Open spaces around the home means less mice in the home

It is true that open spaces around your home should deter mice as they have a fear of open spaces. They don't want to cross them to get to your home where they may have access to warmth and food. 

In effect this means reducing the vegetation around the home. My girlfriend had a mice problem because they had access to the space behind the shiplap panelling attached to the wall. From there they found a way inside her ground floor apartment. 

The problem with open space around the home is that if a mouse does venture into the space it is more likely to be attacked by a cat if the home owner lives with a cat companion.

So it is true that you are less likely to have mice coming into your home alive with an open space barrier, you might also have more mice coming into the home half dead in the mouth of your cat! 😉

The other obvious deterrent for mice is to keep the home free of food scraps. That means keeping the kitchen clean and vacuumed and the home generally uncluttered and so on,

The rodent expert who proffered the advice about open spaces is Laurence Barnard, Professional & Speciality Solutions Manager, for BASF.

"Cutting back vegetation and bushes around the building will help....because rats have a fear of open spaces, so by trimming back shrubbery they will be less inclined to cross an open space to gain entry. It also means natural predators, like cats, will be able to spot them more easily!"

Also watch out for structural defects in the walls of your flat or house. I mean small holes such as between pipes and brickwork through which the amazingly pliable mouse can wriggle.

----------

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.