What we deal with
The house mouse, Mus musculus, is the mouse we deal with in almost every home and kitchen in the Western Cape. It is small and grey-brown with large ears, a pointed nose and a tail about as long as its body. Unlike rats, house mice can live their whole lives inside a building, nesting in cupboards, under kitchen units, inside appliances and in wall cavities. On smallholdings and near fynbos and veld you may also see the four-striped grass mouse, which is easy to recognise from the stripes down its back and seldom settles indoors. In the house it is nearly always the house mouse, and that is what our treatment is set up for.
Signs to look for
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Mice urinate constantly as they move, which contaminates food, crockery and work surfaces. They can carry salmonella and other bacteria into kitchen areas, which is a real problem for food businesses and homes with babies. They chew through wiring behind appliances and inside walls, and they ruin stored linen, paperwork and books. Because a female mouse can have a new litter every few weeks, a couple of mice quickly becomes a cupboard full.
How we treat it
We start by finding where they get in and where they nest, which is usually a gap behind the stove, around a geyser pipe or under a kitchen unit. Indoors we mainly use snap traps and enclosed traps placed along the walls, because mice run close to edges and are curious enough to investigate. Where baiting is needed, it goes inside tamper-resistant stations that children and pets cannot open, after a bait risk assessment. We then seal the entry points with steel wool, mesh and sealant, because mice can squeeze through a hole about the width of a pencil. A follow-up visit checks the traps and confirms the activity has stopped.
- Look for clues
We check droppings, nests and gnawing to work out where the mice are most active.
- Find the gaps
We check behind appliances, under units and around pipes for entry points.
- Set traps
Traps and, where suitable, sealed bait stations go along the mice's runs.
- Seal entry points
Small holes are blocked with steel wool, mesh and sealant so mice cannot get back in.
- Follow-up
We come back to check the traps, clear them and leave a report.
Things most people don't know
Cheese is a cartoon idea. Mice prefer seeds, grains and sweet, fatty foods, which is why peanut butter is such a good trap bait.
The biggest mistake is putting traps in the middle of the floor. Mice run along walls, so traps should be against the skirting with the trigger facing the wall.
When we arrive for mice, the first place we check is behind the stove and under the sink. Those two spots explain most kitchen infestations.
When it peaks in Cape Town
Mice move indoors when Cape Town's winter rains and colder nights start, usually from late April, and the numbers stay high until spring. In the Boland, harvest time and ploughing can push field mice towards farm buildings too.
DIY or call a professional?
Mice are one pest where DIY genuinely works if you are thorough: a handful of snap traps baited with peanut butter, set against the walls, will catch a lot of them. Where people go wrong is not sealing the gaps, so if you are still catching mice after two or three weeks, it is time to call us.
What affects the price
The price depends on how many rooms are affected, how long the mice have been there and how many gaps need sealing. A single kitchen is quicker than a whole house with mice in the walls and the garage. Follow-up visits are usually included, and the quote is free.
Preventing it coming back
- Move cereal, pasta, rice and pet food into hard plastic or glass containers with good lids.
- Pull the stove and fridge out once in a while and clean the crumbs and grease behind them.
- Seal the gaps where pipes and cables come through walls, especially under the sink.
- Fit brush strips to the bottom of garage and outside doors.
- Do not leave pet food out overnight in the kitchen.
- Keep the garage tidy, since boxes on the floor make perfect mouse nests.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best bait for a mouse trap?
Peanut butter works better than cheese, and only a small dab is needed so the mouse has to work at it.
If I see one mouse, are there more?
Usually, yes. Mice live in family groups and are shy, so if you see one in daylight there are probably others.
How do mice get into the house?
Through tiny gaps around pipes, under doors, through air vents and roof edges. A gap the width of a pencil is enough.
Are ultrasonic repellers worth it?
In our experience they do not solve a mouse problem. Mice get used to the sound quickly.
Do you use poison in the kitchen?
We prefer traps in kitchens and food areas. If bait is needed, it is kept in sealed stations.
How long does mouse control take?
Most homes are clear in two to three weeks once the traps are set and the gaps are sealed.
Mouse Control by area
We cover all of these suburbs from our base in Brackenfell. Pick yours for local advice.
