My mother-in-law is off on a dream vacation to Disney World in February to see Mickey Mouse to visit his place. There’s nothing quite as lovable as the joy spread by a giant smiling mouse. People from all over the world have their picture taken with Mickey to behold as a cherished souvenir. If Mickey could make house calls, children and adults would be delighted. But when Mickey’s real life cousins come to visit you in your home the story is quite different.

Photo: Contributed

Mice want to be safe, warm and dry. When the weather starts to cool down they seek warmth and food. Where not a better place to take a dream vacation than your home?

At my place, the first indication that I may have a problem is a blood curdling scream. Shortly after that, I’m solely responsible for finding the solution. Recognizing that there is no such thing as one mouse, the first thing you can do to help yourself is to stop them from coming in. Methodically patrol the exterior of your home and look for obvious ports of entry and block them. Fill, caulk, sheet metal, plaster or cement your way to a fortress.

Now it’s time to deal with the little vermin. Don’t be too upset with killing a few mice. Your responsibility is to yourself and your family’s health. Be prepared to kill a few, as a female mouse can have up to 10 litters a year with six or more babies. Don’t be duped by their cuteness. Killing mice isn’t fun unless you’re a cat. They aren’t Mickey’s, they are vermin.

If you do find a mouse, eliminate it as soon as you can. Word of mouth travels fast and you don’t want a flash mob in your kitchen cabinets. You’re at the elimination crossroad now. Poison or trap.

I’m not big on the poison method and don’t recommend it unless the professionals advise otherwise. Although poison proves more effective than traps, it is not recommended for use within homes. Poisons are a danger to kids and pets. Plus, since poison doesn’t work immediately, the dying mouse crawls off somewhere to die and decompose, leaving a smell that you will be in charge of to find.

That makes me a trapper. Snap traps are always fun. Snap trap in pairs. One will do the trick, but two work better. A mouse can jump over one trap, but not two. There’s no problem reusing a snap trap either. The scent of the captured mouse that remains on the trap actually attracts other mice.

Alternatively, glue trap. Mice like to run along your baseboards. Place glue traps there. Should you catch a mouse using this method; the mouse will let you know. You can speed up the elimination process by bagging it and give it a good mallet whack.

For tips on keeping critters from entering your home click here.

Hugh Cairns welcomes your questions, comments and suggestions. Contact him through www.subject2homeinspections.com or interiorinfrared.com.