How Do You Handle Mice Invasions In Your House?

Question

Recently, we had a mice invasion in the house and my parents bought those glurboard traps. I didn't realize how cruel they are. The mouse gets stuck to the board until it either chews off its limbs, starves, or you dispose of it yourself. When we caught one my father wanted to end its misery right away because of its whning so he took it to the counter and decapitated it with his meat cleaver.

We then bought those spring traps so at least the mice die in one second rather than in agony like those glueboards. We debated over capturing it alive and releasing it but we decided not to. For one they are health risk; you don't know what they bring into your house from the sewers and they chew at your food so it is for the best to kill it. We're also not releasing it outside because it could come right back in or go to a neighbor's home. I feel horrible about it, but it's a necessity that has to be done.

What do you do, especially if for animal rights, about mice invasions?

Answer 1

We have inside cats and outside cats. I agree with the glue trap idea. I caught a rat on one once and it just screamed till I head smacked with a 2x4. Poison is another way and kills them fairly humanely but they always die in the wall or the refrigerator fan.

Answer 2

I work for a pest control company. Unfortunately, this is the time of season when the rats and mice do come in to breed.
The best way to trap them is using the glueboards and throwing them away. Do NOT use baits. They will eat the baits and can die in-between your walls leaving you then with an odor for 6-8 weeks or until their body completly decomposes.
There are however, live humane traps that you can buy or call your local pest control company. These traps are humane and will catch them alive and keep them in a little cell (jail cell like). Then release them.

But first, you need to find out how and where they are coming in from and seal any and all holes with steel wool (hardware cloth) and cover the hole. Only then will you stop them from coming in. Your local pest control company could helpyou with this also. Just ask them for a free estimate for a rodent exclusion. They are licensed and trained to find all openings.
I have seen the amount of damage that these little critters can do. We have had several customers that had this problem. One of them had their electrical wires chewed up and caused an electrical fire and burned the house down.

Answer 3

I got a couple of those electric things a few days ago--I'm not sure if it works or not.

There are humane traps available called "Hava Heart" or something like that; I have used them before. It doesn't kill the mouse, and they can't get out until you let them out. It can be kind of a hassle if you have a lot of mice; you have find someplace to put the mice while you set the trap again.

The most effective thing I ever had for mice was a cat. I had a dog who was pretty good at catching mice, but he didn't put his heart and soul into it like the cat did.

Answer 4

I have a cat. Luckily, I've seen only a few mice in my apartment in the eight years I've lived there.

A few months ago, I got a couple of humane traps, and have only used it once. I've seen once mouse since that time, but it was just before I was leaving for work, and my cat was not being cooperative in helping me find him/her so I could get it out of my apartment.

My apartment building is across the street from a park, so I can always release mice there.

Answer 5

Throw away the glue traps. THey are completely inhumane.

The spring traps are supposed to kill it instantly, so that's much more humane, although they don't always work properly.. But they're a much better bet.

Wish someone would invent a poison that would painlessly stop their heart, instantly and without pain.

I say use the spring traps.

Then get a couple cats. The mice will find somewhere else to live.

Answer 6

Spring traps, electric traps and cats. As you said yourself, there is not much of a choice. I like animals too but I care about my health more than I do about mice rights.

Answer 7

clean up your house and don't leave any food out. cover all openings like drains with heavy wire mesh. Catch and release does not solve the problem. They will come back or invade somebody else's home. We've never had any problems with rodents of any kind because our pantry has sealable doors and we make sure there is no food available for critters to steal. Perhaps my daughter's six cats may have somethng to do with it too. The electronic plug in thng sometimes works, sometimes not.

Answer 8

i had the same problem last winter. they came in to get worm and got comfortable really quick. the best thing for u guys to do is call the orkin man!! they came and set traps outside and put some traps in the inside and within days our problem was gone and havent had any since. the good thing about them is that they come every 3 months to check up on ur traps and stuff for i think 79 bucks each time.

Answer 9

Man there have certainly been some sh-ty answers on here. I don't even have to explain-- everyone knows who is being sh-ty. I'm still amazed that some people think it's absurd to care about animals. I'd suggest reading some works by Peter Singer.

Anyhow, as far as getting rid of mice, why not try some of the catch-and-release traps and let them go in a field far away from your home? Or how about your crazy *** dad that beheads mice on the counter (WTF? and vegans are weird...) just work on sealing the house to keep them out in the first place?

Not to harp on your dad-- but Jesus. If anyone I know did something like that, I've never talk to them again, even if it happened before I became vegan.

Answer 10

I have 3 cats. Haven't seen a single mouse.

Also, we used to use snap traps and just threw the whole thing away.

We used a glue trap once, put it outside, and a bird came (like a big bird) and grabbed it out and flew away with it.