplates, kitchen drawers, around the water heater and HVAC closet, and in garage storage boxes. A light dusting of flour along a wall overnight will show fresh tracks.

Mouse or rat? Mouse droppings are roughly 1/8 to 1/4 inch long with pointed ends. Droppings around half an inch or longer usually mean rats, which need a different approach. See rats.

When it happens: in North Florida, mouse activity indoors usually picks up as nights turn cool in fall and winter. In South Florida, mice can move in any time of year. Stored birdseed and pet food, shrubs and clutter against the walls, and gaps around garage doors all make a home more inviting. Removal steps are in how to get rid of mice.