Mice are more than an unpleasant surprise. They can contaminate food, damage stored goods and insulation, gnaw building materials and electrical wiring, and contaminate occupied areas with urine and droppings.

In Edmonton and throughout Alberta, effective mouse control requires more than simply placing traps or bait. The long-term objective is to determine how rodents are entering the building and what is allowing them to remain there.

House Mice

The house mouse is the rodent most commonly associated with occupied buildings. It is small, adaptable and capable of living very close to people.

House mice can enter through remarkably small openings, which is why gaps around doors, utility penetrations, foundations and other building-envelope openings deserve careful inspection.

Other mouse species can also occasionally enter structures, particularly buildings near natural or undeveloped areas.

What About Rats in Alberta?

Alberta is different from most jurisdictions in North America.

The province maintains a long-standing rat-control program and has no established resident population of Norway or roof rats. Occasional rats can arrive in Alberta through vehicles, freight or other means, but confirmed occurrences are investigated and eradicated.

If you believe you have seen a rat in Alberta, safely take a photograph if possible, note the location and report the sighting to Alberta’s Rat Control Program or the appropriate local authority.

Signs of a Mouse Problem

Common signs include:

• Small dark droppings
• Gnaw marks on food packaging, wood or other materials
• Scratching or scurrying sounds, particularly at night
• Shredded paper, fabric or insulation used for nesting
• Food packages that have been damaged
• Tracks or other signs of travel in dusty areas
• Repeated sightings around kitchens, storage areas, mechanical rooms or utility spaces

Why Traps Alone May Not Solve the Problem

Catching individual mice can reduce activity, but it does not necessarily address the reason they entered the building.

A continuing infestation can be supported by:

• Unsealed exterior openings
• Damaged door sweeps
• Gaps around utility penetrations
• Accessible food or pet food
• Waste-management problems
• Clutter and harbourage
• Activity spreading from another part of a multi-unit building

Without correcting these contributing conditions, new mice may continue entering even after existing mice have been removed.

How NorthPoint Controls Mice

NorthPoint follows an Integrated Pest Management approach:

1. Inspection– Identify rodent activity, travel routes, potential nesting areas, food sources and possible entry points.
2. Identification– Determine the rodent involved whenever possible before selecting the control strategy.
3. Exclusion– Seal appropriate entry points using materials suited to rodent exclusion while avoiding interference with required ventilation, drainage or building systems.
4. Food and harbourage reduction – Identify conditions that support continued 
5. Trapping and/or rodenticide treatment – Select an appropriate control method based on the site and infestation.
6. Monitoring and follow-up – Reinspect activity and determine whether the control program is working.
7. Evaluation– Modify the program when evidence shows that additional entry points or harbourage remain.

Where rodenticides are appropriate, they are used according to the registered product label and applicable Alberta requirements. Tamper-resistant bait stations may be used where required to reduce access by children, pets and other non-target animals.

Prevention Tips

• Inspect and seal appropriate gaps around utility penetrations and the building 
• Maintain effective exterior door 
• Store human and pet food in secure 

• Keep waste containers 
• Clean spilled food 
• Reduce clutter in storage and mechanical 
• Keep vegetation, stored materials and firewood away from the building where 
• Repair damaged exterior finishes that may provide 

Cleaning Rodent Droppings Safely

Avoid sweeping or vacuuming dry rodent droppings, nesting material or contaminated dust. Disturbing dry material can place contaminated particles into the air.

Where significant rodent contamination is present, appropriate wet-cleaning, disinfection and personal protective procedures should be followed.

Finding the entry point is often as important as catching the mouse. NorthPoint combines control with exclusion and monitoring to reduce the likelihood of the problem returning.