Mice!! Yuck!!

[rodak77]

Does anyone else have any problems with mice? I hate the things and I'm having fun trying to get them to leave or die! The house I live in is an old farmhouse and the mice are really bad since it got colder here in PA. My husband wants to move now. I told him we'd get rid of them sooner or later. I've tried everything and just two minutes ago I killed one with the broom, my baby was napping on the couch when he came screaming in to me- I hope it wasn't on him. I hate mice!!!!!! Got to go and bath my baby....

Anyway Happy Holidays!!

[LocaChica]

yuck! yuck! ewwwwwwww I can't stand mice! I haven't had them here. *knock on wood* My sis was having a mouse problem last week and so were her neighbors. sorry!

[freesurfer]

I can honestly say I DON"T HAVE mice!! Thanks goodness!!!! USe peanut butter on the traps..

[whitequeen96]

This is a device that you plug into your electrical outlets. It makes a noise that you can't hear, but scares the mice away. You can buy them in a pack of 3 or 4 (each covers about 700 square feet, so you'll probably have enough in one pack) for about $20 at Costco. Their number is 800-343-2659, and their website is [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now] I bought the VX700 tri-pack.

This is a great device, because you don't have to worry about traps or poisons. However, it does not work on rats. (Their hearing is different.) Good luck!

[rodak77]

Tried peanutbutter didn't work...They're eatting the mice poison faster than I put it out and they're drinking the water in the Christmas tree plus I think they are slepping in the tree.!!!!!
I might be in a hotel for Christmas!

[rodak77]

How do you tell if they're mice or rats?

[Mom2Serve]

You poor thing!! I know what you mean. Last year we found a hole under the deck - about 1 inch in diameter (small!!!) and they actually got in to the basement. After my son crawled under the deck and fixed it, he got traps and caught 16!! YUCK!!! We haven't had any since. I didnt want to go in the basement for months!!
With an old farm house it's hard to find those little areas they can come in. It doesn't take a big hole either. I hope you are able to get rid of them soon.
Patti

[fiveforall]

About three years ago I lived in a house in the middle of a field. As soon as I'd kill a mouse, I'd find another. I had an exterminator come out, and I made sure my house was super-clean, but living in the field, we couldn't keep them out. I'd use the old fashioned snap traps. If you use poison you risk the chance of them getting in the walls and dying and the stench is horrible! Besides, having children around, I'd be scared to use poison.

I sympathize with you. My stomach used to be in knots over mice. A mouse will be small, hardly longer than your longest finger. You probably just have field mice. Wish I had a solution!

[Mom2Serve]

Here is a site that can answer some of your questions about identification and rodent proofing your home.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]
Reeses peanut butter was the favorite treat for the on the traps here too. They ate that stuff like it was going out of style!
Good luck!

[jen6889]

We had this problem when we first moved in a few months ago. Same situation.. old farmhouse and colder weather! They were everywhere. I even had dreams & nitemares about mice! Found mouse poop in my bed right by my pillow, found it in my daughter's bed, in my DH's suitcase, and even on my kitchen table!! UGH! I didn't sleep very well with all these mice running about. I almost got poisons, but I was worried about the possible smell, the dogs getting a hold of them and possibly any other wildlife around here that might eat them. My DH says poison is the only way to go to get them under control though. I disagree in my situtation, but perhaps not in yours! That sounds just awful!

I came here for advice too. First bit of advice I got was to get some cats! Cats are actually excellent at keeping mice out of the house. My FIL has not had a mouse in his house since he got barn cats 3 years ago. We plan to get some in the spring or summer but we want kittens and since they will be barn cats too we thought it best to wait until the weather was warmer. I think we've finally got the mice somewhat under control. Here's what I did:

I set out the Victor Quick Set Traps - these are cool clip-like traps that set quickly and release quickly and you never have to touch the mouse. I smoothered all the way up inside the trap with Peanut Butter. Just putting it on the little end piece where they say to put it doesn't always work. The mice can nibble at it without even getting inside the trap there. I do NOT recommend the same type all plastic trap made by TomCat. I bought some of these and the darn things just don't work at all. I buy only Victor.... They work like a charm for me and seems the more it goes off and catches a mouse, the more sensitive it gets! Oh, and watch the fingers when baiting those traps! OUCH that hurts something awful! I use a toothpick to bait mine.

We bought these box looking traps that are designed to hold up to 4 mice (they also make larger ones) and keeps them alive. I noticed some of the mice prefer this one to the other traps! But of course this one leaves the "dirty work" to you, unless you actually want to release the darn thing alive. We drop the trap in a bucket of water to drown the mice. I felt just awful doing this at first, but after awhile I was so mad at them I was happy to do it!

