Keep field mice our of your kitchen and keep them part of country living. Laying out poison is an option, but there is a huge risk of a mouse dying within the walls and causing a huge stink for two weeks. There is also the risk of your favorite pet eating the dead mouse or the poison and subsequently dying.
Remove any potential food sources in your home. Put food in closed containers. For example, instead of storing oatmeal in the paper container it came in, store the oatmeal instead in a rigid plastic or glass container with a tight fitting lid. Throw out any food that has evidence of mice damage. Don't leave food or dirty dishes out on counters, as only a little bit of food is enough for a mouse. Make sure to wipe up any spills of food or liquids, and clean out from behind large appliances. Store dog or cat food in a steel trashcan with a lid, and do not put out food for pets except at mealtimes. Store trash in a container with a lid, and take out the trash. Spray for insects and make sure to vacuum up any dead insects as both live and dead insects are potential food sources for mice.
Control any mice population that you have in your home. Sticky traps, live traps, or snap traps mouse traps are the best ways to catch mice. Also, the larger metal traps that wind and catch up to twenty mice at a time are the best traps and worth the extra money. If you are a softie and can't stand to see mice killed, you will need to release them from the sticky or live trap at least 1 mile from your home, as it will take no time at all for them to get back in and re-infest your home. If you are not a softie, you can wait until the mice expire, and then remove them according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you do not control or eliminate the mice from your home, you will have another batch of mice within three weeks, as mice reproduce quickly.