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 →We look at the buildings as one picture, because treating only the house can leave the source untouched.
Mice between the fields and the house
Rural properties around Longcombe tend to have more cover for mice: long grass, stacked wood, feed bins, garden stores and old walls with loose pointing. In Longcombe a mouse may start in a shed or barn and then work its way into the house when the weather turns colder. They like warm, quiet spaces, so lofts, airing cupboards and the back of kitchen units are common places.
We begin by walking the property and looking for droppings, runs and gnaw marks. Where the problem actually began is often not the room where it was noticed.
Traps, bait and checking back
Treatment in Longcombe depends on the setting. Inside the home we favour traps and carefully placed bait that pets and children cannot get to. In Longcombe outbuildings with animals or stored feed, extra care is needed, and we choose methods that suit the building and what is kept in it. Everything is placed deliberately and we note where it is.
We return over several visits to check, remove anything caught and see whether activity is dropping. Mice that find an easy meal elsewhere may ignore a trap for a while, so we adjust. When there are no new signs, we finish with advice rather than simply leaving.
Proofing and storage for Longcombe properties
For a lasting result in Longcombe, the buildings need to be harder to get into and food needs to be harder to find. We advise on sealing gaps at doors, pipes and eaves, and on keeping feed, seed and pet food in sturdy lidded containers. Outbuildings should be tidy, off the ground where possible. We work in the TQ9 area, and nearby Totnes and Dartmouth as well.
Frequently asked questions
Can you treat mice in a barn and the house together?
Yes. We usually look at both, since mice travel between them. The methods can differ in each building, particularly where animals or feed are present, so we plan each area separately and explain what we are using and where.
Why do mice come indoors on country properties in autumn?
As it gets colder and food outside becomes scarcer, mice look for warmth and shelter. A house next to fields, sheds or stacked wood is an easy target, especially if there is a small gap by a door or pipe.
Is it safe to use mouse bait around my dogs and chickens?
Bait must be placed in protected positions so it cannot be reached by pets or other animals. If you keep dogs, poultry or horses, tell us on the first visit and we will choose methods and positions to suit.