How to get rid of mice in the attic – banish these pesky invaders for good with these top tips from pest control pros

Mice in the attic are not only a nuisance, but can also cause significant damage to insulation, wiring, and stored items.

Learning how to identify and eliminate rodents in your attic space is crucial for maintaining your home’s safety and hygiene.

From the telltale signs you have mice in your home, to the exact steps to solve the problem, our panel of pest control pros reveal everything you need to know about getting rid of mice in the attic.

Getting rid of mice in the attic

To get rid of mice, you need to understand not only how they got in, but why.

What draws mice to attics?

Attics are warm, quiet, and often stocked with materials perfect for nesting, especially when the weather outside is posing challenges - be it because of cold temperatures, a storm, or flooding.

Daniel Baldwin, board certified entomologist at Hawx Pest Control, says, 'There are a number of reasons why you might find mice or other rodents in your attic space within your home. Firstly, attics are often warm, dark and quiet spaces, meaning that mice are less likely to be bothered by predators or anyone disrupting their nests.

'There’s also likely to be a vast amount of materials in the attic, such as cardboard boxes, clothing and paper that they can create their nests from and also use to eat. Leaky roofs or condensation built up in attics also provide mice with a source of water, making them the ideal place to live happily.'

How exactly do mice get in?

Mice can squeeze through tiny openings as small as a dime. Common pest entry points include gaps around vents, loose roof shingles, unsealed utility lines, and small holes in soffits or fascia.

Baldwin says, 'Mice are known to be excellent climbers and can easily scale the exterior of your property, often entering through damaged eaves, chimneys, vents, windows, or other cracks in the exterior walls. It can be really difficult to spot such holes in your attic, as they could be covered by insulation or not easily visible – mice can fit through a hole that is less than 1/16 inch in diameter!'

Brett Bennett, director of operations at PURCOR Pest Solutions, adds, 'Although mice prefer to live in forested areas, what they really look for above all else is shelter, food, and water. Once inside your attic, they can quickly wreak havoc by nesting, leaving behind unhealthy droppings, and chewing through wires, which could cause a fire hazard.'

Our guide on how to prevent mice getting into your home has more handy tips and tricks to stop these invaders.

When are mice most likely to set up a home in the attic?

Mice are most active in the fall and winter months as they seek shelter from cold weather. However, they can infest your attic year-round if access and resources are available.

Baldwin says, 'Mice can enter your attic and other areas of your home at any time of the year, however they’re most likely to set up shop during fall and winter as they look to seek shelter from the colder weather and find an easy source of food. You’re also likely to find mice in your attic during spring too, which is a common time of year for them to breed, which can cause a rodent infestation as they begin to multiply.'

Knowing how to repel mice from your yard is another good way to reduce the chances of rodents finding their way into your home or attic. Once they run the resources down in your yard, they'll go further, such as your home and its attic, looking for food, water and shelter.

What are the signs there are mice in the attic?

Signs of mice include droppings, gnawed wires or boxes, scratching noises, and nests made of shredded paper or fabric. A strong, musky odor may also signal their presence.

Bennett explains, 'Scratching noises are often the most common sign of mice in your attic. You are most likely to hear these at night, since mice are nocturnal. Other telltale signs of mice can include the presence of droppings, strange smells, or even insulation issues because they can and will rip through insulation.'

Electrical problems can also signal that mice are wreaking havoc in your attic.

'One way to assess if the noises you hear in your attic are mice or not is with the 'knock test' – a simple method to determine if the noise is caused by a rodent or other wildlife. If you knock on the wall while a mouse or rat is scratching, the noise will typically stop. Squirrels and other wildlife often don’t respond to the knock. You can also do a visual inspection of the attic – or a camera inspection if you don’t want to go up there!'

Common roof pest infestations can go beyond mice, with are unwanted attic visitors, including bats, squirrels, raccoons, rate and insects.

Baldwin adds, 'Another sign to watch out for is the behavior of your pets. Cats and dogs may pick up on sounds or sniff certain areas of the home where they can smell mice droppings or urine, so make sure you pay attention to the places they’re focusing on or hanging around often.'

How do you get rid of mice in the attic?

