Mice eat beets—what should you do? - briefly
Eliminate the beet source and seal all possible entry points, then deploy traps or approved rodenticides to remove the rodents. Monitor the area regularly to ensure the problem does not return.
Mice eat beets—what should you do? - in detail
Rodents are attracted to beetroots because the roots contain high sugar levels, moisture, and a soft texture that facilitates gnawing. When mice begin feeding on a beet harvest, damage can spread quickly, reducing marketable yield and increasing the risk of disease transmission.
Immediate response
- Inspect all beet storage areas for signs of activity (droppings, gnaw marks, nests).
- Remove any beets that show bite damage; discard them in sealed containers.
- Place snap traps or electronic kill traps along walls, near entry points, and around the base of the beet piles.
- Deploy bait stations containing grain‑based or peanut butter mixtures, positioned away from non‑target wildlife.
Preventive actions
- Store beetroots in metal or heavy‑duty plastic containers with tight‑fitting lids; avoid cardboard boxes that rodents can easily penetrate.
- Keep the storage environment dry; mop up spills and eliminate standing water.
- Seal cracks, gaps, and holes in walls, floors, and doors with steel wool and caulking.
- Maintain a clean perimeter: remove weeds, grass, and debris that provide cover for mice.
- Install a perimeter fence with a fine mesh (¼‑inch) buried at least 6 inches underground to block burrowing.
Long‑term management
- Conduct weekly inspections of storage facilities and surrounding fields.
- Rotate stock; do not allow beets to sit for more than a few weeks without movement.
- Record trap catches and adjust placement based on activity patterns.
- If infestations persist despite these measures, engage a licensed pest‑control professional for a targeted baiting program and possible fumigation.
By combining rapid removal of damaged produce, strategic trapping, rigorous sanitation, and structural exclusion, growers can limit rodent damage to beetroots and protect their harvests.