6 Ways to Get Rid of Mice Without Killing Them

We woke up this morning to a cute little mouse walking around my home office.

We have suspected for a little while that there might be mice nearby, but the proof was very sparse and every month or two.

Now we know.

The problem is, we don’t really want to kill them. Especially this one, he’s just a baby. We just don’t want them in the house.

I remember reading in one of the Dalai Lama’s books that Buddhists take not killing animals seriously. That includes ants and mice. In Japan, the story goes, people keep their houses so clean that ants don’t even come inside. There’s nothing to eat. I like that.

With that in mind, I did a little research and found a few ways to keep mice out of the house naturally.

Here are six ways I found to get rid of mice without killing them:

1. Use a humane mouse trap

I used this humane trap and found that it works incredibly well. You just put peanut butter in one end and the mouse gets trapped safely inside. When you release it, take it at least a mile away from your house.

2. Remove open food sources in the house

Mice choose houses with lots of food. To avoid sharing your home with them you should stop feeding them. Store all food in plastic or glass containers with tight fitting lids. Don’t leave pet food in paper packages and don’t feed pets between mealtimes.

3. Make your house clean and tidy

Even a couple of spills left on the table after breakfast can be enough for a mouse. Don’t leave clothing in the corners; your home shouldn’t be stuffed because mice can easily find places for nesting.

4. Use peppermint oil

Peppermint smell is too strong for mice — they won’t get close to it. Consider using cotton balls with peppermint oil in areas where mice can get in the house easily. Another way is to grow peppermint outside near the entrance.

5. Close entrances with steel wool

Mice are tiny creatures and they can easily get through holes less than ½ inch wide. Make sure there are no ways for them to get in. Cover the spaces with steel wool. This plus peppermint oil works great too.

6. Use repellents

A natural repellent will keep mice outside your house in the first place, and helps with field mice too.

I was able to catch our little guy and put him outside. They advise taking them a mile away so they can’t come back, but this one was just a baby so we put him a few hundred yards away.

To hopefully keep them out for good in the future I hope you can try these tips out and see how it goes.

Common questions

Can you get rid of mice without killing them?
Yes. The combination that worked for us: catch the mouse with a humane trap, remove every open food source, and seal entry points with steel wool so new mice can’t follow. It takes a little more care than snap traps, and it works.

How do I get a mouse out of my house without killing it?
A humane catch-and-release trap with a little peanut butter inside. Check it every few hours — a trapped mouse shouldn’t wait long — and release it well away from the house.

Does peppermint oil really keep mice away?
It’s a deterrent, not a cure. The smell is overwhelming to mice, so refresh the cotton balls every week or two and use it alongside sealing entrances — peppermint alone won’t evict a mouse that’s already comfortable.

How far away should I release a mouse?
The standard advice is at least a mile, or they can find their way back. Ours was just a baby, so we compromised at a few hundred yards — and he hasn’t returned.