How to Get Rid of Field Mice Fast Before They Ruin Your Garden, According to Pest Pros

Field mice are clever and resourceful creatures. So, getting them out of your yard (and by extension, your home) requires a multifaceted approach.

We spoke with three wildlife and pest control experts to gather a variety of humane tips for making the area around your home less attractive to mice. Here are their best suggestions.

Are Field Mice Harmful to Your Yard?

If you have field mice in your yard, the good news is that you don't need to completely eradicate them. They are unlikely to cause irreversible damage to your yard.

Your main objective should be to prevent them from entering your home, as they can carry diseases harmful to humans. Focus on making the area directly bordering your home less inviting for them.

According to naturalist David Mizejewski, "field mice" is a general term that could apply to any small, wild rodent species, typically mice and voles. These critters look very similar, but voles have shorter tails than mice.

"Both types of rodents are native wildlife that belong in the landscape and play an important ecological role as a food source for other wildlife, like owls and foxes, and as seed dispersers," he says.

While mice aren’t harmful to your landscaping plants, voles might munch on them when food is scarce in winter. Voles can also dig tunnels that damage shrub and tree root systems, but this rarely destroys the plants entirely.

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Clear Out the Food Sources (Where You Can)

If you truly want to eliminate the food sources for field mice, Mizejewski says you’d have to remove all of your yard’s vegetation and pave over everything, which he obviously does not recommend. But there are some other food sources you can focus on removing to make your lawn a less ideal habitat.

Since mice are foraging creatures always looking for food, wildlife training manager Meg Pearson suggests keeping your yard free of the following:

• Readily accessible food waste
• Bird seed
• Pet food

Harvest Your Garden Quickly

When it comes to food sources, a bountiful garden is great for field mice. But you don’t need to give up gardening to keep mice away.

Instead, pest control expert Blair Calder suggests harvesting your fruits and veggies as soon as possible. You can even pick certain produce before it’s fully ripe. For example, tomatoes will continue to ripen off the vine.

Keep Your Lawn Mowed

Field mice love a good field (it’s in their name after all). Tall, lush grass is not only a great food source for field mice but also provides coverage from predators. That’s why keeping your lawn tidy helps get rid of field mice in your yard.

"Small animals like mice thrive in overgrown, unkempt lawns," Pearson says. "So be sure to regularly mow your grass and keep your yard clear of sticks, leaves, and other sorts of brush that provide cover for foraging mice."

Clear the Clutter

Yard debris isn't the only thing mice like to hide inside. Junk piles are wonderful places for mice to escape from predators and nest.

"Yard clutter is like a magnet for field mice," Calder says. "Try taking anything you don’t need to the transfer station or dump. And for items you want to keep but don’t want indoors, secure them on shelves in your garage."

Plant Peppermint

Mice have a strong sense of smell, and they aren't fans of the scent of peppermint (the same goes for mosquitoes). You can take advantage of this by planting mint along the perimeter of your home.

Just keep in mind that mint can get pretty invasive, so you’ll need to keep it well-managed. You can always grow it in containers if you’re concerned.

Protect Landscape Beds With Fine Metal Mesh

To make landscape beds less desirable for voles to munch on or dig tunnels through, Mizejewski suggests installing fine mesh metal hardware cloth underneath and around them.

You can also wrap it around the bark of your most prized trees and shrubs to prevent gnawing.

Use an Ultrasonic Noise Generator

If you’re looking for some temporary relief from a field mouse issue, plugging in a few ultrasonic noise generators outside may help. In theory, these work by emitting a noise that humans can't hear, but is irritating to field mice. However, remember that this is only a short-term solution, if it works at all.

"Once the mice realize they are not in any real danger and get used to these repellents, they will likely return to your property to look for food," Pearson says.

Eliminate Water Sources

Field mice need water to survive, so Calder points out that leaky hoses and water features like fountains and bird baths can attract them. Consider removing these water sources and hiring a plumber to fix any dripping outdoor spigots.

Plant a Native Wildflower Garden

This tip might seem counterintuitive, but Mizejewski says a great way to keep field mice from seeking food and cover in your home or ornamental plants is to provide them and their predators with an ideal habitat. Choose a portion of your yard located furthest from your home and plant a native wildflower garden.

"Native plants will provide natural food sources for these small mammals, along with songbirds, bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and a host of other local wildlife, including their predators, which will keep the populations of mice and voles in check naturally," he says.

Set Humane Traps

If you’ve exhausted all other resources, you might need to set a few traps to curb a field mouse problem in your yard. When placing traps, choose catch-and-release models or ones that kill the mice instantly. Sticky traps cause prolonged suffering for the mice.

And if you want to do a little good for the environment without having to intervene directly, Calder recommends setting an instant kill trap that’s self-resetting, allowing ravens, owls, foxes, and raccoons to scavenge the dead mice.