Advice
Signs of Mice in the House: What to Look For
Mice are small, secretive and mostly active at night, so the first clues are usually droppings, gnaw marks and faint sounds rather than a sighting.
Read the guide →Exeter has plenty of terraced housing, student lets, newer estates and a busy city centre, and mice turn up in all of them. Tell us what you have noticed, whether that is droppings, scratching at night or chewed packets, and we will explain what the first visit involves.
Signs of mice in terraces, flats and shared houses
In a long Exeter terrace, mice can travel along party walls and under floors from one home to the next, so a problem next door often becomes yours. The usual signs are small dark droppings along skirting boards and in cupboards, gnawed food packets, greasy smears along walls, shredded paper or fabric used for nesting, and a stale smell in a quiet room.
Scratching at night is the one people notice first, usually from a loft, a wall or under the kitchen units. In student lets and shared houses, nobody tends to take responsibility for a few droppings behind the cooker, and the problem grows quietly. If you manage a shared property in Exeter, tell tenants what to look for so it is reported early.
How the treatment programme works
The first visit in Exeter is an inspection. We look for gaps around pipes, air bricks, door thresholds and damaged brickwork, then decide where traps and bait stations should go so they run along the routes mice already use. Anything that could be reached by children or pets is placed with care, and we explain what is where.
After that comes the part many people skip: monitoring. Mice are cautious, so we return to check the traps, replace what has been taken and see whether activity is falling. Once the signs stop, we remove the equipment. The number of visits depends on the size of the infestation and how many ways in there are.
Keeping mice out of Exeter properties afterwards
Treatment only holds if the gaps are dealt with, so we point out the entry points we found and what can be done to close them. Keep dry food in hard containers, clear crumbs under appliances and do not leave pet food out overnight. We also cover Topsham, Crediton and Whimple, where older buildings and farmland edges bring their own routes in.
Frequently asked questions
How many visits does mice control in Exeter usually take?
It depends on how many mice there are and how many ways in they have. Most jobs need an initial visit and then several checks, because mice are wary of new objects. We keep visiting until the traps stop catching and the signs have gone.
Can I get rid of mice in my Exeter student let myself?
You can set a few traps, but without finding and sealing the entry points mice usually come back. In a shared house the problem often runs through the walls, so a proper inspection of the whole property saves repeated effort.
Are the traps safe with pets and children in the house?
Yes, when they are placed correctly. We use enclosed stations and put traps where mice run but pets and children cannot reach, and we tell you where everything is. If you have a curious dog or cat, let us know on the first visit.