How Much Does It Cost to Get Rid of Mice

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In this guide

Mouse Exterminator Cost
Mouse Extermination Prices by Severity of Infestation
Mouse Control Cost by Home Size
Mouse Exterminator Cost by Method
Mouse Extermination Cost by Location
When to Call an Exterminator for Mice
Mice Inspection Cost
Cost to Repair Mouse Damage to a House
Mice Exclusion Cost
Dead Mouse Removal Cost
Emergency Mouse Removal Cost
Pet-friendly Mouse Control Cost
Cost Factors to Get Rid of Mice
Signs of a Mice Infestation
Are Mice Dangerous?
All About Mice
Where Do Mice Nest?
How to Prevent Mice
Mice Extermination Cost vs Mice Removal Cost
Enhancement and Improvement Costs
Additional Considerations
FAQs

Mouse Exterminator Cost

In addition to the mice treatment cost, a big part of the mice control cost is labor. Professionals will seal all entrances into your home made by mice and then begin the process of trapping. The cost to exterminate a colony of mice from your home ranges on average from $450-$600 for a 90-day program with at least one follow-up visit. During these check-ups, the exterminator will remove the traps with dead rodents, monitor the area, and clean up mouse waste. To keep your home safe, you should also remove any dead mice or mouse waste when you see it.

It is best to start with a clean home before calling in a professional because you need to leave the treated areas undisturbed for at least 5 days to ensure that the problem is dealt with. If you do not want to clean your house yourself, house cleaning costs range between $75-$125 per visit for a 2,000 sq.ft. home.

How Long Does It Take to Exterminate Mice

The initial consultation with an exterminator will provide you with the information you need about how long it takes to exterminate mice. During the inspection, the exterminator will diagnose the extent of the problem and provide you with an estimated timeline to completion. Any extermination or removal of mice will take at least 2 appointments: the initial inspection and 1 follow-up visit within 90 days to confirm that the mice are gone.

Most exterminators charge a flat fee of between $450-$600 to eradicate a mouse problem from the initial consultation to the final follow-up. The cost range reflects the time it takes for all mice to be gone, and most extermination packages allocate 90 days to finish the work. Keep in mind that this is the maximum length of time. Most mouse problems can be fixed in much less time.

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Mouse Extermination Prices by Severity of Infestation

It's startling to see one mouse in your home or office. When you see or hear groups of them scurrying around, it can be downright alarming. The cost to exterminate a mouse problem depends on many factors, including the severity of infestation. After the exterminator determines how many mice and nests are on your property, they'll decide on the best method for getting rid of them. The method is the most significant factor in the final cost. Generally speaking, the larger the infestation, the more invasive and costly the method.

Severity of Infestation	Cost
Small	$250 - $500
Medium	$300 - $500
Large	$450 - $650
Severe	$1,000 - $6,000

Small Mouse Extermination

For only a few mice, live traps and glue traps will be the most common extermination methods.  A small infestation indicates that the problem was caught before mice had the chance to breed. Homeowners can expect to pay between $250 and $500 for a small infestation in a 2,000 sq. ft. space.

Medium Mouse Extermination

A medium infestation means that there is at least one mouse nest and perhaps a colony (multiple nests). At this point, visual clues indicate that there is a problem. Most likely, you would notice mouse droppings or chewed boxes in the pantry. Unless you specifically ask for live traps, the exterminator will most likely suggest snap traps, glue traps, or mouse poison. You should expect to pay about $300 to $500 to get rid of a medium infestation in a 2,000 sq. ft. house.

Large Mouse Extermination

A large mouse infestation of any size property means that a colony has taken up residence, requiring a more invasive extermination method. An exterminator will recommend bait stations or rodenticides to remove the problem. Bait stations and rodenticide to exterminate mice from a 2,000 sq. ft. space will cost between $450 and $650.

Severe Mouse Extermination

A severe infestation of mice requires fumigation of the entire property. You can expect this process to take a full day and be out of your home for up to three days while the toxic gas dissipates. Mice fumigation of a 2,000 sq. ft. home will cost between $1,000 and $6,000.

