How to Get Rid of Mice in Your House, Garage or Cottage

Mice move indoors across Canada every fall as temperatures drop. Here's how to get rid of them and keep them out.

1. Look for the signs

Small droppings (about 3–6 mm), shredded paper or insulation, gnawed food packaging, and scratching in walls at night.

2. Seal entry points

A mouse can fit through a gap the size of a dime. Seal around pipes, vents, garage doors and foundations with steel wool, caulk and metal mesh.

3. Choose your method

• Snap traps – the classic option; place them every few metres along walls. See mouse snap traps.
• Multi-catch and live traps – capture several mice without poison. See live mouse traps.
• Bait stations – for ongoing problems, use a tamper-resistant mouse bait station. See mouse poison in Canada.

4. Protect cars, RVs and cottages

Seasonal buildings and stored vehicles are prime nesting spots. Peppermint and cinnamon repellent pouches help discourage mice, combined with traps.

5. Keep checking

Check traps daily, wear gloves to clean up droppings (wet them with disinfectant first, don't sweep or vacuum dry droppings), and keep up prevention all winter.

In Canada, every rodenticide is registered by Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), and its label is the law. Products for domestic (homeowner) use must come ready to use in tamper-resistant bait stations, while the strongest single-feed anticoagulants (brodifacoum, bromadiolone and difethialone) are labelled for commercial or agricultural use only. Some provinces, including British Columbia and Quebec, add their own rules. See our Canadian label and regulation guide and provincial regulations.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to get rid of mice in a house?

Seal entry points, remove food sources and set several traps along walls where you see activity. Use bait stations for ongoing problems, following the label.

What smells keep mice away?

Peppermint and cinnamon scents are commonly used in repellent pouches. Repellents work best as prevention, not to remove an existing infestation.

How many traps do I need for mice?

Use more than you think: several traps every few metres along walls in each area with activity gives faster results.