How Do Mice Get In An Upstairs Apartments? (Find Out Now!)

The only thing worse than coming across a bug in your apartment is finding a mouse. When mice get into your apartment they bring with them harmful diseases and can, and will, chew through boxes to consume your food. Of course, the ideal outcome is to keep them out of your apartment in the first place, but one has already gotten in, you may be wondering: “How do mice get in upstairs apartments?”

Depending on the species, mice are excellent jumpers. They can also climb up two or three stories via the sheetrock, insulation, and wood beams in the walls of your apartment. So, even if you live in an upstairs apartment, you can still be susceptible to mouse infestations.

Continue reading for a deeper look at how mice get into apartments, how to identify a mouse problem, and what steps you can take to get rid of mice in your apartment.

Mouse droppings are one of the most obvious signs of a mouse problem in your apartment. Generally speaking, their feces are small, dark in color, and have a granular shape. They are roughly the size of a small paper clip and look like small pellets. Finding mouse droppings is a good indication that the mice has found a food source.

Use a flashlight to find droppings easier and look in all the possible places where the mice are hiding and nesting. Mouse droppings can have dangerous pathogens, so collecting and disposing of them safely is very important. Never touch droppings without wearing gloves and a mask. Also, do not sweep or vacuum them up. Pick up the droppings, place them in a sealed bag, and disinfect the area.

Mouse urine has a very strong odor, making it one of the tell-tale signs that you have a mouse problem in your apartment. The odor is slightly musky and will be strongest in the areas where they congregate most, such as their nesting site. In most cases, animals will be the first to detect the scent of mouse urine.

If your cat or dog starts to show interest in areas where they didn’t care about previously, it may a sign that you have mice in your apartment. For larger mouse infestations, the strong, ammonia-like smell will be more apparent.

Although getting a mouse out of your apartment is great, they’ll keep coming back if you don’t figure out how they got in in the first place. Inspect all the common ways that mice can gain entry into homes, including cracks in door frames and window sills, piping in your bathrooms and kitchens, or even a doggy door.

Even if you live on the higher floor of an apartment building, you’re not immune to these intruders. Mice can make their way in via gaps in siding, plumbing, and the AC/ heating system. In fact, mice can squeeze themselves into the tiniest of spaces, as small as ¼ of an inch. This is roughly the size of a pencil eraser. Only their skull has to fit through the hole, and the rest of their body can easily fit through.

Once you figure out how the mouse got in, call maintenance so they can make the needed repairs or take matter into your own hands by:

Your landlord or property manager will mostly likely take care of this, but if not, there are steps you can take to get rid of mice. Position traps and baits in areas of your apartment where mice like to hide, including inside cabinets, underneath furniture, and pretty much anywhere else that is dark and sheltered. Since the kitchen is the biggest food supply for mice, it should be the most covered in baits and traps. For best results, place more traps and baits inside your pantry, under the fridge, and near your stove.

Trapping involves luring a mouse using a treat positioned on a designated trap. When the mechanism is activated, the trap prevents the mouse from escaping. There are numerous types of traps to choose from depending on your preferences, including snap traps, glue traps, and humane cage traps. The trap you choose will likely depend on how comfortable you are with handling the mouse after it is caught.

A snap trap is probably one of the most well-known traps. It is used with bait (cheese or peanut butter) and snaps closed, killing the mouse, when the bait is removed. Glue traps have a sticky substance that prevents the mouse from getting away. Though, if either are too inhumane for you, cage (or box) traps have a one-way door that shuts, trapping the mouse inside, when activated. This option does not harm them and allows you to release the mouse a great distance from your apartment.

Mice baiting refers to luring the rodents using food that is desirable to them, but does not involve trapping. Renters commonly use bait stations that have mouse poison and a clear entrance big enough for a mouse but not big enough for children or pets. When the bait is ingested, the mouse will take the poison back to the nest and die.

While baiting can be an effective option for getting rid of mice, you still have to dispose of the remains. Whether you’re squeamish or simply want to eliminate your mouse problem in a more humane way, you may want to opt for a different method.

Even if you live in an upstairs apartment, you are not immune to a mouse infestation. Mice can enter upper-level apartments via the wood beams, insulation, or sheetrock in the walls. They can even climb the outside walls and enter through poorly-sealed doors and windows, gaps in your siding, your heating/ AC system, and the plumbing.

The first step is to identify you have a mouse problem, the contact your landlord, find out how they’re getting in, and take all the necessary preventative measures.