The kitchen is an ideal place for opportunistic mice as this area can sometimes provide access to food, water and nesting areas. Rodents, such as mice, can damage food items and render it unsafe to eat by humans. Rodents can carry pathogens that cause human disease.
Finding mice in a stove is a relatively common and disturbing occurrence for homeowners and could be due, in part, to food crumbs and other attractants. If you have had this unfortunate experience, you may have many questions about why, when and how mice may have gained entry to your stove. Mice can squeeze, climb and/or crawl into small openings around your house, including the stove in order to search for food and/or shelter.
Under the stove or refrigerator, in the pantry and in kitchen cabinets are other common places mice may be found. When you want to enjoy a meal, the last thing you want to find is mice in your stove. How to get rid of them? Read some helpful tips below.
How to Help Exclude Mice from Your Home
Mice may go undetected for some time as mice activity can be discrete. Sometimes the only sign of mice you’ll see is a quick glimpse of a shadow scurrying across your kitchen. If you suspect there are mice living in your kitchen, it’s time to cook up a plan for exclusion and/or removal. Follow a few simple steps to help start the eviction process.
- Clean in and around your stove. Mice can survive on food crumbs they find in your kitchen appliances or other areas of the kitchen. Seal any potential food sources, including kitchen garbage cans. Scrub the inside of your stove and pull it away from the wall so you can clean behind it, as well. Check behind the stove and seal any openings in walls that may provide access to mice.
- Inspect your home for any potential entry points. The entire house should be examined to find any spaces where mice could be going in and out. Track the areas that mice frequent in order to identify potential entry points. This can be done by looking for droppings or marks where mice may have gnawed on wood or other material. Check behind kitchen sinks and near pipes for small openings and seal these areas with caulk or wire mesh.
- Set traps. Once you have sealed off any potential entry points and removed food sources, trapping can be carried out to catch any remaining mice. Snap traps can be an effective way to catch mice. Place several snap traps along the walls and the spaces mice frequent baited with attractants such as peanut butter or cheese. If mice are favoring your stove, place the traps along the wall behind the stove where they may be traveling in and out for food. Check traps regularly, dispose of any mice you catch and reset/re-bait the trap. Keep traps out of reach of children and pets to avoid potential injury.
Call the Professionals
Finding and sealing every entry point that mice may be using to access your home can be tedious. Let the professionals help. Our technicians can inspect your home and create the right plan to help mouse-proof your property. Contact Terminix® today to schedule a free inspection.