From sealing entry points to setting traps, our pros advise the following steps to rid your attic of mice once and for all...

1. Seal up any cracks or holes in the walls

Baldwin says, 'If you’re able to identify how mice are getting into your attic, then you must try to seal the entry points as soon as possible to make them less able to come and go. Seal any window or door gaps with caulk, steel wool or metal flashing, making sure you pay close attention to the areas around pipes, vents and doors where cracks and small holes form often. Look around roof eaves, gables and attic vents too if you know mice are living in your attic space.'

2. Mouse traps

People with mice in their attic are often surprised to learn how many different types of traps are available. Here is a rundown of the most effective traps and their different benefits:

• Snap traps - 'Snap traps work by using a quick-trigger mechanism that closes shut over a mouse’s head,' says Baldwin, who recommends this set of a dozen Victor Plastic Pedal Wood Snap Mouse Traps from Amazon. 'The mice are attracted to the snap trap because it’s set with bait, like peanut butter, and placed in the areas mice will run over in their travels. In this way, the mouse is trapped instantly without having to needlessly suffer. You will then need to dispose of the dead mouse.'
• Live mouse traps - 'Trapping mice in a way that keeps them alive until you can release them back into the wild feels more humane to some homeowners,' says Baldwin. 'This is usually a small box with a door that shuts immediately once a mouse has entered, allowing homeowners to then release them without causing any harm.' Baldwin recommends the Victor Live Catch Mouse Trap, while Bennett suggests the iiwey Humane Mouse Trap from Amazon.
• Electronic mouse traps - 'The electronic trap delivers a high-voltage shock to mice who wander into them, fatally harming them in seconds,' explains Baldwin. 'Depending on the design used, these types of traps can either catch one mouse or many at a time.' Bennett recommends the Victor Electronic Mouse Trap, which boasts a 100% kill rate, and easy disposal without having to see or touch the mouse.
• Glue traps - 'Glue traps are very sticky pads that trap a mouse when they walk across them,' says Baldwin. These Tomcat Glue Traps from Walmart are cheap, easy to set up and quick to dispose of. However, it's worth considering the suffering of the animal in the process and perhaps considering an alternative method. 'Mice may struggle in a bid to free themselves, causing them to get stuck even more within the glue trap, which can cause exhaustion and suffocation. It may be days before the mouse eventually dies, which is why glue traps are often seen as cruel ways to deal with a rodent problem.'
• Poisonous traps - Baldwin says, 'This can be an effective way to get rid of mice and kill any that are living in your attic. Homeowners should proceed with caution when using poison and ensure that children and pets stay well away from areas where poison traps are being used.'

3. Keep the attic tidy

Prevention is better than a cure, as the old saying goes – and with good reason.

Baldwin says, 'Items that are dumped in the attic such as clothing, cardboard boxes and paper materials make ideal food sources and nests for mice and other rodents. To prevent mice from making your attic their home, make sure items are stored correctly, using plastic boxes that can be sealed shut, vacuum-sealed bags for clothing and removing any loose material that are easy for mice to get at.'

4. Use a pest control service

For large infestations, or where you have tried and failed at our experts' advice, it could be time to call in a pest control pro. Baldwin says, 'Pest control experts will be able to identify entry points, set traps and remove pests more efficiently before it becomes more of a problem or spreads to other areas of the property.'

What are the most common mistakes to avoid?

The most common mistakes in addressing mice infestations include relying solely on repellents, not taking precautions, and forgetting to seal entry points afterwards.

Repellents can be useful, but their effectiveness is often inconsistent.

It's crucial to wear gloves when handling mouse traps or touching surfaces where mice have been scurrying, since they can carry harmful diseases. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards, as an extra safety measure.

Finally, don’t ignore sealing entry points after removal; otherwise, new mice will eventually move in and start the cycle all over again.

So there you have it – how to get rid of mice in the attic like the pros. Eliminating mice from your attic requires a combination of prevention, trapping, and vigilance. By understanding what attracts them and taking proactive steps to remove those temptations, you can protect your home from further infestations.

When applying pest control tips all over the home, make sure to know the pest control myths that have been debunked so you don't waste your time, energy or money on solutions that won't actually work.