How to Dispose of a Dead Mouse?

Mice are a common threat to many homeowners. It’s very easy for them to find a way into our homes through tiny holes and openings because of their small size.

What’s worse is that they can move across thin wires, climb up ladders, and, in some cases, even come up through the toilet drains.

Thus, controlling these rodents from entering your house can present a huge challenge especially if you’re living in a mice-infested neighborhood.

If you have a mice infestation in your house and you’re using mouse traps to get rid of them, then you should be prepared to find dead mice all over your place.

Each time you find one, you will need to dispose of the dead mouse properly otherwise the odor will continue to build up and the microbes will lead to infections spreading in the house.

If you’re looking for the correct way to dispose of dead mice, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn all the steps.

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Disposing of a Dead Mouse

Rodents are known carriers of over 35 diseases. This is why you should never come in direct contact with them so that you stay away from any harmful pathogens.

If you have to dispose of a dead mouse, you will first need to get yourself some rubber or latex gloves. If you can’t find any gloves, you can cover your hands using plastic bags.

Next, you will need a disinfectant spray. You can also prepare it on your own using 1 part bleach and 4 parts water and mixing them thoroughly to form a bleach solution. Once prepared, fill it in a spray bottle.

Spray the dead mouse and the surrounding area with the disinfectant. Now, in one quick motion transfer the dead mouse into a plastic bag.

Also pick up any mouse-soiled objects such as food, feces, nesting material, etc., and put them in the same bag.

Now, you should seal the bag, making sure not to push out any extra air from the bag as that can lead to the spread of bacteria and viruses that the mouse may be carrying.

Put the sealed bag into another plastic bag and again seal it before you throw it off into the trash bin outside your house. Double sealing the dead mouse will prevent any foul smells and bacteria from escaping.

When you’re done throwing off the bag in the garbage, it’s time to wash your hands thoroughly. First, wash your gloved hands using warm water and antibacterial soap.

Then, you can remove the gloves and throw them into the trash and wash your hands again with warm water and antibacterial soap.

If any of the surfaces or objects around your house have been contaminated in the process, make sure to wipe them clean using the disinfectant spray and a clean cloth. Discard the cloth once you are through.

Removing a Dead Mouse Caught in a Glue Trap

Glue or adhesive mouse traps or boards are some of the many objects that you can use to get rid of rodents around your house.

They are both used as a standalone solution or as part of a complete system to control the mice. They can be placed in a variety of locations that mice frequent such as the kitchen and hallways.

If you have trapped a mouse or a rat in a glue trap and it has died, you should follow the following directions for its proper disposal.

Put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves so that you don’t come in contact with any germs or disease-causing pathogens.
Use a commercial disinfectant or bleach solution to spray over the dead rodent, the glue trap, and the immediate area around it.
Put the glue trap along with the dead rodent in a medium-sized plastic bag. Also transfer any rodent-soiled objects like feces, food, or nesting material into the same bag.
Seal the bag properly. Do not push out extra air from the bag for the same reason that we have discussed above.
Put the sealed bag in another plastic bag and then seal it too.
Throw away the bag into the trash can outside your house.
Wash your gloved hands with water and antibacterial soap or spray some disinfectant on them. Then you can remove the gloves and throw them away in the trash.
Finally, wash your hands properly and wipe off any surfaces that may have been contaminated, using a disinfectant.

Removing a Live Mouse from a Glue Trap

Sometimes, the mouse caught in a glue trap may still be alive.

Here’s how you can release it safely and in a more humane way.

Put on a pair of rubber or latex gloves.
Carefully transfer the glue trap with the caught mouse in a box or bucket and cover it. Make sure it’s not airtight. You can also make small holes in it to allow proper airflow into the box.
Transport the box or bucket to at least 2 to 3 miles away from your house to a park or a patch of woods. You should choose an uninhabited area away from your house so that the mouse doesn’t find a way back. Avoid going to places near residential areas, businesses, or farms. Choose a place with lots of vegetation and cover.
Put the box or bucket over there and take out the trap. Now put a barrier between you and the glue trap such as a log of wood or a few large stones. This will make sure that the mouse doesn’t come running towards you upon getting released.
Pour some oil around the legs of the mouse and on the glue tray. This will cause the breakdown of the glue so that it can no longer hold the mouse. Once all the glue is removed, the mouse will be able to escape into the wild.
Transfer the glue trap into a plastic bag, properly seal it and throw it in the garbage.
Finally, wash off your gloved hands and then remove the gloves to wash your bare hands thoroughly.

The same procedure can also be used to release live mice from other humane mouse traps that are reusable.

Once the mouse has been released from these kinds of traps, you should clean the trap of any mouse droppings, nesting material, food, or other debris.

Disinfect the trap by spraying a bleach solution over it, reset it, and place it in a spot where there’s a high chance that the mouse will get trapped.

In case you cannot find the right location to release the mouse or you just don’t want to do it, you can always take the trapped mouse or rat to a nearby local animal shelter or a veterinarian.

They have ways to humanely euthanize these rodents.

Simple Tips to Prevent Mice and Rats in Your House

Mice and rats hiding on your property can spread disease-carrying droppings and also cause costly damage to your house if there are no steps taken to control this problem.

The good thing is that there are some ways homeowners can be a little proactive about this issue and prevent rodent infestation in their homes in the first place. Here’s what you can do.

Install good quality door screens, especially on all exterior doors, and repair any damaged screen vents and openings to chimneys, doors, and windows.
Properly seal any holes or cracks around your house, especially in areas where pipes and other utilities enter the home. Use either caulk, steel, or steel wool as the sealing material. You may also use a combination of two substances for superior sealing.
Any food sources kept outside your home such as bird feed, pet food, trash, and compost are great at attracting rodents into your house. Therefore, you should place them in rodent-proof containers.
Dispose of garbage on a regular basis.
Fix any loose mortar and weather stripping around the windows and basement foundation of your house.
Always keep your attics, crawl spaces, and basement clean, dry, and well-ventilated.
Get rid of any moisture building sites such as clogged drains, leaking pipes, and faulty faucets as they provide ideal breeding sites for pests and rodents.
Carefully check any boxes, packages, or grocery bags before taking them inside your house.
Keep any woodpiles such as firewood and other debris at least 15 to 20 feet away from your house. These provide perfect locations for mice and rats to seek shelter. Also, keep shrubbery and bushes trimmed and cut back from your house.
Take a close and careful look at the exterior of your home on a regular basis. This is because mice and rats are fantastic climbers.

A mice infestation in your house can be a lot of trouble. However, there are many different ways you can effectively control this problem.

And while you are it, you will also need to remove dead or live mice once they are caught. We hope that this article will help you properly and safely dispose of dead mice around.

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