How to Get Rid of an Animal Living in My Walls
A rodent in the walls can be just as dangerous as it is annoying. Mice, rats and squirrels have the uncanny ability to find tiny openings and enter your home and then chew their way through walls, electrical cords or anything else that might be in their path.
A damaged electrical cord on the interior of a wall is estimated to be the cause of up to 25 percent of all household fires in which the home is entirely lost. So that scratching sound on the inside of the wall isn't something to ignore; it should be taken care of immediately.
Things You Will Need
- Moth balls
- Steel wool
- Snap-style wooden mouse traps
- Small bits of food or peanut butter
- Live rodent traps
Tip
Opossum are some of the toughest rodents to remove from interior walls. They prefer the tight confines and often spend their time scurrying around in them instead of coming out into the attic or basement like other rodents do. An infestation of opossum often needs the help of professional exterminators. There are several ultrasonic rodent deterrents on the market, but the Federal Trade Commission has cautioned consumers to use them at their own risk as they have not been scientifically tested or claims of their effectiveness verified.
Warning
Rodents and their fleas carry several communicable diseases. Never attempt to handle a live rodent without wearing protective gloves. Thick leather work gloves are the best because the rodent won't be able to bite through them.
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Walk the exterior of the home and identify any potential entrances where rodents can get into your home. Place moth balls inside any openings you find and then plug the holes with steel wool. The steel wool will cut the mouths of any rodents that try to chew through it. Moth balls are poisonous to animals and will drive them away. Only do this if your problem is with mice or rats.
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Set up snap-type mouse and rat traps if you have rodents of this type. These traps should be set up in the attic or basement of the house and be baited with small bits of food. The rodents will come out at night to feed and the closer to their holes the food is, the more likely they are to be caught.
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Set up live traps at the entrances that are used by larger rodents, like opossum and squirrels. Bait these traps with peanut butter.
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Check the live cages every morning and afternoon. If you do catch a squirrel or opossum, call animal control. They will come out and remove and release the rodent into the wild.
The Drip Cap
- A rodent in the walls can be just as dangerous as it is annoying.
- The rodents will come out at night to feed and the closer to their holes the food is, the more likely they are to be caught.
- Set up live traps at the entrances that are used by larger rodents, like opossum and squirrels.
- Bait these traps with peanut butter.
References
Photo Credits
- Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
- Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
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