Martin Banks 12.27.24
Small creatures can do some seriously big damage. Taking proactive steps to protect your homestead against mice can save you from pricey repairs and prevent infectious diseases from affecting your family. Winter is an especially dangerous time, as these critters seek warmth, just like people. What steps should you take to prevent infestation? The following five tips can help guide you.
The Damage That Rodents Can Do
Rodents can do significant damage to your homestead. They can gnaw wires inside your walls, at worst sparking fires and at best causing electrical problems that are expensive to repair. Additionally, these critters can eat through drywall, making unsightly messes and holes where other pests can enter. You might have zero fear of snakes, but what about when your 4-year-old nephew comes to visit?
Additionally, mice and other rodents leave droppings that can cause hantavirus. This disease spreads through the urine, feces and saliva of affected animals, which can easily get all over your food when you have an infestation. Unfortunately, this condition is fatal to four out of 10 people infected, so protecting your homestead against mice is serious business.
5 Ways to Protect Your Homestead Against Mice
You can keep mice and other rodents out of your homestead by taking the following five proactive steps.
1. Roll up the Red Carpet
Is your homestead inadvertently inviting mice? It might be if you habitually leave pet food lying around outdoors. While doing so might be convenient if your dog spends much of their time outside, it invites all kinds of curious wild critters to your front door, including mice. Other invaders include coyotes, which can carry off a small or less aggressive dog, so feeding Fido indoors is also a matter of protecting their safety.
Additionally, examine environmental conditions that make attractive mice nests. For example, you should never stack your woodpile against your home’s exterior — doing so provides camouflage for little creatures and plenty of kindling if a wildfire sparks nearby.
Clear away scrubby thickets where these creatures can hide and plant bushes at least a foot away from your home’s foundation. You might want to leave even more space for larger species, as roots can also get into water pipes or damage your foundation.
2. Seal Ingress and Egress Areas
Few things are worse than rotating through your preps only to find that your rice stash is full of mouse droppings. Some species can easily slip through the tiniest cracks. Additionally, taking the following measures increases your home’s energy efficiency.
Use caulk to seal windows. Weather-stripping is typically sufficient to secure your door, but pay attention to the bottom of the panel. If you can see daylight, a critter may enter, so replace the door sweep. Then, light an incense stick and walk slowly through your space. Pay attention to where the smoke wavers to look for cracks.
Spend a little TLC on your car’s ingress — the cabin air filter. Remove the vent from next to your windshield and install a screen to protect your engine. This quick and easy fix could save you from needing serious mechanical work.
3. Try Plants and Essential Oils
Certain plants act as deterrents to mice, and planting them around your homestead’s perimeter might convince them to search for a home elsewhere. Some of the species known to deter rodents include:
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Lavender
- Marigolds
- Daffodils
- Catnip
- Sage
Many of these plants also act as spices and are good to have as preps. For example, the juice of a marigold is a good antimicrobial wound cleanser in a pinch. Additionally, you can use certain essential oils to deter rodents, including citronella, eucalyptus and lemon. However, use caution if you have pets. Many of these substances are also toxic to cats and dogs, so don’t apply them to areas they frequent.
4. Invest in Traps
Humans have succeeded in their quest to build a better mousetrap. Many of today’s models don’t maim. They act as live traps, and you can humanely rehome the furry critters far from your homestead.
Other models have live capture capabilities but also function when you aren’t at home. For example, some traps lock in odors. You can place several around your homestead to trap rodents, especially if you only use your cabin during hunting season.
5. Contact the Pros
If all else fails, contacting a professional exterminator can eradicate existing infestations and prevent mice from returning to your homestead this winter. They’ll discuss their methods and options with you, after which you can kick back and leave this chore to the experts.
Protect Your Homestead Against Mice
Protecting your homestead against mice this winter is crucial to preventing pricey repairs and keeping your family healthy. Use these tips to enjoy rodent-free living.
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