Mouse Control Cost by Home Size

If your mouse problem is house-wide, then the size of your home will impact the number of traps or amount of poison needed to take care of the infestation. The costs below are what homeowners can expect to pay to get rid of a medium mouse infestation throughout the home. If your home is larger than average, you can expect to pay up to $1,000.

Home Size	Cost
1,000 sq. ft.	$100 - $300
2,000 sq. ft.	$300 - $500
3,000 sq. ft.	$500 - $700
4,000 sq. ft.	$700 - $1,000

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Mouse Exterminator Cost by Method

Mice exterminator costs vary by catch method. Traps are the most commonly used form of extermination, and many different types of traps are available. Professionals can identify the best locations to place these traps based on the location of the nests, trap type, and the other inhabitants of the home, such as pets or small children. Different traps vary in cost, and the exterminator may use more than one method, depending on the infestation infestation.

Here are ranges for the exterminator cost for mice based on the method used to trap and/or kill them in a 2,000 sq.ft. home:

Method	Cost
Live Mouse Trap	$250-$300
Snap Trap	$300-$500
Glue Trap	$300-$500
Poison	$300-$500
Jaw Mouse Trap	$300-$500
Bait Station	$450-$650
Electric Trap	$550-$750
Rodenticides	$750-$1,000
Mice Fumigation	$1,000-$6,000

Live Mouse Trap

Live traps for mice are a humane method for removing mice from your home. The trap attracts the mice inside it with food. When the animal enters the trap, it triggers the door to close and traps the animal inside. You can then transport and release the mouse within 2 blocks of your home. If humanely trapping and releasing a mouse appeals to you, then it is important to note that relocating the animal to a forest or other wild place is not doing it a favor. A mouse can only reliably find food and water in an environment that is familiar to it. As long as the exterminator has also sealed any potential entry holes into your home, the mouse will leave you alone even if it remains on your street. Mouse extermination with live mouse traps cost between $250-$300.

Mice Snap Trap

A mice snap trap is a baiting mouse trap because it uses bait to lure in rodents. This trap is very easy to set and release. However, it can be a short-term solution if the source is not sealed. You should keep in mind that mice will eventually be smart enough to avoid it. Snap traps also run the risk of snapping on curious children and pets. Expect to pay $300-$500 for mouse extermination with snap traps.

Mouse Glue Trap

Glue traps have no snapping mechanism, but they are also baiting mouse traps. They are a safer method for homes with young children and pets. However, it is the least humane method to kill a mouse since the death is drawn-out and slow due to lack of food and water. Expect to pay $300-$500 for mouse extermination with glue traps.

Mouse Poison

Some exterminators use mouse poison if it is not possible to fit a trap into the required space. This method should be a last resort. Mouse poison is not recommended because it requires the professional to leave open containers of toxic poisons in your home. Curious pets and children are at risk of accidentally consuming it. Mouse poison does not trap or kill the mouse instantly, and they can still roam around before they die. The cost for extermination with mouse poison is $300-$500.

Jaw Mouse Trap

Jaw mouse traps are heavier duty versions of snap baiting mouse traps. They are made of heavy-duty plastic with a spring-loaded, serrated "jaw" that snaps shut on a mouse when the creature ventures in for the bait. The jaw mouse trap results in an easier clean-up because the jaws break the animal's neck without breaking its skin. Mouse extermination with jaw mouse traps cost between $300-$500.

Mouse Bait Station

Mouse bait stations also rely on poison to kill mice. But unlike uncovered mouse poison, bait stations are closed containers with a small opening for mice. Inside the enclosure, mice eat poisoned bait which eventually kills them. Bait stations are not reusable. They are effective at killing mice but it will be a slow death. You will pay $450-$650 for mouse extermination with bait stations.

Electric Mouse Trap

Electric traps are baiting mouse traps that are reusable, quick, and effective. Moreover, these are long-term and efficient solutions for mice infestations. Mice enter the enclosed trap and are electrocuted. They die in a few seconds. The cost is higher than other traps, so expect to pay $550-$750 for mouse extermination with electric traps.

