Why does an exterminator put bait out for mice?

Question

We have mice in our attic. We set snap traps as well as the sticky ones. We think they are coming in through a particular vent. The exterminator told us NOT to seal up the hole yet. He set traps this morning as well as put bait out. I am concerned the bait will kill the mice and they will die in the attic. He says they will go outside looking for water and die. I think we should call him back and ask him to remove the bait and we should seal up the hole NOW. Am I missing something?

Answer 1

Listen to the expert. He is trying to save you the expense of him making multiple trips and he is right about them going outside looking for water.
That is unless you start feeling sorry for the mice and put a pan of water in the attic. Then they will start a stink.

Answer 2

here is an exterminator's point of view (mine anyway's)

with the common baits, rodents DO NOT go outside for water...it's an old exterminator tale. If one is telling you this he is either lazy on giving a good answer to you or is questionable on his actual knowledge of his chosen profession. Mice are one of the few animals that can live it's whole life and never drink water. The baits are lethal on one feeding for the most part, but they take several days to actually kill the animal and when an animal starts getting sick it tends to head to it's nest. The openings would be left open for a week or so, so that the animals would have a better chance to get outside before dying. Saying that, with mice and their small territory they live in, if they are inside, chances are they are living inside so baiting has more of an opportunity to kill the animal inside the home. If it is a rat problem, they can be nesting 300 feet away, coming inside at night exploring their territory. I do get 10-12 calls a year to recover a dead rat, but considering the number of homes I have bait in year round that is a non issue to me.

As far as choice of baits over traps, it gets to be economics.
For mice I set traps, check the traps and usually after a week or so and activity has stopped will bait on the outside of a home then allow home owner to patch the openings, though I doubt you will be able to keep a mouse out of a home. Cost around $150

For rats if bait is all that is used cost is around $60, If home owner wants a trapping regiment instead of baits once again over $150

Answer 3

I had the same problem, but I never called for help like you did and pay a guy to set traps. I would seal the hole and keep on setting the traps using that sticky type. Right near it. you could fill the vent with the bait for now then seal it. I did that with all the holes those pest created. No more of them have come back. Everything you need is at Home Depot or Lowes.

Answer 4

instead of using poison,^ have an outlet in the attic.
go to the hardware store & pick an ultra sonic pest elimator
for under $20.00 plug it in & the sound it emits only animals can here it. the silent sound drives them away.

AND YOU DONT NEED EXTERMINATOR COSTS



GOOD LUCK

Answer 5

If they aren't eating the poisoned bait, they will work themselves further in the house to eat other food. You'll have dead mice in the traps anyhow, so might as well wait a bit. Though I also do not understand leaving open the hole.