Mice

• Small rodent with large ears, pointed snout, and a long tail
• Runs along walls and edges; activity is most common at night
• Droppings are small and dark, often found near food, along baseboards, or in cupboards

• Droppings in kitchens, pantries, utility rooms, garages, or storage areas
• Scratching or movement sounds in walls/ceilings (especially at night)
• Gnaw marks on food packaging, baseboards, or stored items
• Shredded nesting material (paper, insulation, fabric) in hidden voids
• Grease rub marks along frequent travel routes

• Openings: gaps at doors, utility penetrations, soffits, vents, siding transitions
• Food access: pet food, bird seed, pantry items, garbage, compost
• Harborage: clutter, dense storage, warm wall voids, garages and sheds
• Seasonality: fall often drives indoor entry as temperatures drop

• Contamination: droppings and urine can contaminate food and surfaces
• Allergens: dander and debris can aggravate asthma/allergies
• Damage: gnawing can ruin insulation, stored items, and wiring
• If you find droppings, treat cleanup seriously—avoid sweeping/dry vacuuming

For cleanup, use ventilation, gloves, and damp methods (disinfectant + paper towels).

• Inspection: identify entry points, travel routes, and pressure level
• Immediate control: targeted trap/placement strategy where activity is proven
• Exclusion: seal the building envelope so new mice can’t replace trapped ones
• Sanitation guidance: reduce food competition and remove attractants
• Verification: monitor until activity stops, then close-out recommendations

• Only trapping inside without sealing entry points (re-infestation is likely)
• Using random bait stations without mapping routes/harborage
• Leaving pet food/bird seed accessible (feeds the problem)
• Ignoring garage/shed interfaces and utility penetrations

In Alberta, “mouse” complaints sometimes turn out to be voles (lawn runways), or other wildlife noise in attics/soffits. If the main issue is lawn tunneling, start here: