Mice problem

[apod]

I was wondering if any of you had a mice problem recently?

I live in a garden flat in Victorian conversion, we used to have a mice problem few years ago but with a help of my landlady it was resolved very quickly. The flat is very clean, food stored in the containers, so really nothing to attract them as such. As I am terrified of those little creatures I have been always trying to keep on the top of it and checking underneath the kitchen cupboards, leaving mice poison, etc.

Yesterday night I saw one in the living room, then again in our bedroom. It kept me up all night, scratching, climbing the curtain and eventually getting on our bed. My partner obviously fast asleep ignored the problem, resulting in me sitting on the chair and watching him sleeping, until I have noticed a tail sticking out from underneath his pillow. Absolutely disgusting as for my liking!!! Mouse got caught and frown away.

As it has been only one episode since we had a problem few years ago, I am wondering if it is any worth to try to tackle the problem ourselves or just go through pest control straight away?

[Saffron]

Please reconsider NOT using poison. You can't control where the rodents go after they eat it, and they can end up being eaten by neighbours' cats and dogs. Even if you have an indoor cat/dog, the mice can travel between the walls into other homes.

Humane traps only, if you must.

Adopt a cat or dog for natural pest control. xx

[aquarius moon]

You can buy humane traps on Amazon.

There is absolutely no need to kill them.

[StraferJack]

There is every need to kill them. If everyone uses humane traps they we will be overrun. "Breed like mice". Helloooo

Not sure what cats do to mice is preferable to a trap tho.

[adonirum]

With you there, SJ, and I have previously stated on another thread, there are always at least two.

An old fashioned "snapper" trap gets them EVERY time if you bait it with a chocolate and caramel mix. The best is a Mars bar. I know it doesn't sound pleasant, but bite a piece off, chew it a litle then spit it out and apply to the trap. They just can't resist it.

[apod]

I haven't thought about neighbours' cats and dogs, you may be right. I really don't have intention to harm any animals, but once to comes to mice, it's my biggest fear. I rather if they just stay away from my home. Last night "intruder" was lucky as got caught and set free, hopefully its not going to find its way back.

I bought some Peppermint Oil and going to wash everything around with it; apparently it works as a repellent. I trully hope it's one off episode.

[Mustard]

Saffron Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Please reconsider NOT using poison. You can't

> control where the rodents go after they eat it,

> and they can end up being eaten by neighbours'

> cats and dogs. Even if you have an indoor

> cat/dog, the mice can travel between the walls

> into other homes.

>

> Humane traps only, if you must.

>

> Adopt a cat or dog for natural pest control. xx

Not all cats and especially dogs are mousers. One of my cats was, sadly he is no more. I only ever saw a few dismembered bodies when he was around.

My dog is not interested in mice at all. You would need to get a fast terrier or lurcher type dog.

[Annasfield]

Humane traps don't work

[Jeremy]

We're talking about mice. They are a nuisance, they are unhygienic, they eat your food.

They need to be controlled.

Kill. Them.

[StraferJack]

All good points Jeremy. But what bugs me most about the humane argument is how oblivious to the laws of multiplication it is

[DulwichFox]

Poison is the very worst option. It causes a painful drawn out death and there

is the risk of other animals eating them and becoming poisoned.

Humane traps can cause intense stress to the trapped creature and then there is

the problem of where to release them. Too close and the could find there way back.

Release them in the countryside and they will probably starve or get eaten my preditors.

There is also the risk they may infest someone elses home who may use poison.

Normal traps are generally the 'best' option. They can fail but generally they kill the little things quickly.

Its not nice but it has to be done. Mice are vermin. You can see their tiny poos but

you cannot see their pee. Mice are incontinent and pee continuously.

They carry diseases that can make humans seriously ill or could cause blindness.

DulwichFox

[apod]

Cleaning the whole house with addition of peppermint oil, definitely cleared my airways, but somehow I stopped believing that it may keep mice away.

