Getting rid of mice the humane way, please help

Quasar

Today while doing housework I found the tell-tale signs of mouse infestation: little droppings and chewed-up bits of plastic carriers. Naturally I don't want these tiny guests, but I don't want to kill them either.

I've heard that there are electronic devices one can plug into a wall socket and an ultra-sound is produced which keeps mice away. Do these things work? Do they work with rats too, just in case? I know where I can get one tomorrow or Sunday, depending on the advice I get here.

I have done a search on this topic but so many seemingly unrelated threads are thrown up that it's just hopeless, so apologies if this has been already discussed.

Magentasue

Not really so humane, I suppose, but what about cats? If you don't have your own, you could encourage neighbours' cats in (with their blessing) - they'll be happy to visit if there are mice! Of course, they may want to carry on visiting once the mice have gone!

When we moved into our last house, we had a constant supply of dead rodents while our cats sorted them out. Thought it'd never end but they cleared the lot.

pandora205

We had a mouse and after trying a humane trap which didn't work we ended up with an old fashioned one which did (but obviously killed the mouse). Then I saw the electronic deterrant, which I bought and have used since. We've never had another mouse but then we didn't have any before either!
So, maybe it has worked. However, my kids complain that they can hear the high pitched tones. Apparently they are similar to those used in shopping centres to stop groups of young people assembling

brightonman123

i got a set (4) of those sonic things from Robert Dyas hardware store-look like mini hifi speakers, plug into any wall socket.

that and a heavy dose of rat bait found three of the blighters, under some junk in a kitchen cupboard - dark cold and damp places seem to be the fave to hide out..

they got fed to the local cat. i havent seen him either, lately..
had an extra good clean of the whole place, no probs since.:beer:

Quasar

Magentasue wrote: »

Not really so humane, I suppose, but what about cats? If you don't have your own, you could encourage neighbours' cats in (with their blessing) - they'll be happy to visit if there are mice! Of course, they may want to carry on visiting once the mice have gone!

When we moved into our last house, we had a constant supply of dead rodents while our cats sorted them out. Thought it'd never end but they cleared the lot.

No I can't have cats (though I just ADORE them) because my flat is in a block and I can't fit a cat flap to the communal door - not allowed. I'm out quite a lot at irregular hours and I'd have to keep the cat indoors or let it out and I don't thin it would be fair.

I used to have a neighbour in the flat next door with three cats (she had he own back door with cat flap) and we had no problems then, but she moved out two years ago. Other cats just go into the garden but as I say I'm not always in and I need a permanent deterrent.

spikeysoul

we tried every humane method we could think of, the sonic devices only work once you have rid of your infestation - and only work in the room you place them in. Unfortunatly I live in an area where the council is buying up a lot of houseing to knock down - this means that some houses have been standing derelict for 8 years, that means lots of mice. There are also the houses they have knocked down - which means even more mice. All we can do is poison them, its horrible, you end up with mice under the floor boards, in the sofa ect. (I had one in a shoe once :eek:). Cheapest place for poison we have found so far is Wilkinsons, I'm sorry I know it's not what you want to do - it's not what I want to do. I've become resigned to it after 2.5 years.

The only thing that really works well is blocking up ALL your gaps and holes EVERYWHERE in the house, and you have to do it again and again and again - until they stop chewing the filler and around the filler. If it's the size of a pencil a fully grown mouse can get through it, if it's smaller the babies will use it. We use a mix of wire wool and external filler - both put them off chewing. (currently as I write this I can hear them above me in the living room wall chewing the plaster board above the window)

The good news - if you have mice, you don't have rats! Good Luck, if you catch them early enough hopefully it won't get as bad as it is here. The previous owner had done nothing to stop them :mad: and it's not something that tends to come up in a survey. Let me know how you get on.

snkerrig

I bought two humane mouse traps from homebase a couple of years ago which worked a treat. Experimented a bit with bait & found Jaffa cakes are best. Have now lent them to a friend who caught 4 mice in one day with the same method.

fraz_babe

Sadly we have the same problem as you. We have tried EVERYTHING. Anyway, not sure if you have pets, or small children. But we have a dog friendly trap and it worked after a few months. And we also bought some from wilkinsons for about 4 pounds and when the mouse goes into the trap, the doors revolve and turns round. Not sure what they are called sorry, but you can get them from wilkinsons. Good luck getting rid of them!

A_fiend_for_life

Even the smell of a cat might be sufficient eg an old t-shirt that a cat has slept on or just borrow one for a couple of hours.

Baiting a bucket is one option I've heard. You place a ramp up to a bucket and a rule across the bucket with a small piece of cheese. The rule is unstable enough that the mouse falls into the bucket and is unable to get out.

You'll probably need to take them quite far to get rid of them though as well as finding out how they got in in the first place.

Quasar

A_fiend_for_life wrote: »

Even the smell of a cat might be sufficient eg an old t-shirt that a cat has slept on or just borrow one for a couple of hours.

Baiting a bucket is one option I've heard. You place a ramp up to a bucket and a rule across the bucket with a small piece of cheese. The rule is unstable enough that the mouse falls into the bucket and is unable to get out.

You'll probably need to take them quite far to get rid of them though as well as finding out how they got in in the first place.

Now that my cat-owning neighbours have moved, I have no neighbours who own cats. My post #5 details my position regards cats.

Other than that I shall see what these electronic devices do.

inspace

find holes and fill with wire wool and and big dollop of hard as nails to set it hard - also pour a squirt of bleach in hole beforehand helps as it is a strong smell and to me smells like cat urine. squirt bleach again in puddles in none sensitive areas such as behind appliances if you have none stainable flooring - we have lino. this worked for us and have none now.