It’s commonly assumed that mice love cheese. But is baiting a mousetrap with a morsel of Swiss sage advice or ineffectual? This guide explains the source of a mouse’s affinity for cheese and demonstrates why a pest control service may be needed to keep mice out of your home.

Are Mice Attracted to Cheese?

The short answer is no. Although it’s not entirely clear where this myth originated, it’s as least as old as the Middle Ages. Shakespeare and modern-day cartoons embrace the idea of mice seeking out nibbles of cheese, but cheese isn’t an effective bait. Instead, peanut butter, grains of sugar, and chocolate are more likely to lure a mouse into a trap.

How to Keep Mice Out of Your Home

Once you’ve had mice removed from your home, you should identify how they got in. Have a pest control service inspect the base of your home to seal holes or cracks that allow entry. You’ll also deter these nosy rodents by keeping your cabinets clean and crumb-free. Store grains, sugar, flour, and other pantry mainstays in airtight containers and wipe up spills immediately.

You should also take steps to limit food sources and nesting spots around the perimeter of your home that may draw mice inside. Keep firewood stacked off the ground on an elevated rack, and close trash containers tightly. If you have a pet that you feed outdoors, don’t leave their food out for mice to dine on.

If you need help getting a mouse out of your home, you can rely on the experts at Denning Pest Control. This family-owned and -operated pest control service based in Jefferson City, MO, serves residents in Columbia and Central Missouri with bedbug fumigation, ant, flea, and roach extermination, and rodent removal. Schedule pest control service by calling (573) 442-4010, or visit them online to learn more about their 60 years of experience.