Mice are notoriously difficult to remove once they take up residence in a home. With their small size and quick movements, they can be hard to catch on sight alone. As a result, many homeowners turn to other methods to deter mice from sticking around, such as using strong scents. However, the question remains: Are there actually scents that can deter mice? 

Learn what smell repels mice and how you can use them in your home or business for effective prevention and mouse removal strategies for your home in Milwaukee.

What Scent Keeps Mice Away?

There are a few scents that have limited effects on repelling wildlife. While not the most effective way to protect your home, these scents have had some success in turning away mice. If you’re looking for a natural way to repel mice in your home, learn more about the mild effects of these common methods:

• Ammonia
• Chili oil
• Peppermint oil

Ammonia is commonly cited as a mouse deterrent. One whiff of this powerful substance and you’ll see how this rumor began. Unfortunately, researchers have found virtually no impact on the behavior of mice. Despite their excellent sense of smell and the highly concentrated odor of ammonia, it isn’t an effective solution.

One scent that is effective, but not especially practical, is chili oil. This odor irritates mice and causes them to stay away from an oil-applied area or a drenched piece of food. That being said, it isn’t exactly practical to douse your home with chili oil. This option works well in the lab but isn’t a practical solution for your home.

Peppermint oil has the most promise as a scent repellent. This pleasant aroma is shown to have some success repelling mice and other wildlife. A small amount of this essential oil around entrances to your home can cause mice to turn tail and find a new place to set up a home, but will not solve the issue of a full-blown infestation. The other downside is that this oil will have to be set out on a frequent basis, which may be more work than it’s worth.

One word of caution for scent-repellent strategies: Mice are more clever than you realize. A little peppermint oil around your crawlspace or basement door may seem like an effective prevention strategy, but these tiny pests only require a hole 6 millimetres in diameter to enter. Unless you have a professional inspect your entire home for signs of entrance points, it’s unlikely for you to be able to successfully block all the entrance points with peppermint oil or another scent-based repellent.

When it comes to dealing with unwanted wildlife in your home, DIY methods may seem like a quick and easy solution. However, when it comes to mice, using smells such as peppermint or mothballs to keep them away may not be effective. In fact, it could just mask the problem temporarily while the mice continue to damage your home. 

That’s why it’s important to call in the professionals for removal if you notice signs of a mouse infestation. Not only do we have the proper equipment and experience to handle the situation safely, but we can also provide long-term solutions to prevent future issues. Rather than risking potential health hazards or wasting time and money on ineffective DIY methods, leave it to the professionals for prompt and thorough pest control. For effective prevention and removal tips in Milwaukee, turn to Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control.

Other Prevention Tips

At Skedaddle, our team offers a wide range of professional prevention strategies. There are also other simple strategies you can use to discourage mice from moving into your home:

• Removing food sources
• Sealing garbage
• Covering up odors

Mice are either looking for a warm place to build a nest, an easy place to get a meal or both. Cleaning up your kitchen and removing any easy-to-access food is a great way to put up the “No Vacancy” sign in your home.

Sealing up garbage is a similar strategy – what you call garbage may look a lot like a meal to hungry mice, so an open garbage container may attract mice into your home. Strong odors of food or garbage are powerful magnets for mice and other wildlife, so keeping them under control is an easy prevention strategy you can do on your own. 

Remove and Prevent Mice in Your Home

For anyone struggling with wildlife on their property, Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control provides professional removal and prevention strategies tailored to your particular situation. Our process starts with a full assessment of your property, allowing us to understand the unique behavioural biology of the wildlife and the potential structural weaknesses of your home. After the assessment is complete, our technician will walk you through his findings and work with you to create a customized plan of action. We pride ourselves on providing safe and humane removal methods in addition to long-term prevention strategies, ensuring that your property remains wildlife-free for years to come. 

For professional removal and prevention strategies, contact us at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control.