Rodenticides

A rodenticide is a pesticide specifically formulated to kill rodents. This includes mice, rats, beavers, chipmunks, and woodchucks. Rodenticide is typically sold in multi-gallon quantities because it is intended to be used in large areas. Barns are the most common places where people use rodenticide to exterminate mice. You will pay $750-$1,000 for mouse extermination with rodenticide.A word of caution about rodenticides: they are made from wheat, which means that horses find them especially tasty. Use with extreme care in a barn setting.

Mice Fumigation Cost

Fumigation is the most costly method for exterminating mice from your home or garage. Like fumigating for other pests, this method involves sealing off sections of your home and piping in a toxic gas to kill all the mice present. For a large infestation, it is the quickest and most lethal extermination technique. With mice fumigation, you will not likely need any follow-up appointments. The cost of mice fumigation ranges between $1,000-$6,000.

Mouse Extermination Cost by Location

Mice exterminator prices vary by the location of the mouse problem, including how many entry points need to be sealed off. What kind of traps a professional sets to catch mice also impacts the cost. High-traffic areas or rooms with small children and pets require different traps than spaces that are easily closed off.

Here are ranges for the exterminator price for mice based on the most common places that problems occur. In some cases, the process of extermination is really similar from one location to another, although the prices are different. This is because the smaller the location, the easier it will be to seal holes and check for mice.

Location	Cost
Shed	$100-$200
Roof	$200-$300
Stove	$200-$400
Kitchen	$250-$400
Bedroom	$250-$400
Attic	$250-$450
Floorboards	$250-$500
Heating Ducts	$250-$500
Ceiling	$300-$400
Outside	$400-$600
Yard	$400-$600
Walls	$450-$600
Garage	$550-$750
Barn	$650-$1,000

How to Get Rid of Mice in a Shed

Call an exterminator to get rid of the mice in your shed through mouse exclusion and setting snap, jaw, or glue traps inside. These traps are safe inside a shed as long as you can close and lock the structure. Otherwise, ask your exterminator to use an alternate method like a mouse bait station so that pets and young children are not injured. The cost range to remove mice from your shed is between $100-$200.

How to Get Rid of Mice in a Roof

If you have mice scurrying around on your roof, you can fix the problem by having an exterminator seal off any potential entry points and set traps ($200-300). A handyman can also perform the sealing service at an hourly rate of $100 per hour on average. Plan on paying for at least 2 hours to allow time for them to identify and then seal all the holes. Once the holes are sealed, an exterminator will set snap or jaw traps around the roof to catch as many mice as possible.

How to Get Rid of Mice in a Stove

Discovering that mice have taken up residence in your stove can be unsettling. Finding mice anywhere in your kitchen is especially dangerous because they can defecate and urinate in any unsealed food containers. After you remove all food from the area, call an exterminator. They will seal off any holes in the wall behind the stove to prevent mice from getting through. They will then line the base of the wall with snap traps or jaw traps. The cost for an exterminator to get rid of mice in your stove (and kitchen wall) ranges from $200-$400.

How to Get Rid of Mice in a Kitchen

Having mice in your kitchen can be particularly nerve-racking because of the frequent presence of both your food and your family. If you have young children or pets, an exterminator will want to set out glue traps or humane live traps to keep your family safest. An exterminator will evaluate your kitchen and determine all entry holes. The cost to have an exterminator get rid of mice in your kitchen costs between $250-$400.

How to Get Rid of a Mouse in a Bedroom

Seeing one mouse in your bedroom may seem like an isolated incident, but it is highly unlikely that the mouse is alone. It probably has a family with babies somewhere close by in a nest. An exterminator will identify the extent of the problem, seal off all entry points to your house for mice, and then set traps in your bedroom. The cost to get rid of a mouse in the bedroom is between $250-$400.

