Common Rodents in Sheds

While mice and rats are more known for their ability to come indoors, they may come into sheds. And, now, with these pests in these areas they will cause damage to mowers or tractors, stored belongings, tools, and spread diseases. 

Other factors like their consistent gnawing could result in major destruction to walls, stored items, insulation, and electrical wiring. Because of rat and mice activity there is a risk of an electrical fire and machinery malfunction during operation. 

Common rodents to watch out for in sheds are deer mice, Norway rats, and pack rats. To avoid substantial loss of your valuable things or possible feed stored in these sites, follow this article to help you protect your shed from rodents. 

If you are not seeing a pest listed here, then contact our customer service team by phone, email, or in-person at one of our store locations for professional recommendations. 

Identification

For a visual representation take a look at the image above: On the left is the deer mice and on the right is the Norway Rat. 

Deer Mice are brown colored mice with white underbellies that measure 2-3 inches in body length. Their hairless tails add another 2-3 inches in length and are two-toned in color. It also has a pointed nose, large rounded ears, and large eyes. 

Norway rats have shaggy brown or gray-colored fur with gray to grayish brown underbellies. They measure 16 inches in body length while their hairless tails may measure more than 8 inches. They also have blunt noses, beady eyes, and small ears. 

Inspection

Rats and mice can create nests in walls, corners, boxes, around cables, wires, in idle machinery like lawn mowers or tractors, and plumbing penetrations. 

Mice can be found on ceiling rafters whereas Norway rats will be on floor level surfaces.

Treatment 

Step 1: Seal Entry Points

Rats can travel through any entry points as small as a quarter whereas mice can travel through holes as small as a dime. 

Seal any openings that allow them access in and around your shed. 

Effectively fill holes, cracks, and voids with caulk and larger voids with copper mesh.

Weather-stripping around doors and windows will also need to be replaced.

Step 2: Clean

One of the reasons rats and mice enter your shed is because of the smell of food and available clutter for nesting. 

Sacks of animal feed, pet food, or other food sources kept in sheds should be placed in a sealable plastic container. Larger food bags like corn will need to be placed in garbage cans with tight-fitted lids. 

If the area surrounding the shed is unkept and has overgrown vegetation is especially appealing to rodents. 

Mow when turf reaches its appropriate height and prune overgrown branches near your sheds foundation. Consider relocating trash cans and vegetation away from your shed to decrease rodent activity. 

Step 3: Set Snap Traps

Live snap traps will help aid in mice and rice control in sheds. These lethal traps will have to be kept in areas inaccessible to people and pets if the shed has no door. 

The Solutions Easy Set Rat Trap and Solutions Easy Set Mouse Trap are both ready to use plastic snap traps. These products have a special release mechanism that prevents homeowners from having to touch the rodent. It also reduces the chances of snapping a finger. 

Place a bait like peanut butter onto the Solutions Easy Set Snap Trap. To use, simply pull the upright bar back slowly until it is locked in place.

Place several snap traps along the wall, under work benches and shelves, and in the corners of sheds. 

Check the trap periodically and properly dispose of deceased rodents. 

Step 4: Use Rodent Baits

The best way to handle a rat and mice problem in your shed is to also use rodenticide baits outside the entire perimeter. 

Eratication Rodent Bait is a synthetic rodenticide made with real peanut butter, seeds, and the chemical diphacinone to control rats and mice within 2 to 4 days. 

This product will need to be used with a tamper-proof bait station like the Solutions Rat and Mouse Bait Station. 

Place 4 of the Eratication Rodent Bait Blocks on the metal rods inside the Solutions Rat and Mouse Bait Station. Close the lid when bait is secured. 

Set each loaded bait station against the exterior wall of your shed with the opening pointed toward the wall. There should be a distance of 20 to 40 feet between each Solutions Rat and Mouse Bait Station used.

Check the bait stations once each day and replace bait. You will also need to properly dispose of deceased pests in bait stations. 

Key Takeaways

Do Rats and Mice Enter Sheds

• Most often rodents such as deer mice and Norway rats enter sheds. 

When Should I Use Rodent Baits Outside of Sheds

• The best time to use rodent baits is when the weather begins to cool down since this is when most rats and mice come indoors. 

How to Get Rid of Rodents in Sheds

• First thing you will need to do is declutter inside and clean the outside of your shed with proper yard maintenance. Set several snap traps inside of the shed and use a rodent bait outside along the exterior perimeter of the shed.