How to Get Rid of a Mouse in a Wall

Mice seek out the darkest spots, such as inside air ducts and wall cavities to set up residence. And where there’s one mouse, there are likely more.

miceIrinaK/Shutterstock

Do you hear scratching in walls at night?

Mice love to seek out warm, cozy spots where there’s plenty of food—like inside your home. Mice seek out the darkest spots, such as inside air ducts and wall cavities to set up residence. And where there’s one mouse, there are likely more.

Here’s why having a mouse problem is worse than you thought.

Here’s how to get rid of a mouse in a wall

First, try positioning some snap traps along the bottom edges of the walls where you’ve heard mice. Place the traps with the food-baited ends facing the wall, near any small holes which may be the mouse’s entryway. Be sure not to use poison as the effects aren’t immediate and then you can end up with a dead mouse in your walls.

These are the best ways to trap mice.

If you can tell that there is more than one mouse

Victor, a leader in rodent control, notes sometimes mice can get in your home and get trapped inside wall cavities. If this happens, follow the company’s tips.

  1. Drill a nickel-sized hole in your wall, just a few inches above the floor. Mice can squeeze in holes the size of a coin.
  2. Put another hole on the side of a cardboard box, put a baited mouse trap in the box and cover the top of the box with transparent plastic wrap. Secure the box against the wall.
  3. Check the box regularly to see if mice have taken the bait.
  4. Repeat the process until there is no evidence of mice in your walls.

Stop mice before they get into your home.

To prevent mice from getting in your walls, seal off any small holes that mice would be able to squeeze into. Check for holes in vents, ducts, window frames and on the roof.

Keep mice away for good with this surprising hack.

These are the 11 things mice don’t want you to know.

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Rachel Brougham
Rachel Brougham lived through a major home renovation in 2019, knows the ups and downs of home improvement, and loves sharing tips with readers. A veteran journalist of both print and television, she’s won several awards for her writing and has covered everything from the environment and education to health care, politics and food. She’s written for several publications beyond newspapers including Bob Vila, Taste of Home and Minnesota Parent, and she currently writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column. Her memoir, Widowland, about the sudden loss of her husband, was published in 2022. She specializes in everything from home decor and design to lawn and garden, product reviews and pet care. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her tending to her garden (both vegetables and native plants), playing with her dog, watching sports with her family or getting some exercise. A native of Michigan, she currently lives in Minneapolis. An avid user of Instagram, you can follow her @RachBrougham.