Some of the places where mice are hiding are just what you'd expect, but mice can startle you by turning up in unexpected and surprising places.
6 Surprising Places You Should Be Checking for Mice
Updated Sep. 23, 2024
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In Moving Boxes
Tyler Moore, who is the marketing director for a Florida-based pest control company, had this to say: “Moving boxes! We always get calls from people that just moved into their new homes, and they don’t understand why they have mice. When digging further, people that allow their boxes and household products to sit in storage or a waiting location before going to the new dwelling often find the boxes have brought in mice.”
How to coax mice out of hiding in boxes
Open and unpack the boxes outside as soon as they are delivered. Do it far enough from doorways to prevent the mice you uncover from running straight into the house.
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In Wicker Furniture
“Most people expect mice in their garages or attics,” says Blair Calder, CEO of a company that focused on humane solutions to rodent and pest problems, “but there is one material that might be drawing them in — wicker. Mice love wicker (real wicker, not the fake plastic variety) as well as straw hats or other natural materials such as cotton. They love to make nests from these ‘natural’ items in your storage areas.”
How to coax mice out of hiding in wicker
Move wicker furniture and straw hats around frequently. If the wicker is in storage, spray it periodically with peppermint oil, clove oil or some other natural mouse repellent.
- Pro tip: Be sure to check your straw hat for a nest or any other sign that it’s a place where mice are hiding before you put it on.
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In the Stove
We have a gas stove, and for months, we could hear the pitta-pat of mice scurrying around in the oven or under the stovetop. Of course, when we opened the oven door or lifted the stove top, there was nothing there. We finally moved the stove away from the wall to see how they were getting in, and we found a nest underneath it.
Mice can do a lot of damage to gas stoves. A neighbor had to dispose of hers because of contamination and droppings.
How to coax mice out of hiding in stoves
Use your stove regularly. Mice like it warm but not hot, and the activity you generate by cooking will help scare them away.
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In Your Shoes
As I was researching this topic, I spoke with a friend whose father discovered a mouse’s nest in his boots. He seldom wore the boots, so the mice had plenty of time to settle into the warm, dark, protected shoes. This story reminded me of my years in Japan where, during the summer, it was crucial to check your shoes for giant stinging centipedes before putting them on.
How to coax mice out of hiding in shoes
Wear your shoes. If you have a pair that you don’t wear, store them on a high shelf — not on the floor. You can also soak cotton balls with essential oils that repel mice, such as peppermint and clove oil, and store these along with your unused shoes.
- Pro tip: Check your shoes before you put them on, and if you do find a mouse, be thankful you didn’t find a centipede or a scorpion.
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In Your Car
“The number-one place people might be surprised to find mice is in their car — especially an older car,” says Calder. “They can be in your engine or the car’s air filter.”
Boy, is that true! One time while I was driving, a mouse emerged from the air vent on the hood when I stopped at a stop sign, scampered along the windshield and ducked back into the engine compartment when the car started moving. I opened the hood and, sure enough, there was a nest right on top of the engine block.
How to coax mice out of hiding in your car
Mice in cars is a common problem in my neighborhood, and to keep them away, many people leave their hoods open at night. Spraying a healthy dose of peppermint oil in the engine compartment at least once a week also helps.
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In the Walls
It isn’t really surprising that this would be a place where mice are hiding, but pest control trainer Meg Pearson feels it’s important to mention it anyway: “People often expect to see mice in their kitchens, which is a valid notion, as they often forage for food there. But one of the key places you really need to be aware of their presence is within your walls. Mice can cause quite a bit of damage from within your walls, as they are prone to chewing on electrical wiring, which can cause electrical fires and major damage to your house.”
How to coax mice out of hiding in walls
Mice love walls because there is warmth and plenty of fuzzy insulation for nesting, so once they’re settled, it’s difficult to make them leave. The best strategy is to find their entry points and put traps nearby. Once they’re gone, seal baseboards and foundations with caulk so they can’t get back in.
About the Experts
- Blair Calder is the Founder & CEO of Automatic Trap Company located in Sonoma, CA.
- Meg Pearson is the Training Manager at Critter Control. She is an expert source in wildlife control and pest control.
- Tyler Moore is the Marketing Director at All “U” Need Pest Control, which has franchises throughout Florida as well as in Houston, Texas.
Originally Published: September 23, 2024
