nectarine Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 I got such good advice on removing the wasps' nests from our lofts, so perhaps I can ask for advice on getting rid of other unwelcome pests. We've had a few mice coming in to the house and have used the Lucifer traps and caught four already. They're small and grey, which I think are house mice, probably living in the basement. We cannot have a cat here for the moment since it is a holiday home and until we get settled here permanently - in the new year - I don't want to own a cat that would need regular feeding, since there are no near neighbours to look after it. Plus we don't know anyone who owns a cat so we cannot borrow one! So, no cat solutions! We've put out more traps and also put out some noise-emitting plugs that we got from an English hardware shop .....but are there any more ideas or solutions that you could suggest? I don't really like the idea of killing them and would prefer to just keep them out of the house and nearby. What good ideas could you suggest please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 In all honesty, there are billions of mice out there so killing the little bugµµµs is not a great loss. And there is an epidemic this year which could lead to disease if not controlled. Go to the local CAVAC or farmers supply shop, get the little blue poison bags and chuck them under furniture (especially arm chairs and sofas) and kitchen units, and wherever they have left their calling cards. If you dont they will cause total chaos in your house and can be very dangerous. Trapping is just a luxury which only applies when you are there to empty the traps. And mice are not cute little Disney characters. When the bags are no longer eaten you have won, for a while. Keep on doing it forever and you will win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 I wouldnt normally kill anything but the worry with mice is that they may get into your wiring and if your not there all the time this could cause a fire, so Id go with wooley's idea and get the poison[:(] better be safe than sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deimos Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 I've always found the humane traps work best. Ignoring any "killing" concerns I've never caught anything in the traditional traps and catch loads in the humane ones - so I use the humane ones and release the critters long way away in the fields.What I find is that, when I detect them indoors I put out the traps and can catch one (sometimes two) a day, for several days then nothing. I assume the sudden stop is because they have now all been removed.Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 If they arnt there all the time they wont be able to let them out and they will be trapped starving to death[:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 We share the same problem at the moment at our house in England - where we have a 3 year old cat that is completely uninterested in doing his duty and getting rid of them for us, so I wouldn't rely on that as a solution even if you were there all the time. We have been putting down both bait and humane traps - we'll try anything if only we could get rid of them. So far they have cost me £80 to replace an outflow pipe for our dishwasher, and gnawed their way through plastic containers to get to the fishfood. They have also managed to get into the fridge by enlarging the water drainage hole at the rear - fortunately that fridge only contains wine bottles so no food but still not at all pleasant (not to mention astonishing until we worked out their route). We have never found a nest in the house despite rigorous cleaning and searching. Every so often (this has been going on since last July), we have a period when we see no sign of them - presumably we have managed to eliminate a generation - but then they return. I am told that we need to find the entry points to the house and close them off. Do you know where they are coming in? Helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEO Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie, O, what a panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi' bickering brattle! I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee, Wi' murd'ring pattle! Written by Robert Burns . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 It is easy to see why Burns does not travel much beyond the Scots diaspora. I wonder how many read him these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 Is it not the current vernacular [:-))]It certainly seems so if one or two of my sporran wearing "commando" colleagues out here are to be judged by [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 On the wigs nothing is weal Mr Wabbit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoverfrog Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 chocolate on a conventional 'nipper' trap. Quality Street purple ones work best in my experience (the ones with caramel and a whole hazelnut inside) but Lindt caramel mini-eggs from Casino are also very effective :)As has been said, check the traps several times a day and when there are no more mice then there are no more mice!Sometimes cats bring in more than they kill, but a Patterdale terrier will exterminate all of them very efficiently - even the ones the cats bring in and let go!We have had several varieties of mice - the 'house-mouse' is apparently unpalatable (bodies left in strategic places) but field-mice are devoured and the dog will mug the cats for a tasty mouse-treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 [quote user="hoverfrog"]chocolate on a conventional 'nipper' trap.[/quote]I'll second that.Only had the occassional "visitor" but my record for catching one was inside of 3 minutes from the setting of the trap [:D]Peanut butter is also highly effective I'm told but I have not personally tried it.Several threads on the subject, just search for mouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
val douest Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 I recently bought some old-fashioned mothballs (the really smelly ones contining naptholene) as we thought we had a fouine in residence again. The mothballs (suggested by someone on this forum) worked immediately last time - the fouine family simply moved out. I had trouble finding the traditional mothballs as naptholene is now a restricted chemical but finally e-bay came up trumps. Anyway, the packet suggests that the mothballs can deter mice and squirrels so it may be worth trying them. For the fouines we pushed the mothballs into any small opening we could find (not next to any electrical wires as naptholene is inflammable) and also left some in a punctured margarine carton on one of the roof beams which we thought they were using for access. So far it's quiet again at night, thank goodness! If you are leaving the house empty for periods of time it would be easy to leave a few punctured cartons containing mothballs around the place as a deterrent though you'd have to open all the doors and windows on arrival to get rid of the smell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tenniswitch Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 [quote user="ErnieY"][quote user="hoverfrog"]chocolate on a conventional 'nipper' trap.[/quote]I'll second that.Only had the occassional "visitor" but my record for catching one was inside of 3 minutes from the setting of the trap [:D]Peanut butter is also highly effective I'm told but I have not personally tried it.Several threads on the subject, just search for mouse.