Mice in Attic Removal Cost

Mice in the attic are common. For mice that enter the home through gaps in exterior roofing materials, the attic is a convenient place to build a nest. The attic is dark, has ample nest building material like cardboard boxes, and little foot traffic from humans. To remove mice from the attic, an exterminator will seal off the points of entry for mice and then set traps throughout the space. Most likely, an exterminator will prefer to set snap traps or jaw mouse traps in the attic because it is a closed-off space that pets and children do not usually have access to. The mice in attic extermination cost ranges from $250-$450.

How to Get Rid of Mice in Floorboards

Getting rid of mice in your floorboards sounds more complicated than it is. An exterminator will use the same methods to remove mice in this location as they would to remove mice in an attic or walls. It is a matter of locating the entry points, sealing them off with copper mesh, and then setting traps in areas that a mouse has been seen or is expected to be seen. Depending on where the floorboards are, the exterminator will determine which traps are safest for you and your family. If it is in a high-traffic part of your home like a living room, they will most likely use glue traps so that small children and pets remain safe. An exterminator will get rid of mice in your floorboards for between $250-$500.

How to Get Rid of Mice in Heating Ducts

Air ducts are attractive spots for mice to sleep. They are warm and provide direct passage to most rooms in your home. You may never know if you have mice in your air ducts until one of them dies, and the smell carries throughout your home. If this happens, an exterminator will locate the problem and remove it. They will also set snap traps inside the other ducts to catch the rest of the colony. The cost for a professional to get rid of mice in heating ducts is $250-$500. It is worth noting that you will need to check the traps daily and remove any dead mice. Leaving a full trap for even an extra day can result in an odor that quickly spreads throughout your ducts.

How to Get Rid of Mice in a Ceiling

Mice can get in your home through the smallest holes and gaps in exterior building materials. Once in, they quickly set up shop and start breeding. The cost to get rid of mice in the ceiling is between $300-$400. An exterminator will determine the entry holes that the mice are using to get in and out of your home. They then set snap or jaw traps in your attic or crawl space.

Outside Mouse Control

Controlling mice outside is one of the key ways to prevent them from ever entering your home or garage. First, ensure that the outdoor area is clear of brush and any overgrown foliage. If you need to call in a professional for a yard clean up, the cost is $500 on average. Once the area is clear, an exterminator will set out various traps to catch mice, most likely bait stations because they will remove mice from across a large area. A single bait station costs between $15-$50, and it can kill multiple groups of mice outside over time. The total cost for outside mouse control is between $400-$600.

How to Get Rid of Mice in a Yard

It is easier to remove mice from your yard in the summer before they start building nests in your attic, walls, or floorboards in the fall and winter to escape the cold. The process to remove them is the same as exterminating them outside except that the exterminator will also seal off any potential entry points on the exterior of your home. Mice can squeeze through holes in your walls, gaps in your wiring, and cracks in foundations as small as the diameter of a pencil. The cost to get rid of mice in your yard and mouse-proof the exterior of your home ranges between $400-$600.

Exterminate Mice in Walls

Mice can get inside your home and establish themselves in your walls through tiny cracks in your foundation and gaps in your exterior building materials. When you hear them scurrying about at night, you will know it is a problem. The best method to exterminate mice in your walls is by removing their points of entry and exit. This method is called mice exclusion and can be done on its own ($100-$200), or an exterminator can also set traps ($450-$600).

How to Get Rid of Mice in a Garage

Like attics, garages are an especially attractive space for mice to establish colonies. There is lots of material to build nests, relatively little foot traffic, and vehicles can also be a useful place to hide. Because it is such an attractive place, infestations can be significant. The process to rid mice in the garage is similar to removing them from an attic. An exterminator will seal off entry holes and set out snap or jaw traps. They might also place a bait station if the problem is significant. The cost to exterminate mice in the garage ranges from $550-$750, depending on the severity of the infestation.

How to Get Rid of Mice in a Barn

To exterminate mice from a barn, professionals will use extra-strength snap traps that catch multiple mice at a time, bait stations, or rodenticide to keep the population down and eventually eradicate it. To have a professional seal all entry holes to your barn, set the traps, and follow-up, expect to pay between $650-$1,000.

