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How-to Control Deer Mice
The key to any type of rodent or mouse control is identification, sanitation, harborage elimination, and mouse-proofing the building. If deer mice are already in an occupied structure, they can easily be controlled via baited snap traps placed in corners, along walls, and behind objects. Virtually any technique used for house mouse control will work. In unoccupied structures rodenticide baits work well but only a few are labeled for deer mice.
Exclusion is the best control method. Seal all entry holes with 1/8" hardware cloth. Pay particular attention to any hole that is about the diameter of a pencil. If the structure has deteriorated due to lack of maintenance and/or age such that exclusion is impractical, then consider trapping the deer mice on the outside perimeter to reduce the probability of invasion.
To reduce the attractiveness of your structure, store bird seed and other dried pet foods in areas other than the garage or storage sheds.
Because deer mice are the primary carriers of hanta-virus, it is prudent to practice minimal safety precautions. These include:
- Wear a respirator equipped with HEPA filters when working with rodent traps, in confined areas with urine and/or droppings, or with dead mice. The droppings and urine are key to spreading the infection and must be avoided at all costs! Use a filrter mask to prevent inhaltion of urine-laden dust or pulverized fecal droppings.
- Wear rubber or plastic gloves when handling mice or traps; these should be disinfected before removal.
- Disinfect traps contaminated by mouse urine or droppings; use a commercial disinfectant or diluted bleach (3 tablespoons/gal water).
- Treat dead mice with a disinfectant before handling and/or use the inverted bag technique (turn bag inside out and use as a glove, pick up the mouse and while holding on to the mouse, turn the bag right-side out again, and seal the bag).
- Disinfect any droppings before removal; if a vacuum is used, it must be equipped with a HEPA filter.
- If feverishness or respiratory illness develops within 45 days of potential exposure, seek immediate medical attention and inform the attending physician of the occupational risk.
- Contrac
- Mouse bait stations
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