What You Can Do

• Thin or remove possible shelter, such as ivy
• Re-landscape using ground covers that do not encourage rats or mice
• Keep premises clean - no pet food, bird seed, dropped fruits or nuts, trash
• Stack firewood off the ground and away from the house
• Close all access points into the house (rodents have the ability to squeeze through small holes!)
• Traps
• Poisons

What Doesn’t Work

• Although electronic, sound, magnetic, or vibration devices are perfectly legal, they are not effective methods of control.

Resources

• The House Mouse: Prevention and Control, Illinois Department of Public Health
• Rodents, Santa Clara County Vector Control