So, youre against having mice make your house their new safe haven? Join the crowd. But what if youre accidentally inviting mice to move in? Its not unheard of. The truth is that it’s hard to avoid a mouse problem if you don’t know what draws them in.
This list has 10 things that mice love, along with easy ways to keep them out of your stuff and your house in general.
Mice adore cereal above all else. Their all-time favorite? Grains, like oats and wheat. Thats because they can hold onto them, nibbling their way through cereal pieces like corn on the cob.
The fix: Cardboard boxes, plastic bags, and chip-clip closures can still lure mice in for a cereal meal. Instead, transfer your cereals, oats, rice, popcorn, beans, and grains to airtight containers. Pickle or canning jars that have been recycled and have lids that fit tightly work well. So do stackable kitchen containers that have lids that seal. And clean out the pantry. Those little crumbs? Thats what attracts mice.
Seeing those tiny teeth marks in your pack of bacon is a telltale sign you’ve got unwelcome mouse visitors. While unpleasant, it’s not surprising mice are tempted by tasty bacon. Understanding why mice love bacon and how to deter them will help you protect your food.
Why Bacon Appeals to Mice
There are a few key reasons mice can’t resist sneaking into a package of bacon:
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High Fat Content – Bacon contains a lot of fat which mice need in their diets The fatty marbled bacon provides calories to fuel their active metabolisms,
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Salty Taste – Mice have a natural craving for salty foods. The salty cured taste of bacon is very enticing to their taste buds.
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Strong Smell – Mice have an excellent sense of smell and can detect bacon’s smoky, meaty aroma from far away. It draws them in.
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Easy to Grip – Bacon’s long, thin shape with ridges allows mice to easily hold and munch while eating. Other foods are harder for them to grip.
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Soft Texture – Mice have sensitive teeth, so bacon’s soft, chewy texture makes it easy and enjoyable to nibble on.
Overall, bacon offers the fat, salt, smell, grip, and texture that makes an ideal mouse food source. Understanding these attractions is the first step to keeping your bacon protected.
Other Foods Mice Love to Eat
In addition to bacon, mice flock to other high-fat, high-protein foods including:
- Butter and lard
- Nuts, grains, and seeds
- Pet food
- Grease and oil
- Peanut butter
- Cheese and cream cheese
- Cake, cookies, chocolate
- Cereal and grains
- Pasta, rice, oats
Mice need to eat frequently to live, so stocking up on these calorie-dense foods will tempt them. Be diligent about proper storage.
Storing Bacon and Other Foods to Deter Mice
To make your kitchen less appealing to mice, store bacon and other vulnerable foods properly:
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Keep bacon sealed tightly in fridge or freezer.
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Transfer opened bacon to airtight container or plastic bag.
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Store bulk foods like pet food, bird seed, cereal in metal bins.
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Keep counters and floors clean of spills or crumbs.
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Take out the trash frequently.
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Fix any leaky pipes or faucets mice could drink from.
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Keep pet food bowls emptied overnight.
By denying easy access to food, you remove what draws mice into your kitchen in the first place.
Signs You Have Mice
Be on the lookout for these common signs of a mouse problem:
- Strange odors, especially urine smells
- Small black droppings around food packages
- Chewing damage on boxes or plastic bags
- Greasy rub marks along walls from their fur
- High-pitched squeaking noises, especially at night
- Seeing mice scurrying across floors
Act quickly once you notice indications mice have moved in to prevent greater damage.
Deterring Mice Safely
Getting rid of tempting food sources is the first step, but additional tactics will help evict mice humanely:
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Seal up entry points like cracks and holes with caulk, steel wool, etc.
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Trim back bushes or trees touching the home’s exterior.
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Set humane traps baited with peanut butter, nuts, or gumdrops.
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Use peppermint oil or spearmint as a repellent – mice hate the smell.
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Adopt a cat – they are excellent mouse hunters.
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Deep clean countertops, floors, and appliances to eliminate smells.
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Take away clutter like piles of paper they could nest in.
With persistence, you can reclaim your space and protect your bacon! A multifaceted approach works best for safely driving out mice.
Protecting Bacon Outside the Home
Mice can be a problem outside too if you have outdoor cooking areas. To keep them from scavenging bacon or other foods at picnics, campsites, or barbeques:
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Store coolers and food containers elevated off the ground. Mice can’t easily climb up.
