Moth balls, Hmmm, maybe not

[Farwell]

Think green. Rat and mice poison will keep those rodents in control, I use the green pellets. I keep them in place year round in areas that friendly critters can't get to. For bigger critters, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, skunks and bothersome neighbors cats, use a baited live trap of the appropriate size. Black sunflower seeds work on all but the cats.
In my area of Michigan the wild critters can be transported and released in uninhabited areas with the exception of skunks due to the potential rabies spread.

 

[davitk]

off topic

According to a microsoft memo that I read a long time ago, european mouse balls are smaller than american mouse balls.

I may be slow but I always do appreciate a good off topic joke.

 

[EastTnFarmboy]

We have used them in our cabin. They don't seem to deter the squirrels or mice, but we use them for snakes. I haven't found evidence of a snake since we started using them, but it would be difficult to prove whether it is because of the moth balls or is coincidental.

 

[Soundguy]

On my tractors that stay outside.. i also use the 'green' mouse/rat baits. has gotten a good many of them over the last few years.

Soundguy

 

[EddieWalker]

I tried them awhile ago, and the mice just ignored them. Jaguar bait from TSC works great. I like the red colored stuff.

I haven't seen a mouse in awhile, but when we started seeing snakes (2) in our yard, I figured the mice were still around. Now we have a cat and she's killed one mouse that we know of so far.

Eddie

 

[3RRL]

I've posted several times using moth balls trying to keep rodents out of my tractor and from under the hood. They would nest in there and start chewing the wires. I wasn't trying to kill them or keep them out of a wood pile, but more concerned with keeping them out of my tractor. Well it didn't work.

What worked best for me was to leave the tractor parked with the hood open. For some reason they didn't like to be exposed to the open like that. I did the same thing for the ones that liked to nest on the floor board. My tractor is kept in a tent canopy, so I opened the top of the door flaps. That made it lighter inside and "seem" more open. Now they don't get in there either. I think they like those dark protected places. If you expose them or open it up, they won't go in there to nest.
I haven't tried any of the baits to get rid of them yet, but I'm sure when I barn the tractor I'll need tog get some.

 

[Chuck K.]

A question about rat poisons. If a dog was to eat or chew on the dead rodent could the poison harm the dog?

I have a old small shed that has some possible state record size rats in the attic judging by they way they sound running above your head.. I want to put out posion but dont want to take the chance of my boston terriers getting hold of a dead rat..

 

[john_bud]

I've tried about everything. What works to some extent is a 5 gal bucket with a taut line across the top with a free spinning pop bottle coated with peanut butter and a ramp up to the top. You have to have water or antifreeze in the bucket 2" minimum, or the mice will jump out. Seriously, mice can jump clean out of an empty 5 gal bucket. At my hunting camp, we have had as many as 18 mice in the bucket over a 2 week period. They can only tread water for a short while I guess... Oh antifreeze keeps them from getting too "ripe".

My most successful mouse removal system revolves around the momma cat that brought a kitten to live in my barn in the insulation above the heated shop. She is aparently a good hunter, but the baby was real real skinny so I've been bringing out kitten chow every day. Yeah, I'm a softy when it comes to cuddly kittens. I do like seeing mouse parts and a fat happy cat, he he he.

jb

 

[daTeacha]

The common rodent poison -- D-con is one brand name -- is warfarin. It is very safe to use, being highly specific in its action and affecting rodents far more than it affects other critters. A dog or cat would need to eat a huge number of poisoned rodents before showing any effect from the poison. The rotted rodent remains might make them sick, but the poison contained therein would still be pretty safe.

 

[Farwell]

John,
I have the 5 gallon bucket system set up in one of my small barns so far no luck. The water is now frozen so I Will have to go back to the green poison.
The reason I tried the bucket method is the green stuff was costing an arm and a leg because the critters were taking it and storing it then dying and the new critters didn't find the stash. I would go through 15 to 20 of the small boxes in the barn and 5 or six in my basement. If you use the green stuff keep a fresh supply of water available, they die much quicker if you do.