The idea of accidentally poisoning someone pet, put me away from using a poison, however I will stick with old fashion snap traps. I cannot allow this to spread any further and I agree with most of you, it needs to be controlled.

Thanks Adonirum for a tip with a Mars bar, will try it and hopefully no more mice in my bed!!!

[DulwichFox]

I have been using those Audio high frequency devices for last couple of years.

They work well on hard surfaces like in kitchens.

Have been virtually mice free whereas I had loads of them in the past.

DulwichFox

[srisky]

If you have a mouse problem now it will be much worse in the winter. I think the council may have a free pest control service. We used K&O pest control nearly 4y ago and haven't seen a singer mouse since - they have been recommended numerous times on this forum. They check the entire property for possible routes of access and seal them off (otherwise the pesky creatures will eventually return), plus set traps for any mice that may still be within the property and then return to clear them away.

[Jeremy]

To be honest the K&O approach of blocking up every single point of entry is by far the best option (but if you already have mice in your house you need to get rid of them somehow)

[Dopamine1979]

We used the Audio frequency device in our old flat. The mouse never returned.

[Jeremy]

They seemed to work for us for a while, but it wasn't long before they were scurrying right past them on their food raids.

[david_carnell]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Poison is the very worst option. It causes a

> painful drawn out death and there

> is the risk of other animals eating them and

> becoming poisoned.

>

> Humane traps can cause intense stress to the

> trapped creature and then there is

> the problem of where to release them. Too close

> and the could find there way back.

>

> Release them in the countryside and they will

> probably starve or get eaten my preditors.

>

> There is also the risk they may infest someone

> elses home who may use poison.

>

> Normal traps are generally the 'best' option.

> They can fail but generally they kill the little

> things quickly.

>

> Its not nice but it has to be done. Mice are

> vermin. You can see their tiny poos but

> you cannot see their pee. Mice are incontinent

> and pee continuously.

> They carry diseases that can make humans

> seriously ill or could cause blindness.

>

>

>

> DulwichFox

How many people go blind each year from mouse piss?

[the-e-dealer]

Hic! , So that was what it was !

[Mick Mac]

I have heard people say its a mice problem to have. I've never understood that saying.

[northlondoner]

Those sticky pad are grim but effective. The sonic things proved pretty useless for me

[Applespider]

apod Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Last night "intruder" was lucky as

> got caught and set free, hopefully its not going

> to find its way back.

I'm sure that I once read somewhere reliable that you have to release mice 2 miles from where you caught them otherwise they can find their way back. I remember thinking that it seemed a heck of a long way particularly in a city.

[maxxi]

Applespider Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> apod Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> I'm sure that I once read somewhere reliable that

> you have to release mice 2 miles from where you

> caught them

-and at least 500 yards from any bus route.

[WarriorBug]

The fact of the matter is, the whole Do-It-Yourself approach is really more valuable before the infestation, by taking measures to prevent a mice infestation in the first place.

Once your property is already invaded by the pests, you really need to know how bad the problem actually is. Because you can get the mice you see walking about, but you can rest assured there are a lot more where they came from.

And that's what need to be done - you need to find their nesting grounds and face the problem head on. This is a tough job to on your own :/

If your concern about pest controllers is the use of pesticides, you should know that there are many options. Most qualified professionals start with traps and most importantly - sealing the cracks and crevices which the mice use to sneak into your house. When they find the nest, that's when they apply poison and yes, it can get quite unpleasant then. Dead mice could be an issue but you can request the exterminators to come for a second visit and access the situation (and possibly clean up the mess)

Good luck to anyone who had the misfortune to deal with these rodents!

[phobic3000]

We had mice problems once and it sucked. Every night they would scratch the ceiling above our bed. I think they were making a nest in the loft insulation.

I haven't read through all the posts so apologies if it's already been said, but if you can find areas where they get in you can try to block it withs wire wool. Apparently they can't scratch through wire wool.

Problem is though they can fit through a hole the size of the thickness of a pencil!

Good luck