[/quote]About every 5 years a family of field mice will find its way into our house. I've had excellent results using conventional traps baited with peanut butter (preferable the "chunky" variety).It may take 3 or 4 days to ensure that you've gotten all the little darlings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Sit very quietly in room with loaded shotgun in lap and wait for the little deevilz. Then raise gun slowly to the position, take aim carefully and SQUEEZE the trigger. Usually works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 No doubt highly effective but best not attempted from a rocking chair or one with castors [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 But it has appeared in both cartoons and a movie or two. I had visions of some boozy expat seeing double after his evening bottle and letting fly. The possible results were potentially hilarious, particularly if 'er indoors had already retired for the night. I did have a couple in mind by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Roy Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 Hoverfrog wrote:chocolate on a conventional 'nipper' trap. Quality Street purple ones work best in my experience (the ones with caramel and a whole hazelnut inside) but Lindt caramel mini-eggs from Casino are also very effective :)Lucky mice!! We find common or garden cheapest chocolate bar works just as well. If I send you some will you do a swap for the Quality Street and mini-eggs please?[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoverfrog Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 actually the lindt mini-eggs were left over from Easter as the kids didn't like them :)Quality Street made extra-large versions of their usual range, and the purple ones worked a treat in rat-traps! Found that out by accident, as they'd eaten through my christmas store suitcase to get to the chocolate, and there was enough left over to dispatch the entire infestation :)Hearing a loud 'clunk' from under the bed in the middle of the night as the trap went off has to be one of the most satisfying noises! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyboy Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Sounds like you all need the services of our bagpuss!!Little sod has eased off a bit just lately,but her tally this year has been quite impressive.Numerous mice,voles,rats and frogs.A few birds, thankfully not pigeons this time!!!!!!!!!!!!!They do take a lot of clearing up!A baby grass snake,but now she has aquired a taste for squirrels(grey) before anyone gets upset.Have just been reading a book by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and he reckons that squirrel tastes very good btw.However her crowning achievement so far has to be a stoat,apparently they are incredibly quick and quite ferocious.It was dispatched in short order though in her own inimitable style,our neighbour witnessed the fight in fact and reckons it was fairly quick.She is a Snow Spotted Bengal for those interested,not cheap to buy but an impressive "Work rate"Apologies for any speeling mistakes etc,she has just walked over the keyboard!![;-)]Johnnyboy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocolate Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Since moving in three years ago, we have had an endless stream of mice. The house had been empty before we came and there was a terrible smell everywhere of dead mice in various stages of decomposition as the 'caretaker of the house had put down those little packets of poison and thought that was that. However, we have two house cats and poison was not an option. They are not interested in the mice other than as play-things. Long, horrible story. They are both Bengals too, also expensive, but obviously not in the same mouse catching league as johnnyboy's beauty. Ours are brown spotted. The Snow Spotted Bengal is gorgeous! However, back to the point.In England we had used two humane traps and though in a village, only caught the odd mouse which was disposed of via a car journey up onto the Common and set free. However, here the mice seem to be less robust. After a sucession of dead mice in very steamed-up humane traps, (and clearly having suffered heart-attacks or a slow terrifying death), we had to accept that a very quick end was the best. We now set Lucifer traps in our sous-sol, baited with pieces of walnut, (saved from our own trees) and have very quick results. Then, as has been said above, all goes quiet for a time. Then off we go again. Here in the country I suspect they sit waiting to speed in when a door is left open. It is an endless battle, but nowhere near as bad as originally. We just have the daily 'mouse check' built in to our routine! Also there seems to be a seasonable aspect:- time of year, temperature, crops in the adjacent fields etc.Personally I can think of a much better use for chocolate. What a waste in mouse traps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nectarine Posted November 25, 2007 Author Share Posted November 25, 2007 Some excellent suggestions and thank you very much. I accept that the humane method of catching and releasing mice isn't really practicable and so have installed various Lucifer traps around, baited with cheese and walnuts. I'm afraid the only chocolate in this house is for my and Mr. Nectarine's consumption only, not to be wasted on greedy rodents. I'm going to put poison down in the basement and have checked for entry points into the house .... there are a million various nooks and recesses and gaps in the stones so I think it's nigh on impossible to stop their entry but, instead, to concentrate on despatching them instead.Mr. Nectarine rather likes the suggestion of keeping watch and shooting at them so thanks to whoever suggested that. I shall send the bill for my shattered windows, crockery, figurines, etc., in due course ..... !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyboy Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Hope I've remembered how to do this!!Some pics from last year when she first arrived, we rehomed her due to previous owner becoming allergic.Has settled in well now,should only be another couple of months training for us hopefully[:D][IMG]http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee232/johnnyfedup/206665ad.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee232/johnnyfedup/d710273a.jpg[/IMG]Johnnyboy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WJT Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 I use the humane traps with great success, the ones I use are the wire mesh ones. Chocolate, I don't know what type of trap you use for it to fog up. It sounds to me as if the mouse suffocated, not of a heart attack. I have set quite a few free in France and have never had one die of a heart attack. There is a thread at the moment on another forum about mice, perhaps more helpful towards the end. However, unfortunately, not all very nice though. [:(]http://www.totalfrance.com/france/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36049 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
londoneye Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Agree about the cat thing. Ours is singularly useless at catching mice in house, although strangely has a massive kill rate outside.We use humane traps, and find that we will catch a few and then have several months before next batch, so its not so bad. You will probably find when you do move over that most of them will move on out anyway, once you are in full habitation and you will only have to deal with the odd few at various times of year.I really don't advocate poison, but in your situation I guess it's the best solution. However, best to check your cellar and see if you can plug up any large gaps, to ensure you don't come back to the body of next door's cat etc on your next visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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