Last, out of desperation, I bought a "Mouse Chaser" from Victor. It's one of those plug-in things. This particular one does not work but for so many feet and doesn't work through walls, but I swear by the thing now. I only got one and we put it in the kitchen. I have had NO mice inside the lived-in area of the house since. I keep the Quick Set traps outside the kitchen door, which opens up to an old porch which was made into a small enclosed entry-way and then the laundry room. This area is insulated very poorly and has easy access for a mouse to and from the basement. Since getting this "Mouse Chaser" we have figured out our "problem area", or where the mice were coming in. One of my dogs also helped figure it out too - one day she was outside roaming around the backyard and she ran over by the cellar (aka basement) doors and went after something. She chased it away from the house and into the yard and that's when I saw it was a mouse! Good Dog!! So I think they are coming in at the back, through the cellar doors, climbing up through the little hole in the wall to the entry way and then going where ever they like. I've left out two traps there and that catches any that might be trying to come in. Caught #30 just this morning! First mouse I've seen in the house in a week. We have caught 30 mice so far (yes, I'm keeping a running total!). I have to credit my goats with 8 of them though... those mice drowned in the goats' water bucket out in the barn! Although I can see them knocking these mice into their water bucket on purpose, I doubt they did. Stupid things probably fell in on their own.

You go at this with the attitude of "WAR" and you'll win over them! Definately get one of those plug-in things that keep the pests away. I bought all my "war supplies" at Walmart. My DH says that a hardware store here called Menards has one of those plug-in things that is suppose to work for the entire house. They do seem pricey, but I've been sleeping a lot better since we got ours! I also recommend keeping a few traps out even if that seems to be working. Just in case one gets by it, he won't miss the trap!!

GOOD LUCK!!

[Mouse7088]

Ok..I have a pet Rat named Ben and I have had pet mice in the past, but there's a DEFFINITE difference when one is in a cage and the other is not! Ewwwwwww..I about broke my fool neck the other day when I went down the basment steps and tried to avoid stepping on one. This was only the second one I have seen in 5 years, but that was enough. Kenny thought I was seeing things, not to mention I do hate going down to the basement so I tend to have an over-active imagination! LOL! I set a trap w/ PB and it took forever, but I got that sucker, then one of the boys reset it w/o adding more PB and there was another one..UGH! We live in the country w/ a creek running behind our house and basically have fields all around us. If we get a lot of rain and causes the creek to flood, they migrate towards the house. When the fields are being worked, they migrate towards the house..oh yeah, even big old NASTY rats! We use Decon outside..in the garage and in the shed. We have many critters and three children, so far we haven't had a problem using this..also remember, we have the creek out back so when they go in search of water after eating the poison, it's to the creek they go.
I also once lived in another house with this same country "setting" and found field mice were coming thru an opening under my sink where the pipes came thru. I took steel wool and tightly blocked every little opening I could find. Mice will chew anything, but steel wool isn't one of them.

[jen6889]

Originally posted by rodak77
How do you tell if they're mice or rats?

Rats are much larger than mice and from what I've heard, Rats are not afraid to make themselves shown either. I'd also assume their droppings would be larger. A mouse dropping looks like a little chocolate sprinkle. Rats are also nastier looking with that long ugly tail and they have a nasty attitude. My dad lives in Norfolk, VA (big city for those not familair). He has a problem with rats in his garage, but his dog doesn't let a single one get by her! I don't know how she catches those things without getting herself hurt! I know if I had rats in my house there would be poison out. I won't stand for rats at all. Both mice and rats carry germs, but rats are worse for germs and they bite. Not that a mouse wouldn't bite, but a mouse is more likely to run from you than bite at you like a rat would.

PS - Mice also seem to like honey, although I'd recommend staying with the peanut butter - less messy. They also like bird seed and my goats' Sweet Feed. The Sweet Feed is covered with molasses so I assume it's the molasses they're after. Couldn't say what the deal with the bird seed is, but they ate it all!

[mayfly]

Out here Rats are about 3/4 of a hand (including fingers) about 4 inches long. Mice are 2 inch- pinky finger size.

Both are ewwwww! gross

so sorry you have them! But I have heard that everyone does, at least one. Usually they are unseen though.

[rodak77]

Hubby was surprised to see the one I killed laying on the porch when he got home, it was funny to see him take it down to our burn pile. Thank You! I feel alot better that I'm not the only one going crazy about these little pest running around. Thank you for all the input will keep waging war on them till their ALL GONE! I'll get them some how.

About the traps, they would eat the bate and not get stuck in the trape even the peanut butter would be gone and no mouse. I think these ones are smart.... the poison seems to be the best since 1 week ago I have 6 on the counter top at 4 in the morning breaking glass I had on the counter, they were fighting over toast crumbs the kids had left.

Thank You again and good luck to everyone else who has the "war" going on.

Hubby still wants to move.

[kat]

Icky!! I can't stand mice!!!

We haven't had a mouse in our home in years - add us to the people who use the plug in things. Yes, they can be pricey, but they do work. We have one in the kitchen, another in the main part of the house & then another one downstairs. Our neighbor is always getting mice & we haven't had a single one, so I think the money was well spent.

I purchased my Weitech ones from Amazon about 2 or 3 years ago on sale. I'm not sure if they still have them, but it might be worth a check beause I paid far less there than at any of the local places (including WalMart & Menards).