Said It Here

How to stop mice in the roof while waiting for traps

Mice in a roof space can leave you feeling helpless while waiting for traps and proofing to arrive in the post. People try temporary DIY experiments to deter nesting and drive them away in the meantime, while dealing with the heavy stress of a new home.

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

  1. 1
    waiting for proofing and traps to arrive in the post
  2. 2
    using makeshift experiments like playing randomized animal noises via a Raspberry Pi
  3. 3
    following established mouse control methods
  4. 4
    relying on cats to catch mice
  5. 5
    using no-kill traps
  6. 6
    cleaning and keeping food in airtight containers
  7. 7
    Using glue traps and snap traps
  8. 8
    Plugging holes temporarily with sheet metal and duct tape
  9. 9
    Awaiting permanent kits with steel wool and spray foam
  10. 10
    Consulting AI for trapping and sealing strategies

In their words

Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.

r/Pestcontrol3 people · September 2026

“I was having some trouble lately with mice getting into a roof space, I felt a bit useless waiting on the proofing and traps to arrive in the post so whilst I waited I conjured up an experiment to piss them off and hopefully stop them nesting.”source ↗

goatpod · r/Pestcontrol · 2 upvotes

“I just moved into a basement in the country (southern Ontario, Canada). The fall season is approaching and it’s becoming chilly outside, and my cats caught 2 mice early this morning, and I found a third around noon!”source ↗

“I feel like I can not properly clean this place and my contamination OCD is getting to me.”source ↗

“I’m at a loss because we just moved in 2.5 weeks ago. I feel as if I am cleaning the past tenants mess, on top of the mice.”source ↗

“I feel really upset as this is my first apartment with my boyfriend. We have dealt with cockroaches in his first place, bed bugs in the next, and now mice.”source ↗

trinitayy___ · r/Pestcontrol · 1 upvotes

“I have had a couple of rides in my house that I've been catching with traps with the help of AI the AI is beginning to confuse me.”source ↗

“It's been two nights and I haven't caught any rats but I noticed that the rat chewed through some more drywall last night.”source ↗

“These areas have all been fenced off but it's been stressful at having to deal with it wow protecting my family.”source ↗

phatboi168 · r/Pestcontrol

Where this came up

People with this problem also raised