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When to Call an Exterminator for Mice

By the time you see a mouse in your home, you may already have a problem. Stay vigilant for common signs that you are hosting little guests in your home, garage, boat, or vehicle. Signs that you have a mouse in your house include droppings, scratching sounds, piles of nesting material like shaved wood, and moldy or foul smells.

Mice are nocturnal creatures, which means that they are active at night and sleep during the day. If you are a heavy sleeper, it is possible that you will not know there is a problem until you are bordering on an infestation. Stay aware of any signs that mice have moved in and started building nests.

Call a professional as soon as you suspect a problem. If you wait, you risk extensive damage to your property. Mice have incisors that never stop growing. They keep these teeth manageable by constantly chewing on things to wear them down. When those things are your belongings, you could incur some serious costs.

Waiting to contact a professional also carries potential health risks. Mice love food. When scampering around your pantry, they are most likely also defecating and urinating. Without proper removal or extermination, you expose your family to the numerous pathogens that mice can carry.

Mice Inspection Cost

It is important to call a professional when you realize you may have a mouse infestation. Pest control companies make an initial inspection to determine the size of the problem. Many pest control companies offer free inspections, but some do charge for these services. If they do charge for inspections, you may pay between $50 and $300 for that visit, with $90 being a common cost. Get quotes from a few different companies if you can. Ask company representatives whether or not they charge for the first visit.

Cost to Repair Mouse Damage to a House

Mice and other rodents may do damage to areas of your home that will require repair. If the exterminator needed to open the walls to reach the nest, you may need to repair the drywall  ¹ at a cost of roughly $30 per sheet. If the mice have eaten electrical lines, you may need to hire an electrician at a cost of $40-$120 an hour. If plumbing has been disturbed, you may need to hire a plumber at a cost of $45-$200 an hour to make the necessary repairs.

If there are mouse urine stains on the ceiling or other stains as a result of mice, have your house deep cleaned and also book an exterminator package. Ideally, book a deep cleaning service to remove any difficult stains before the exterminator arrives. On average, expect to pay $325 for a house deep clean, which includes the cleaning of walls and baseboards with disinfectants.

If you have already had an emergency mouse removal and now need to book a deep clean to remove the urine stains on the ceiling, it is recommended that you wait at least 5 days. This is especially true if your extermination treatment involved a spray pest repellent. Otherwise, the deep clean will wipe it away.

If you experienced mice carpet damage, hire a carpet repair professional to fix the hole for about $200 on average.

Mice Exclusion Cost

Mice exclusion refers to sealing off the entry points that mice use to get into your home. Exterminators use copper mesh to seal any holes, cracks, and gaps in exterior building materials. The cost of mice exclusion is most often included in the cost of a mouse extermination package. The national average for an exterminator is between $450-$600 to permanently fix a mouse problem in a home, barn, or other building. That cost includes the labor to diagnose the extent of the problem, the labor and materials needed for mice exclusion (copper mesh) and extermination (traps), and usually one follow-up appointment in 90 days.

If an exterminator does not include mouse exclusion in their estimate, you can order this separate service for between $50-$300. You can also hire a handyman to do it. The cost of a handyman depends on the number and size of the holes. A handyman would charge this project at an hourly rate as opposed to a project-based flat fee. The cost ranges between $100-$300 for up to 3 hours of work. If the handyman needs to seal the holes from a significant infestation with more than 1 colony (family group) of mice, the cost increases at an hourly rate of $100. If you choose a handyman instead of an exterminator service to seal the holes, we recommend choosing one with experience identifying rodent entry points.

Setting traps for mice will be minimally effective if entry holes are not excluded/sealed because mice can easily escape the traps. For this reason, it is rare for an exterminator not to include mice exclusion in their fees.

