those pesky field mice!!

Curious to see those of you who may have had an issue with mice. We have a walkout basement. Where the siding and foundation in the backyard meet(2 -3 inches from ground), there seems to be enough of a gap where the critters are getting into the basement of the house. If you combine this with the fact that my house backs to woods- well it equates to a recipe for disaster. Especially true when first frost rolls around every year.

Anyone with similar problems?

 

We've had a few mice. We also have a walkout basement, but I'm not sure how they were getting in. Do not use the Decon bait that they eat and kills them. We tried that, and of course it works because we opened up our hall closet one day to this terrible smell. The closet is under the stairs with storage behind it. Eventually after about 2 weeks I tore it apart and there was this dead mouse, half decomposed.
So basically you really don't want to risk some mouse eating this stuff, and running off "where ever" to die. They can get upstairs too. Use regular mouse traps and bait them with peanut butter. Works like a charm, got rid of all the ones we had, and really haven't seen any in a couple years.

 

I just want to remind people that when they put out rat/mouse poison or insecticides, PLEASE make sure your cats & dogs (& kids) cannot get into it. I work at a local emergency vet and lately there have been so many animals in for ingestion of said poisons.

Also, there is a National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC) available if you ever suspect or know that your animal has ingested something. 888-426-4435. Great number to have if you have animals!

Thanks!

 

We got confirmation that there were mice in the woods at the back of our house when my cat brought them in as his 'presents' to us. He is pretty good at catching them, however he often brings them in and lets them run around the house while we run around trying to catch them (at 3am most of the time too!). I guess he thinks of them as living toys.

Thank you JenTimC for adding in that comment about poison! My cat does go outside, as it is impossible to leash him. He is pretty smart, but I do worry that someone will put out poison and not realize what it could do to those around them.

My advice for clearing the mice problem-get a cat! All you need is respect and love and you have an environmentally friendly solution!

 

Sticky traps! Works everytime and you have the evidence for disposal. Also works good for silver fish and crickets.

 

We had a major invasion of mice last year. The sticky traps worked best for us. If you want to catch but not kill the mice, do not use them. Once they get stuck, it's almost impossible to remove them without tearing them apart. For humane disposal of the mice, but the mouse and trap into a can or baggy and put it in the freezer. The mouse will fall asleep and die.
Cliff

 

By the way, stick traps also get rid of cats! -- Before I get spammed to death, I am just kidding. (not really)

 

We had one cute, little mouse last year at about this time of the season. We named her Babette. We're very near woods, but we think Babette made it in with some furniture that we had delivered. We have a 17-year-old, always-inside-cat whose day was absolutely MADE when she found it. She played with it for over two days and never killed it. Finally, out of feeling bad for Babette, we set her free outside our front door. Somehow, she made it back in (we knew it was her due to her very peculiar markings). So, we then liberated her in the woods.

 

cute story.

 

Chris-
Just hope that Babette's 32 cousins don't decide to drop in!!!!

 

I see your point. Our cat would love the company, though!

 

I had mice (or a mouse) last year and I got a humane trap. The night I set it I went to bed and then heard the mouse get in the trap and make a lot of noise to try and get out. I thought about getting up to let him out but then fell asleep. In the morning I came down to the kitchen and saw the mouse in the trap - petrified - It was a morning when we had a snowfall. I took the trap out to my front porch and opened it to let him go - I had to tap the trap a few times to let him know he was free - when he discovered he was free he high-tailed it out of there - clicking his heels on the way and I never saw another mouse in my house again. Who knows maybe he found his way into another house with the inhumane sticky traps in but at least my conscience is clear.

jaeris

 

Jaeris: I never had heard of humane traps! (Where have I been?) When I saw your post, I googled them and found tons of info. So, thanks! The first listing that I found was for the Mouse Depot™. Go to http://www.themousedepot.com/

Rather than labeling mice as pests, vermin, etc., the company calls them guests!

 

I used all types of traps last year. My results were:
Humane traps: 0.
Caught by hand: 1.
Poison Pellets: 2.
Sticky Traps: 7.

 

In the three years we've been here

Cat: 30+ Mice
7 rabbits
5 birds
1 squirrel

Only kills about half of them. Leaves em as "presents", yummy.