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 →A small village property often has thick walls, odd roof spaces and old services, and every one of those can be a route. Let us know what you have seen or heard, and we will arrange a visit.
Why old cottages suit mice so well
Older cottages tend to have uneven stonework, gaps under floors, loose pointing and old pipe entries. Mice need only a small opening, and once inside they can run through wall voids and under floorboards without being seen. A warm kitchen with crumbs in it is a strong draw.
In a village like Shaldon, the signs may start small: a few droppings in a drawer, a chewed corner of a food box, a soft scratching at night. Because village properties are often close to gardens and the estuary edge, mice can also arrive from outside as the weather turns.
Treating a holiday let without disturbing guests
Many Shaldon cottages are let to visitors, so timing matters. We look for a plan that fits changeover days and bookings, and we place traps in cupboards, voids and storerooms rather than in main living areas wherever possible. We tell you where everything is.
Then we return to check. Mice may ignore new traps for a while, so patience is part of the job. We reset, move or add traps as required, and we continue until fresh signs stop appearing. Owners who live away can tell us how to arrange access.
Keeping Shaldon cottages mouse-free
Once the mice are gone, close the entry points we found, using materials suited to old buildings, and keep all food in hard containers. Leave no bags of seed or pet food in sheds. Cottage owners in Shaldon should check empty rooms regularly. We also cover Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and Maidencombe close by.
Frequently asked questions
Can you treat mice in a Shaldon holiday let between guests?
Yes, we can often fit visits around changeover days. Traps and stations are placed out of main living areas where possible. Tell us your booking pattern so we can plan the follow-up checks.
How do mice get into a stone cottage?
Usually through small gaps: around pipes, under floorboards, at damaged pointing or beside old chimney breasts. They need only a tiny opening. We look for every likely route, inside and out.
I only heard scratching once. Is it worth a visit?
If it was in a loft or wall at night, it is worth checking. One sound may be a single mouse, but they breed quickly. An inspection will tell you if there is a real problem or not.