Blog · Updated 2026-10-23

How to Get Rid of Mice in Walls

It starts with a faint scratch at night, usually right when the house gets quiet. In the Permian Basin, that sound picks up with the first cold front of fall.

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Quick answer

To clear mice from your walls, first find where they get in, then trap them where they travel and seal every gap once they are gone. Skip poison inside the house, since a mouse that dies in a wall leaves a bad smell. A mouse can fit through a hole the size of a dime, so sealing is the step that makes it last.

Is It Really Mice?

Before you start, make sure you know what is in there. Common signs of mice include:

Scratching or scurrying at night. Mice are most active after dark. Texas A&M AgriLife notes rodent activity picks up at night, which is the best time to listen.
Droppings. Small, dark and pointed, found in drawers, under sinks and along walls. See our house mouse guide for what they look like.
Gnaw marks. Small chew marks on food boxes, baseboards and wires.
Nests. Balls of shredded paper, fabric or insulation in hidden spots.
A musty smell. AgriLife says you can often smell rodents, especially in rooms with poor airflow.

Louder thumping or heavier running in the attic may point to rats instead. Squirrels and birds make noise mostly in the daytime. Mice in walls are a night sound.

Why Mice Move Into Walls

Walls are perfect for mice. They are warm, dark and close to food, and they connect the attic, kitchen and garage like hallways. AgriLife notes mice need very little to live, about 1/10 ounce of food a day, and they don't need to drink water daily.

In West Texas, mice live in fields, brush and empty lots during warm months. When nights cool off in fall, they look for shelter. Homes near open land, like those in Gardendale and West Odessa, often see them first.

Step by Step: How to Get Rid of Mice in Walls

Find the way in
Walk the outside of your home. Look for gaps around pipes, AC lines, cables and dryer vents. Check garage door corners, the bottom of doors and the roof line. AgriLife says a mouse needs only a dime size hole or a ¼ inch crack.
Trap where they travel
Mice run along walls rather than across open floors. Set snap traps with the trigger end against the wall, near droppings and in places like under sinks, behind appliances and in the attic. Use plenty of traps, not just one or two. A small dab of peanut butter works well as bait.
Avoid poison inside the house
Rodent bait can take days to work, so a mouse may eat it and die inside a wall. That leaves a smell that can linger, in a spot that is hard to reach. Inside the house, traps are the cleaner choice. Any bait should go in locked stations outdoors, away from kids and pets.
Seal the gaps
Once the activity stops, close every entry point. Pack holes with steel wool and seal over it, use ¼ inch hardware cloth on vents and replace worn door sweeps. This step keeps new mice from moving in next fall.
Clean up safely
Wear gloves. Spray droppings and nests with a disinfectant and let them soak before wiping up with paper towels. Don't sweep or vacuum dry droppings, which stirs up dust. AgriLife also advises care when removing nests.

What Not to Do

Don't seal the holes before the mice are out. Trapping them inside the wall makes the smell problem worse.
Don't leave pet food out. A bowl of kibble on the floor can feed a whole family of mice.
Don't ignore it. Mice chew wiring, and AgriLife ties chewed wires to house fires.

When to Call for Help

A few mice can often be handled with traps and sealing. Call a technician when:

You keep catching mice for more than a couple of weeks.
You can't find how they get in.
You hear noise in several rooms or the attic.
You smell something dead in a wall.
You see larger droppings or bigger gnaw holes that could mean rats.

Your technician will find the entry points, trap inside and seal the home. See rodent control for how that works. Many people pair it with routine general pest control through the fall and winter.

Mice in the Walls Questions

How do I know if the noise in my walls is mice?

Mice make light scratching and scurrying sounds, mostly at night. Look for droppings in drawers, under sinks or along walls, and for gnaw marks on food boxes. Heavier thumping may point to rats, and daytime noise often means squirrels or birds in the attic instead.

Will mice in the walls leave on their own?

Rarely. A wall gives them warmth, shelter and a path to your kitchen. If food is nearby, they will stay and breed. AgriLife lists litters of five to six young and many litters a year, so the problem grows over time unless you trap and seal.

What do I do about a dead mouse smell in the wall?

If you can find the spot, a technician or handyman can open a small access hole to remove it. If not, the smell fades as the body dries out, though that takes time. Using traps instead of poison inside the home is the best way to prevent this.

Can I seal the holes myself?

Yes. Steel wool packed into gaps and covered with sealant works well for small holes. Use ¼ inch hardware cloth for vents. Wait until you stop catching mice before you seal, so none are trapped inside. Check the garage door seal and door sweeps too.

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Get Help With Mice in the Walls

Still hearing scratching at night? Request a free inspection. Your technician will find how they get in and help you seal the house.

Odessa Pest Control connects you with a local pest control technician. Ask for their Texas license number before work starts.