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Dead Mouse Removal Cost

If you purchase a mouse extermination package, dead mouse removal will be included in the price to exterminate mice ($450-$600). If you find a dead mouse on your property and do not want to remove it yourself, hire a wildlife removal specialist or exterminator to help you dispose of it. The range for dead mouse removal cost is between $50-$150, which includes one trip to your home and disposal fees. All dead animals carry the risk of spreading pathogens to your family. It is important to safely and quickly remove them as soon as possible.

Emergency Mouse Removal Cost

Any need to get rid of mice in your home could be considered an emergency. If you have elderly or immune-compromised adults in your home, who might be more susceptible to pathogens that mice can carry, an infestation is a big deal. On the other hand, you might have a flexible work schedule, and the regular business hours of 9-5 do not align with your daily activities. Whatever the reason, when you see a mouse in your living space, many exterminators are available 24 hours a day.

In most cases, the complete and permanent removal of mice from your home is a multi-step process. Exterminators charge flat fees ($450-$600) to seal all entry points for mice, set traps, and then assess the situation up to 90 days later. The process is the same even if the call is an emergency. For after-hours service, an exterminator will perform a complete inspection and diagnose the extent of the problem. They will also set an initial set of traps in the problem areas. However, this is merely a short-term solution for an emergency situation. Traps are only effective if mice have nowhere else to go. Without sealing all the entry points, they can simply escape out the way they came in. Exterminators will schedule an appointment with you in the very near future to seal off the entry points with copper mesh and refresh the traps. Expect to pay between $550-$800 for an emergency mouse removal service with mouse exclusion.

Pet-friendly Mouse Control Cost

Unfortunately, it is difficult to exterminate a significant mice problem without chemicals. Ask your exterminator what kind of chemicals they use for mice so that you can do some research on them. The "trap and release" option with live traps ($100-$200) may be available if your property only has one or two mice. Consider this option if you have children and/or pets.

You can always explain to your children that they need to be careful when chemicals are present, but what about your pets? During the mouse extermination process, you want to take several steps to keep your pets safe. The chemicals that exterminate mice are highly toxic to pets.

Start by telling your exterminator that you have pets, and ask what they recommend for safety. Dogs and cats should be kept away from treated areas while the chemicals dry. Either move them to an untreated room or, in the case of dogs, let them play outside. You may also choose to kennel your pet for a day or so, especially if you have a lot of rooms that need treatment. Move fish tanks, bird cages, and hamster cages to untreated rooms if possible. If that is not a possibility, put a sheet over the cages to keep your pet from inhaling fumes.

Cost Factors to Get Rid of Mice

Many factors impact the cost to get rid of mice. Once you suspect that you have a mouse problem, it is time to call in the professionals to diagnose the extent of the damage. There are 4 factors to consider when budgeting for professional mouse pest control costs.

• Free inspection. While some companies offer a free inspection of your problem, plenty others charge you to assess the situation. If not free, the cost of an inspection ranges between $75-$150.

• Type and size of property. When a home or commercial structure is treated for mice, the entire building must be treated. Mice breed very quickly, and if one room has mice, they will probably move to an adjacent room soon, looking for food and nesting materials.

• Method of mouse removal. The initial inspection by a professional exterminator will include a conversation about the method of mouse removal that is most safe for your family. For example, if you have young children or pets, bait stations are not a safe option because of the risk of accidental ingestion. In this case, snap or glue traps may be used, which are less expensive.

• Size of infestation. Mice may not live long in the wild, but they breed quickly. The gestation period for a mouse is about 20 days, and a single litter usually produces 4-12 pups (baby mice). By the time you realize you have mice in your home, there could already be multiple generations established in your basement or attic.

Many extermination companies take all this into consideration in the final mice pest control cost. They rate their services per package for a set time period.

Signs of a Mice Infestation

Mice and other rodents can make nests in closets, attics, walls, crawl spaces, and basements. They may invade the living areas of your home to eat food that is left out or unprotected. Besides the obvious sighting, some signs of mice infestations include finding their droppings, chewed on furniture, and even musky odors. Rodents can cause damage to walls and electrical wires, while also potentially spreading disease and creating an unsanitary environment. If you find evidence of mice, you may be tempted to try to deal with the issue yourself. However, in most cases, you are better off hiring an exterminator, simply because things like traps are often ineffective at reaching the nest, and poisons should be used only in controlled situations by a professional.

