Over run with mice

[Anonymous Poster]

Well, based on what I have read here, the most economical and reasonable reaction for me at the moment is the d-con that dehydrates the mice. That sounds like it might work. I can hide it from the pets in the cabinets and no smell. Thank you all so much for your responses. I will be going to the hardware store this pm.m to arm myself.

 

[RichZ]

Cindi, just make sure you put the poison where none of yur critters can get at it. As far as sealing up any holes in your home, you don't need to do anything fancy, just put some steel wool in any holes you find.

We have problems with mice in our house, too. As we try to never kill anything, we use little Hav-a-Hart traps, and we release them a few miles from our house, in an area where there are no houses around.

We were having a lot of problems with mice and RATS in our barn, and we got two kittens that our vet rescued. Even though they're now only about 6 months old, they're doing a great job. We rarely see anymore mice or rats. We keep the cats well fed and happy, because cats are one of the rare animals that kill for sport. Out guys love running around with a dead mouse as a play toy. The rodent problem in our barn was way too big to solve with Hav-a-Hart traps, so our new cats are the answer.

 

[WVBill]

Cindi:
While you're at the hardware store, check to see if they have "bait boxes". I've found them at Tractor Supply. These are black plastic boxes that have circular openings in the side and a little maze inside. The mice can get in to eat the poison and can get out again. The openings are too small for a cat or dog and the poison cubes can't fall out because of the maze.

 

[gerard]

I use the poison down at the barn. I buy the bait blocks, then use some pvc pipe with a 90deg elbow and about 6 inches out of each side. Put the bait blocks in and let them slide to the elbow and put it down. mice/rats can come and go freely but cats and my dog can't get at the bait.

 

[RichZ]

Cindi, one more concern about using the poison. Make sure none of your critters eat any dead or dying mice. I know of both dogs and cats that have gotten sick and even died from eating poisoned rodents, because the poison in the dead mice can poison the dogs or cats. So...be careful!!!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I've lost 2 dang good mousing cats cause of idiot neighbors poisioning rodents.
Second hand poison kills cats & dogs for sure.

 

[Bird]

I'm very careful with poisons of any kind; don't like to use them unless absolutely necessary. And so far, I always found mice and rats fairly easy to control with the old fashioned wooden, spring loaded mouse traps baited with a small piece of bacon tied on with a thread.

 

[chrisjbell]

I don't like to use poison, either. Too easy for the dogs to get into it, and my daughter seems like she'll eat just about anything that isn't served at the dinner table /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

But I do use poison bait under the house - the crawlspace is pretty well sealed off from the outside and so I figure that anything that does get in there deserves what they get. I don't want anything alive down there. I don't spray for the Black Widows, though, because I don't want nasty fumes right underneath me.

I replace the bait every year or so and each time find lots of little droppings. I've never actually found a body, which worries me sometimes /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif... But after having a critter of some sort gnaw through the water line to my fridge, causing a really neat swimming pool to happen in the kitchen I figure it is worth it.

Unfortunately, our cats have absolutely no hunting ability at all. Had a lizard get in when I was bringing in a pile of wood last fall and that thing wandered around the house for three days before those beasts even *started* to chase it. That allowed me to catch it and release it...

I try to encourage outdoor kittys, but the problem around here is that if you set food out and let them in the garage it attracts more than just cats (like, skunks), and if you don't let them in the garage they tend to become Coyote Kitty Snacks.

...Chris

 

[Rick Jay]

Cindi, I too love your writing style. I'm cracking up here reading your post and some of the other responses.

I've used some rectangular plastic box traps that catch the mouse alive. You put the bait (peanut butter works well, they can't grab it and run) in the far end and balance the trap on a fulcrum. When the little critter crawls in to get the bait, the trap "see-saws" and the gate closes behind.

Now, the mouse is alive at that point, but I've yet to pull one out alive. Of course, my traps are out in the basement and garage where it's pretty cold AND I don't check them as often as I should (every couple of days).

In fact, the last time I checked them was after a major snowfall, and wouldn't you know it, I had two of the critters. It was too cold and too much trouble to bury them, so I developed another removal method.

I waited until nightfall. Dumped them in the snow. And proceeded to make each of them the center of a snowball. Then, with my years of snowball throwing experience, safely deposited them deep into my neighbors backyard. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
(None of my neighbors have tractors, so I know (hope) they're not on this board.)

I figured by the time the snow melts, there won't be much left of 'em.

Good Luck, and do be careful if you choose to use the poisons.

~Rick

 

[thcri]

Cindi,

There is two types of traps that have worked good for me. The stickem type traps work really good and also the curiousity trap. A good curiousity trap is hard to find anymore. Both traps work good and keep the animal alive for you to do with what you want when you catch them. You don't have to worry about poisons being transfered to other animals.

murph