Mice problem. I'm scared?

Question

We've had a problem with mice since 2004. We've caught about 8 since then! However, came downstairs this morning (5.30) and nearly and quite literally nearly had a heart attack. I saw a mouse and it ran behind the cooker! I nearly died. I've got 4 traps down (all with peanut butter in) and poison and they're still roaming around. What more can I do? I don't have a cat, as I've no one to look after one if I ever go away (our neighbours are horrible)

Answer 1

First, you have to find the places they are getting in the house so you can close the gaps. You can plug gaps with pieces of steel wool or caulk.

Second, you need to put down many traps at the same time. I usually buy about a dozen traps. Mouse like to travel along walls, so the traps should go along the wall. Its best to put arrange the traps in zones, with clusters of traps in different parts of the house where you think the mice might be getting in. Traps should be placed in sets of two, against the wall, back to back, with some sort of barrier next to the traps to keep the mice from entering the trap from the side. I put the traps in cereal boxes with the ends cut out, or place cartons or other things next to the traps so the mice can only get to the trap head-first. If the traps are not enclosed in a box, put newspaper under the traps so the mice don't bleed on the floor, and so you can just roll up the paper with the mouse & trap and throw them out in the trash. Put a new trap in places where you have already caught mice.

Pay attention to the places where mice are caught and which direction they are coming from. The mice are likely to get caught in the first trap they encounter, so traps with mice are probably closest to the places where the mice are hiding or getting into the house. After catching a few mice, rearrange the traps so they are concentrated in the places where you have caught mice before, and keep moving the traps to help find where they are getting in.

Answer 2

Since 2004 and you're just now looking for help?

Suggestions: Increase the number of traps. Where do you have them placed? They should be up against the walls, as that's where the mice will travel most of the time.

Clean up your act. Everything edible food wise in glass or in the fridge. Mice will chew through thin plastic.

Bedding, etc. Store them in hard plastic containers the mice can't chew through.

Read up on mice. You're obviously living your life in a way that attracts these guys. But has something happened outside that sent them your way? A new development, perhaps? You could erect a raptor perch outside. Owls and hawks might use it to hunt for the mice still seeking entry into your home.

And on that note: Mice can gain entry through teeny tiny little holes. Plug 'em. Put screening or steel mesh in the gaps as the mice don't like to chew that.

And good luck. Maybe you could borrow a cat ..... or two.

Answer 3

you have come to the right place, mice R dead, could be my trade name if I were, you know, a big game hunter, bagging mice across the world on safari!. But I digress.

the structure of your home is pretty important in the control of rodents. Access to the outside needs to be minimized so walk around it and see if you have openings in the walls (other than weep holes in a brick - foundation home).

Next, keep the house clean of food debris the best you can. But understand a mouse can eat a bar of soap or even a candle and get nutrition from it. they are not like your pets, which would die from that.

next, place bait stations outside (where kids can't get at them) and where squirrels don't get at them either, to kill the population outside.

on the inside of the house, use SNAP E traps. they are more expensive, but they are more lethal. The Victor Trap is a good time proven trap, but mice can remove the bait without firing it, and the expanded trigger version is not sensative enough to be lethal all the time. it requires too much pressure to fire them.

Now, placement of the traps would be in the areas where you see the mice most often, (leave a few always primed unless you leave, mice rot fast and are nasty then.

if the mice are not going after the peanut butter, try using break, or sprinkles some grain, flour or oatmeal on the floor near the trap for them to feed on and fire the trap for you.

if you need more help, email me, rodent control is one of my 8 trillion specialties, and no one does it better at my price of free

Answer 4

You must be a 'mouseaphobic'.

I live in a rural area and NEVER have less than 3-4 mice in the house.
During the winter I feed them corn-meal in a matchbox. (It keeps them out of MY food!)
As long as the 'mind their manners', they are welcome.

IF they start getting obnoxious, then I give them a 'decon' eviction notice, and wait for a new bunch to show up.

The dog will even lay there and watch them in his dog food dish (dry dog food) without getting upset, although he chases them if they are outside. (Catches one every now and then!)

Answer 5

why not get a cat to put in the houseor should i say three cats mice are afraid of cat and would leave the area

Answer 6

Walmart sells a small device that emits a sound rodents don't like. cost around $26. It works. Try it.

Answer 7

Buy a CAT.