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Are Mice Dangerous?

While there are many different species of mice, it is the droppings and saliva of specific species that are known to contaminate food and spread diseases within the home. Some of the more common species a homeowner typically comes into contact with include cotton rats, deer mice, house mice, Norway rats, and roof rats. As explained by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the diseases caused by these rodents include:

• Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM): Caused by exposure to the excrement (droppings, urine, saliva, etc.) of an infected rodent and direct contact with broken skin, nose, eyes, and mouth, as well as the bite of an infected mouse. Once infected, a person may need to be hospitalized to receive treatment.
• Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS): Caused by contact with rodents that carry hantavirus. Similar to the LCM, it can be transmitted through the exposure of rodent excrement. Symptoms include fever, deep muscle aches, and severe shortness of breath. The symptoms are similar to those caused by the flu. If you suspect contact with rodents in your home, seek medical attention immediately.
• Rat-bite fever (RBF)/Haverhill fever: Fatal if it goes untreated and caused by bites or scratches, handling infected rodents, or consuming food and drink contaminated with the bacteria. Penicillin is the most common antibiotic used to treat RBF, and some severe illnesses include infections involving the heart, brain, or lungs as well as abscesses in internal organs.
• Salmonellosis: A lab test to diagnose. This illness is commonly caused by contact with contaminated food or infected animals. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. According to cdc.gov, the illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment.
• Tularemia: Rodents are highly at risk of contracting this disease and die in massive amounts during outbreaks. A human can also be infected by coming into contact with these rodents, aerosols, or agricultural dusts or ingesting contaminated water. While it may be fatal, this illness can be treated with antibiotics.

All About Mice

It is true that mice can cause a homeowner serious headaches. But it is hard to refute how much these tough little creatures have in common with humans. Hundreds of types of mice can be divided into New World and Old World species. The most common types of mice in North America include the deer mouse, field mouse, and house mouse.

People tend to group mice and rats together, but these animals are distinct members of the rodent family. One big difference between them is their size. On average, mice grow between 1 to 7 inches in length. They are very small animals that only weigh between 0.5 and 1 ounce. Some mice in Africa are even smaller.

Mice are social animals that communicate with each other using audible sounds as well as ultrasonic waves. Like humans, they are omnivores, meaning that they eat meat and plants. Despite their small stature, they eat a lot. They choose to build their nests near food sources so that they can fill their bellies up to 20 times per day.

In the wild, mice only live 1.5-2 years. Pet mice can live as long as 6 years. Female mice (called does) begin breeding with male mice (called bucks) when they are between 4 and 7 weeks old. She will carry her babies for about 20 days before giving birth to a litter of between 4 and 12 babies (called pinkies or pups).

Where Do Mice Nest?

The first thing you want to do when you have a mouse problem in your home is to establish where their nest is and the population size. Mice typically build their nests in dark, undisturbed spaces like garages and attics. Ensure that they do not have easy access to any food (including your pets' food) by sealing all food items and storing them in airtight containers.

How to Prevent Mice

There are some things you can do to prevent mice from invading your home. First, thoroughly clean your home, focusing on the pantry and kitchen areas, attics, garage as well as any areas that could possibly be a nest for rodents.

After you clean the area, a mouse repellent can also be an effective way to keep mice out of your home, garage, boat, RV, and vehicle. There are 3 main types of mouse repellents that use different methods for detracting mice: mouse repellent sprays ($18-$20), mouse repellent pouches ($15-$18), and ultrasonic mouse repellent ($35-$80), which are devices that generate ultrasonic waves, and sometimes also LED lights, to disorient both rodents and insects, including mice, rats, and cockroaches.

The key to preventing any mouse problem is ensuring they do not get into your home in the first place. Mouse exclusion is the process of sealing all rodent entry points into your home. If an exterminator does not include mouse exclusion in their estimate, order this separate service for between $50-$300. You can also hire a handyman who would charge between $100-$300 for up to 3 hours of work.

