Dealing with mice in your shed is no joke. Not only are they a health hazard, but they can also damage your expensive tools and equipment. On top of that, the infestation can reach your house if not addressed quickly.
Sounds bad, right? So, how do you get rid of mice in your shed?
In this article, I’ll share with you some tips for clearing up those pesky little rodents. While some methods may be more effective than others, they’re all definitely worth trying.
1. Secure Any Holes
The first thing to check for is entry points. Any little holes or crevices are an invitation for mice to enter.
Another tip is checking the piping work. Take a look at the pipes’ entry points and see if they can be a potential suspect. Plus, your shed’s roof can also be a prime entrance.
As a rule of thumb, a mouse can go through any gap large enough to fit a pencil. So, I’d say plugging any and all holes up is a good start!
But mice’s squeezing capabilities aren’t the only issue here, either. Remember, mice can chew through just about anything with their sharp little teeth. Keep this factor in mind when choosing the sealing material.
Take a look at the following options.
- Caulk and Steel Wool: This combo is fantastic for blocking holes or cracks. You can smooth out its surface to prevent mice from chewing through it.
- Wire Mesh: If you like to leave your shed’s window or door open for air circulation, wire mesh is what you need. Installing a screen can be a great solution to keep mice out while maintaining proper ventilation.
- Silicone: Silicone sealants come in many types, suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
2. Use Natural Mouse Repellents
After checking all surfaces for gaps, the next step is to use mouse repellents. You see, most rodents are afraid of particular smells and items. That’s especially true with scents of natural predators.
However, just as with people, no two mice are the same. While one mouse might respond to a certain smell one way, the other may not. You’ll likely need a bit of trial and error here.
To help you out, I can suggest a few natural scents that are said to scare mice away:
- Cayenne pepper, cloves, or cinnamon
- Peppermint and spearmint oil
- Mothballs
- Dryer sheets
- Citronella
- Ammonia
- Vinegar
- Fox urine or the urine of other mouse-eating predators, such as cats
3. Go for Mouse Traps
Although you might think it’s an inhumane solution, killing mice might be the only way working for you.
Today, you can find a variety of mouse traps. This includes standard bait-and-snap, electric, sticky, and live-catch traps.
Standard snap traps activate with movement, snapping, and killing the mouse. Electric traps work in almost the same way. Yet, they electrocute the mouse instead of clamping down on it. As for sticky traps, they catch a mouse in a sticky solution that’s impossible to escape from.
4. Try Mouse Poison
Generally, most mouse poisons come in the form of chunks or grains. You’ll spread them around the place of infestation. Then, mice will consume them and eventually die.
Be careful, though! If you leave out poison as bait, you might not see the effect until a few days later. That’s because the poison often takes time before it kicks in.
If a mouse ends up dying somewhere inside your shed, you probably won’t notice him right away, either. In a couple of days, this will cause a horrible smell (another thing you’ll want to get rid of). So, keeping your shed organized is vital to get rid of mice successfully.
Plus, one of the factors to consider with mouse poison is its toxicity to children and pets. While there are some less-toxic mouse poisons labeled as child-friendly, these products can still be harmful.
5. Opt for Humane Mouse Traps
For those who don’t like to harm mice, other options, like humane mouse traps, are available. These traps capture mice without killing them, which can be a decent solution for infestations that aren’t too serious.
Primarily, some non-lethal mouse traps are like small boxes that confine mice but keep them alive. Other types resemble sticky traps but don’t suffocate mice. Moreover, there are types of electronic repelling devices that shock mice without actually killing them.
One gripe I have with the sticky traps is that they’re usually single-use, which means they can end up costing a lot.
For smaller garages with only a handful of mice scuttling around, you might be able to get the job done by coupling humane traps with other natural repellents.
In all cases, be sure to release the mice you captured somewhere far away. Though hard to believe, mice have an excellent sense of direction and can travel long distances back to your shed if they wish.
6. Get Some Predators
As a more old-fashioned or rudimentary approach, consider buying a guard animal. Certain breeds of dogs or cats are more inclined to kill mice. But even if you go with any breed, it will certainly scare any wandering rodents.
If you already have pets, try releasing them into your shed for a while. Doing so deters rodents from entering, at least while the animal is present. However, much like other solutions, your pets won’t get rid of mice for good in most circumstances.
Plus, you need to be careful when letting your pet into the shed. It’s crucial to make sure they don’t go near any toxic materials or mice poisons!
7. Keep the Shed Spotless
To prevent mice from invading your shed, you need to make it seem less attractive. How do you do that? Well, keep the place clean. Naturally, the more crowded your shed, the higher the likelihood of mice starting to show up.
That’s mainly because these pesky creatures love places where they can nest and burrow. So, clearing out any spots suitable for nesting should be an excellent idea.
Among the most enticing materials for rodents are cardboard, paper, and wood. Besides looking for shelter, mice also enter sheds in search of something to eat. So, obviously, foods and liquids are also attractive.
Here are three tips to consider.
- Make it a habit to deep clean your shed and get rid of clutter regularly.
- Before storing any item in your shed, unpack it and throw away the packaging.
- Use storage alternatives that aren’t attractive to mice, like plastic containers with lids.
8. Clean the Surrounding Area
To prevent mice from sneaking into your shed, I’d recommend cleaning the garden around it. Although it may seem irrelevant, doing this actually helps.
Just as a cluttered shed, a dirty, overgrown garden can shelter annoying rodents.
Check out the following helpful tips.
- Mow the lawn from time to time and trim the trees.
- Harvest any crops you’re growing in your garden as soon as possible before mice come to nipple on them.
- If you have wood piles lying around your garden in preparation for the cold season, move them out of reach and away from the ground.
- Another major attractor for rodents is bird food. So, regularly pick up fallen bird seeds off the ground to keep mice away.
- Keep your trash cans covered, and don’t hold on to those with cracks!
9. Get Professional Help
Sometimes, a mouse infestation might become too overwhelming to handle on your own. In these cases, seeking professional help is the wisest option.
Usually, I like to try to tackle the situation myself, but I also have to admit that there are a few advantages to hiring a pro.
For one, pest control experts can assess the situation and spot entry points you never knew existed. Based on the severity of the issue, they can choose the right approach (sometimes combining two or more methods).
Final Thoughts
All, in all, you have many options to choose from. While some will keep the tiny intruders away, others can kill or trap them.
But your first step should always be sealing small openings, including those in the roof and around pipes entering the shed.
After that, you can consider sprinkling or spraying mouse repellents. Some natural options are essential oils (such as spearmint and peppermint) and spices (such as cloves and cayenne pepper).
As for the next step, you can set up some mouse traps. Although there are types that trap and kill mice on impact, others simply capture them in a box or a sticky resin.
That said, using mouse poison or getting a guard pet are also solid options to counter pesky mice wreaking havoc in your shed. In all cases, be sure to keep up a clean shed.
Mice are annoying, but you can handle them with a bit of time and innovation!
If you want more backyard tips, including recipes, how-tos, and more, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
--
If you want more backyard tips including recipes, how-tos and more, make sure you subscribe to my youtube channel