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Use lidded coolers and metal or hard plastic containers. Avoid flimsy cardboard.
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Clean up thoroughly after eating. Don’t leave crumbs or spills.
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Place trash in sealed bags and toss immediately in rodent-proof bins.
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Set up any outdoor eating areas away from dense vegetation mice could hide in.
Health Risks of Mice Contamination
While finding mouse nibble marks on your bacon is disturbing and ruining your appetite, it also poses health risks:
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Mice spread over 35 diseases through urine, droppings, bites, or directly contaminating food. Diseases include salmonella, E. coli, and Lyme disease.
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Mouse droppings can trigger allergies and asthma symptoms in some individuals. Breathing in mouse urine particles is also concerning.
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Mice parasites like ticks, fleas, and mites can transfer to humans by direct contact or entering the home on mice. These can cause other illnesses.
So while stealing bacon may seem harmless, mice can potentially transmit many dangerous diseases. It’s crucial to limit all mouse exposure.
The Takeaway on Mice and Bacon
As delicious and irresistible as bacon is to humans, mice find it equally hard to pass up. Its fatty, salty, meaty perfection is like a siren call to mice. By understanding what attracts them and implementing proactive deterrents, you can outsmart mice and protect your home and food. With an arsenal of traps, repellents, and good storage habits, you can enjoy your bacon without sharing it!
#3 Paper, Cloth, & Burlap
These things in your home can be books, linens, clothes, family heirlooms, or decorations. Mice can tear them up to use as nesting materials.
The fix: Lidded plastic tubs and tote boxes to the rescue again. But you can also deter mice with odors they abhor, such as peppermint. Do not put oil-soaked cotton balls or Tomcat® Repellents Rodent Repellent Continuous Spray on or near the things that are being stored; instead, use them around the entrances to those areas.
#8 Gaps, Cracks, & Crevices
Mice will come into your warm home through a tiny hole no bigger than a dime. This is like putting up a neon “vacancy” sign for mice that are looking for a place to live.
Change the brightness or darkness of each room and look for places where light can pass through, from high up or down. Pay special attention to doors and windows, as well as pipes, vents, and incoming cables or lines. Repair bigger holes with sheet metal and plug up little ones with metal wire meshing. Use caulk and expandable foam to fill in gaps. Make sure the doors and windows fit tightly, and put in door sweeps to keep their flexible little bodies from getting stuck. Check closures on appliance vents, and repair or replace them if they dont seal tight.
Once youve closed off entry points, you may find a mouse infestation you didnt know about. You can now take the next step, which is to get rid of the mice in the house, which is good news. A bait station like the Tomcat® Mouse Killer Child is a safe way to kill up to 12 mice without hurting your pets or making the floor slippery.
The three best ways to bait a mousetrap to get them almost every time ( no licked clean traps)
Can mice eat bacon?
Feeding your furry little friend bacon, sausages, salami, among other processed meat, is a big no-no. This is because they contain spices and seasonings that are very toxic to your pet. It’s not healthy to feed your mice meat all the time. Your pet also needs a balanced diet. Here are other foods that mice should eat. 1. Vegetables
Can one eat bacon with diverticulosis?
You can eat bacon with diverticulosis, but it is not the most recommended. In a person with diverticulosis, it is recommended to consume foods with soluble fiber such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
Do mice eat other mice?
Well, it’s not really in their nature. They won’t usually eat other mice and mainly prefer plant-based foods like seeds, grains, and fruit. However, as a last resort in desperate times, a mouse may eat another mouse. This could happen in any of the following circumstances:
What food do mice eat?
One very common mistake when trying to catch mice is to use the wrong bait. They come to your property in search of food and they will generally take what they can find. They do prefer some foods to others and peanut butter, chocolate and bacon are just come of their favorites. 3 What food do mice find irresistible? 3.1 1. Honey, syrup, jam 3.2 2.
What food attracts mice?
It is important to keep pet food and bird seed stored in airtight containers and to clean up any spills or messes promptly. Seeds and grains are also popular food items that attract mice. They are attracted to sunflower seeds, corn, cereal, oats, and berries. Fruit jam is another food item that mice are attracted to.
Do mice eat berries?
And DEFINITELY don’t leave it out overnight. Another one of the most attractive foods to mice are fruit and berries. Just think, in the wild one of the most readily available sources of food to mice would be wild berries like blackberries and raspberries. However, any type of fruit is going to attract mice into your home.