My house is being "eaten"!

[irvingj]

"More accidents happen on 6 foot step ladders than 40 foot extension ladders."

Don't I know it! After 12 years in HVAC, I learned to respect those things, for sure! What many don't realize is that the torsion bars on the steps have nuts that can be tightened; I've taken many a wobbly stepladder and made it like new again by tightening those things.

The stepladder I was using to reach the ladder in the bucket was one that someone else must have tightened (I bought it used), since it was very solid. Not bad for $5.00!!

 

[irvingj]

Update...

Only got the one mouse, but we can now hear at least two others chewing away at the wood & styrofoam. They've managed to work along the peak of the roof for about 8 feet now, working around a couple skylights.

I got some of those ultrasonic pest repellers, but they don't seem to be getting them to move out. It breaks my heart to think of them removing, small piece by small piece, my insulation!

I've given up at this point and called the pros today. Preliminary inspection due next week.... Arrgh! It's only money, right?

 

[MotorSeven]

If your not a big cat fan go to a shelter get yourself 1 or two barn cats. Don't need to be friendly with them. Just a little food and water in the last week my two have gotten two critters which were bigger than one of them. 4 bats 3 moles 11 shrews and two many field mice parts to count whole mice. Best system I have ever used. I do lose birds in the summer but I have to look at it as training

That's what I did...now mouse and wood rat free.

 

[JB4310]

Update...

Only got the one mouse, but we can now hear at least two others chewing away at the wood & styrofoam. They've managed to work along the peak of the roof for about 8 feet now, working around a couple skylights.

I got some of those ultrasonic pest repellers, but they don't seem to be getting them to move out. It breaks my heart to think of them removing, small piece by small piece, my insulation!

I've given up at this point and called the pros today. Preliminary inspection due next week.... Arrgh! It's only money, right?

Sorry to hear you are losing the battle I'm sure if you had better/ easier access up there you would be able to rid yourself of those pests. I doubt there is any real serious damage yet, since you caught it so soon.

The professional exterminators should be able to solve your problem, the only thing I don't like about them is they always try to get you into a long term service agreement.
I see it all the time at customer's houses I'm at. They show up every month or two and do who knows what, even though there is no sign of pests/ bugs.
And the customers are ok with it, thinking it must be those regular visits that are keeping the unwanted critters away.

Good Luck!

JB

 

[Carl_NH]

They will likely do what you have done - sticky traps, plus they will probably bait the holes. The bait will drive them to water (outside) in most cases then the sticky traps catch them.

If you bait inside the cavity or near the opening this should get them. It takes a week for the bait to work - I know as in our cape style house after I bait them it usually a week or so before they "settle down" and not scamper around in the eaves.

Carl

 

[JB4310]

They will likely do what you have done - sticky traps, plus they will probably bait the holes. The bait will drive them to water (outside) in most cases then the sticky traps catch them.

If you bait inside the cavity or near the opening this should get them. It takes a week for the bait to work - I know as in our cape style house after I bait them it usually a week or so before they "settle down" and not scamper around in the eaves.

Carl

I'm not a big fan of those bait traps, I'd rather kill them in a trap. With the poison they often go and die inside the walls or somewhere else in the house.

I worked on a house today, the guy must be fighting a losing battle with mice. There were dozens of all different types of poison feeding traps in the basement where I was working, and the smell was pretty bad down there. Not the worst I've smelled but pretty bad. I've gotta work there again tomorrow. This is a doctors house and the house is actually, no exaggeration, a mansion, So it can happen to anyone. The mice don't care.

JB

 

[Pete Judd]

I also agree with cats, farm cat feed is about 10 bucks a month, and they bring there presents to the front door almost every day. They seem to be very good as what they are good for. I have 2, that are castrated, that do a great job. Also they like to cuddle at night and work as small bed warmers as well.

 

[irvingj]

Our cat did bring home a present last night. Ordinarily I let the little buggers go (it was still very much alive), but not this time. Don't enjoy killing things, but made an exception. Hope it was one of my "tenants"-- it was the same kind.

 

[Frankdozer]

Flying squirrels moved into my attic about 2 weeks ago. I have searched every square inch and can't find where they get in. They are nocturnal and communal critters and love peanut butter !!!. A mouse trap is too small so I use a rat trap to trap them. To date in the past 2 weeks I've caught 13 of them. And I pounded on the ceiling just now and I can here at least one more there. With 4 legs scurrying, it sounds like 10 up there. So I set 14 rat traps in all various places in the attic armed with fresh peanut butter and wait. Since I'm a lite sleeper, in the past 2 weeks around midnight, I could hear the trap go off. I have a walk up attic, so first thing in the AM, around 6:00 AM, I make my cup of tea and go check my traps. As they are really cute critters, I don't like the ending result but they will destroy areas of the attic with their urine and the smell is hard to remove. Google: " Flying Squirrels " and the read on them is endless.

 

[JB4310]

Flying squirrels moved into my attic about 2 weeks ago. I have searched every square inch and can't find where they get in. They are nocturnal and communal critters and love peanut butter !!!. A mouse trap is too small so I use a rat trap to trap them. To date in the past 2 weeks I've caught 13 of them. And I pounded on the ceiling just now and I can here at least one more there. With 4 legs scurrying, it sounds like 10 up there. So I set 14 rat traps in all various places in the attic armed with fresh peanut butter and wait. Since I'm a lite sleeper, in the past 2 weeks around midnight, I could hear the trap go off. I have a walk up attic, so first thing in the AM, around 6:00 AM, I make my cup of tea and go check my traps. As they are really cute critters, I don't like the ending result but they will destroy areas of the attic with their urine and the smell is hard to remove. Google: " Flying Squirrels " and the read on them is endless.

Maybe you can track them back to were they are getting in, sprinkle some type of powder and look for traffic. They need a good size hole (if they are as big as a gray squirrel) so it shouldn't be that difficult to find it.

JB