Mice Extermination Cost vs Mice Removal Cost

For extermination companies, "mice extermination" and "mice removal" refer to the same process. If your preferred definition of "removed" is relocated as opposed to killed, your best bet is to contact wildlife removal specialists in your area. Unlike professional exterminators, wildlife removal companies are more receptive to and can handle the "catch and release" method of mouse removal. The rodent exterminator cost is between $450-$600. Extermination includes inspection, sealant, a variety of snap traps, jaw traps, or bait stations, and a follow-up appointment.

The cost of mouse removal by a company specializing in wildlife removal costs between $300-$600 for the same service as extermination. The only difference is that mice will be caught in humane live traps that the company (or you) need to release back into the environment. This mouse removal method is recommended by national animal welfare organizations, including the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States. When releasing mice, experts recommend not taking the animal too far from your home (within a few blocks) so that they can still find familiar food and water sources. As long as the removal service includes the exclusion/sealing of rodent entry points on the exterior of your home, then you do not need to worry about the mouse getting back in.

Talk to local pros to get quotes for your mice extermination

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Mouse Cleaning Services

Mice frequently enter homes where they can be assured of finding food. A cleaning company can help you keep your home free of crumbs and other enticements for $75-$125 per visit.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based approach of pest prevention that focuses on knowing the habits of the pest and targeting it with humane traps and less toxic chemicals. First, you need to know your pest's habits and how they are gaining access to your home. Second, keep your home clean and your food in airtight containers. Mice are looking for food. If despite the prevention you see a mouse, use traps and bait first to catch and remove it. Lastly, continue to monitor the area so that you can get ahead of pests before you have a real problem.
• The most common season for mice to enter homes is during the fall/winter due to the drop in temperature and the need to seek food indoors.
• Be wary of any pest exterminator who uses poisons to deal with the infestation. Poisons can cause the mice to die inside your walls, where their decaying bodies may smell and spread further diseases. Poison may also be harmful to the health of pets or people living in the house.
• Do you remember what the date was when you first noticed signs of a rodent problem? If so, write it down and tell the exterminator. This information can help the exterminator figure out how bad the problem may be. If you do not have the exact date, a rough estimate can also be helpful.
• Mice can travel quickly from one house to the next, which means that if you have a mouse problem, some of your neighbors probably do, too. It is a good idea to let your next-door neighbor know what you are dealing with so that they can be prepared.
• Adopting a "working cat" from a local animal shelter or rescue group can be an inexpensive way to remove mice from your barn. Working cats are feral (wild) cats that have been brought into the shelter because they cannot return to their outdoor colony. These cats also cannot live inside because they are closer to wild animals than tame house cats. In exchange for the safe shelter of your barn plus food and water, a barn cat will be your personal security guard to keep mice at bay.

FAQs

• How do you get rid of rodents?

The most effective way of dealing with rodents is to hire a professional to set traps and seal up entry holes.

• How do you get rid of mice in your walls?

Setting traps inside the walls by cutting strategic holes is the most effective way of getting rid of mice.

• How much does it cost to get rid of mice?

​The average cost to get rid of mice is $525 for an extermination service that includes consultations, traps, sealant and follow-up.

• When should you call an exterminator for mice?

If you see a mouse in your home you should call an exterminator because you may have a problem. Other common signs of mouse in your home are droppings or scratching sounds, so stay vigilant and if you suspect you may have a problem, you should call an exterminator.

• How does an exterminator get rid of mice?

​There are different methods an exterminator can use to get rid of mice. Some of the common methods used are traps and rodenticides, you should pay between $250-$300 for a mouse extermination with live mouse traps, and expect to pay $750-$1,000 for mouse extermination with rodenticide.

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¹ Drywall: Type of plasterboard, commonly used to build walls and ceilings, composed of gypsum that is layered between sheets of heavy paper

How Much Does It Cost to Get Rid of Mice

Source: https://www.fixr.com/costs/mouse-exterminator

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