I worked in pest control for about 5 years, and I figured someone here might need some advice on how to deal with bugs and mice. So if you've ever wanted to know, now's your chance.

My biggest recommendation, right from the start: Never pay for pest control. You can do a better, more ethical job than any business ever will.

I want to edit to say, my inbox is always open for questions too.

  • PlantsRstillCool [des/pair]
    ·
    3 years ago

    We get mice in our house on and off, especially in the winter. What can I do to keep them from getting in from the get go?

    I don't like having to deal with them once they're in, I'm tempted to just let them be but that's not clean or really a possibility

    • Mehrunes_Laser [comrade/them, any]
      ·
      3 years ago

      So, mice can't teleport. What they do is they roam around outside along your foundation looking for any small hole. The best way to keep them out is to go along your foundation and start looking for any kind of small hole. Usually, I find holes under bay windows and around air conditioner hoses.

      Mice don't want to freeze to death any more than anything else. So think like that. You should also go and look at your foundation from the inside if you can. If your basement is unfinished, look for drafts and cold areas along where your house meets your foundation. I liked to use spray foam to fill small holes and cracks. Anything bigger than small hole will require an actual fix by an actual handy man.

      Once they get inside, the best option is to trap them. Either with live traps, if you want to just relocate them. Or good old-fashioned snap traps. If you can eliminate their entrance, you will stop them until they find some other way in.

      Making your house hard to get into is the only ethical way to deal with them.