Old MacDonald might have had a farm but if he used Old Cobbler’s Farnam Bait Bar he definitely didn’t have mice or rats running around. This poison kills various species of rats and mice including Warfarin-resistant Norway rats and roof rats. There’s a hole in the middle that lets you mount the poison as a bait station or it can be broken into big chunks and placed where rats can get it. Make sure children and pets can’t reach it.

There is Never Just One Mouse in Your House

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there’s never just one mouse in your home. During the colder months, mice and rats look for warmth, water, and food and, if they find it, others will too. Also, rodents have a tendency to multiply fast so two quickly becomes four, becomes eight… see where we’re going with this?

There Are Other Signs Besides Mice Droppings

One of the most obvious signs that a mouse has moved in is trails of feces. However, it’s certainly not the only sign. Chewed cereal boxes, chunks of bread missing from a loaf, as well as gnaw marks on bags of food are all evidence there’s a mouse in your house. Finding food debris close to windows and doors also means you have pests.

More Serious Damage

Chewed boxed and loaves of bread are the least of your worries. Mice can cause more serious damage to the wiring in your home and even your car. They also carry diseases and bacteria, and for asthma and allergy sufferers, a build-up of mice poop can make both worse.

There are a few ways to ways to stop mice moving in. These include:

Eliminate Entry Points

It is possible to “build mice out” or stop them from gaining entry into your home by closing off any points of entry. While it might seem like an impossible task, given how small a gap they need, it can be done. To check if it’s a possible entry point if you’re able to fit a pencil into a hole or an opening, then a mouse will be able to get through.

Spend time sealing cracks in the walls as well as openings. You can use caulking or steel wool for this. Don’t use rubber, wood, or plastic because they’re able to chew through anything like that, and will probably use these materials for their nest.

A Clean House Won’t Get Rid of Mice but a Dirty One Will Attract More

Contrary to popular belief, mice aren’t drawn to dirty and unkempt homes; food, water, and shelter attract them, but not cleaning up and removing food from counter tops will definitely bring them in their droves. You should store food in sealed glass jars or airtight containers, not plastic or paper. Make sure they can’t get to your garbage bins, and always vacuum and wipe down areas where food is prepared to prevent more mice moving in.

Eliminate Them Inside and Out

You need to look after the outside area of your home too. Mice like grass and weeds where they can nest while debris makes a great hiding place. If you remove debris and clutter, it’s easier to stop rogue mice activity.

Weapons of “Mouse” Destruction

If mice have already moved in, there are various ways of getting rid of them, including traps, repellents, bait stations with different baits, and mouse and rat poison.

• Bromethalin
• Anticoagulants
• Vitamins

Bromethalin: damages the brain and liver. It’s a neurotoxin that causes a buildup of sodium in the liver and the brain fills up with fluids. It kills the mouse a few hours after it’s eaten.

Anti-coagulants: messes up the natural clotting of blood. Warfarin and fumarin are just two anti-coagulants that are available. This type of poison works on mice over a long period of time.

Vitamins: mice can die from an overdose of vitamins, like vitamin D. These are slow-acting and can take up to a day to start showing the effects.