Steel Wool or Copper Mesh for Mice?

Copper mesh is the better choice for sealing gaps against mice. Both materials work mechanically, because mice will not chew through either, but steel wool rusts and leaves orange staining on brick and siding. Copper does not corrode the same way and holds its shape far longer.

Why mice will not chew either

A mouse can chew through expanding foam, plastic and wood. It will not chew through a tangled metal mesh, because the fibres catch and cut. That is why the material choice comes down to durability and appearance rather than effectiveness.

The staining problem

Steel wool holds moisture against masonry and rusts. On a light brick or painted surface that produces orange streaks running down from every sealed opening within a season or two. On a north-facing damp wall it happens faster.

Where to use it

• Brick weep holes
• Gaps around plumbing and utility penetrations
• Openings behind kitchen and bathroom cabinets where pipes enter
• Gaps at the garage door frame
• Any hole larger than about a quarter inch

What it does not solve

Exclusion stops entry. It does nothing about mice already inside, which need trapping. If you are hearing activity in the walls, seal the exterior and deal with the interior population at the same time, otherwise you have simply locked them in.

See our perimeter pest control program