Getting rid of rats/mice (merged threads)

Leeds_House_Mover

Thanks for the comments...much appreciated.

I put down traps but they did nothing and the mice/rats even ate the nutella/ham/cheese from them.

I put expanding filler in the holes nearest the kitchen and that seems to have stopped the food being taken from the traps but who knows? Also have the council pest control people coming tomorrow.

I think they were coming in from some holes near the kitchen but I think I'll get those vent things for the cellar air holes anyway.

Let's hope we can get rid sooner rather than later.

escapee

I didn't realise just how clever rats are until I had to deal with them, for most of the time they were definitely one step ahead.

We had them in the attic, I had poison as well as humane and break-back traps situated up there and there would be many times I'd go to investigate and either the bait had gone or the trap triggered but failed to catch/kill the rodent.

In the three winter periods we had rat activity, I successfully killed 1 in the break-back trap, 3 via poisoning (very smelly situation but I would rather have the smell than the activity/damage) and 1 in the humane trap - this was despite hearing activity almost every night.

Hopefully the council can provide a few pointers and work out the means of entry for you. Expanding foam will work in the short term, but won't provide much of a barrier against the teeth of a rat which apparently has the strongest teeth/jawbone of any creature and can, if necessary, chew through masonry and metal. Rats also have to chew constantly to prevent their teeth protruding through their gums as rat teeth never stop growing.

Good Luck.... if the council opt for poisoned bait, be prepared for some very foul smelling weeks ahead if you can't locate the body.

pineapple

Just moved into a rural rented property and as it's not mine, I can't really go round repairing all the holes/ingress points. Had no idea I had mice (no scratching or droppings) till one ran across the kitchen floor one night as bold as you like. :eek:
It came from underneath a kitchen unit (the kick plates are about an inch off the floor).
Anyhow I've put the same plastic trap down (bought pre baited) 2 nights running and caught 2 now. Both clean kills. I did put a humane trap down as well but no interest in that.
Not sure whether they are field mice or house mice. Not sure whether that makes a difference anyway - I don't want to be sharing my space with any mouse.
However I hate killing things. Once in an old farmhouse I heard the trap go but no mousey. Found it sat on the curtain rail - with blood on its nose and teeth chattering - presumably in terror. Shone a torch into it's eyes and picked it up, taking it to the bathroom where I applied Savlon to its nose before releasing it outside. :rotfl:

pineapple

escapee wrote: »

Anyone who disagrees, you just lay awake at night in a cold sweat just listening for the gnawing/grinding sounds they make, whilst wondering what damage is being caused to the structure/wires etc. That would soon change your attitude.

I had rats where I lived in Uganda. They would come out at night and swing on the wind chime that was hanging in the kitchen. Used to lay awake listening to it. :eek:
I found they were living in an old cooker that was being stored in the house. I found that if I put a bucket of water and some bait below where they were coming out they would fall in the bucket and drown. But the local method was 'rat glue'. Having caught a rat on some sticky card, they would be put out in the sun to die - which I thought was very cruel. Rats are not to be messed with though. I got very ill with typhus while in the house and the doc thought it might be due to the rats.

escapee

I've seen home made rat traps with a bucket and bait and it seems effective for multiple rat infestations.

I looked into the glue boards and this does appear to be cruel BUT I would not have ruled this method out if others had failed - however, I'd despatch the rat as quickly and humanely as possible if caught on a glue board.

I do feel 'some' sympathy for the rat, after all it didn't ask to be born a rat but the damage they cause and the germs they carry means they are a danger to humans and for this reason I could not allow them to live and breed if I caught one.

I do have a soft spot for mice (probably because they are smaller, cuter and not as destructive as rats) I remember a cat once toying with a terrified mouse when I was a child - I managed to 'rescue' the mouse and attempted to nurse it back to health but sadly it died of shock a day or so later. Though I may change my opinion if I find them co-habiting my house!

freezspirit

With everything going on at home with my parents health I haven't been down to my bungalow lately to do any work on it. One of the neighbours mentioned to me that rats had been seen in the area about 4 or 5 bungalows down from mine. And a pest control van have been seen in the close so she went straight out to purchase a couple of plug in devices to keep the rats away and she said another neighbour has put rat poison in their garden.


Since I'm not down my bungalow all the time what is best for me to do, put down poison or get a plug in device. If so which one? I had a quick look on amazon and they has mixed reviews.

maninthestreet

You really want to kill the rats, so putting poison down is the best approach - make sure your buy a bait box in which to put the poison - do not just scatter the poison around the garden. You will need to keep putting the poison down until it is no longer taken by the rats.

freezspirit

Haven't seen any evidence of rats on my property but again don't want rats. Putting poison now is a worry for me, health problems and I don't want to touch dead rats.


Can anyone confirm if these plug in devices actually work?

Giggidy

Cleaned out the cupboards the weekend and found what looks like mouse droppings and a chewed through sauce powder packet (cheese flavour go figure ) in the bottom corner cupboard.

Dont really know what to do for the best to get rid of the critter(s), there is just so much conflicting info on google. Has anyone successfully removed mice from their homes for good, preferably in a not die a horrible death way?

1978

We first noticed our mouse problem on Sunday when I got an early night and my wife watched the television for a bit in the living room. She was just sat checking her phone and one ran across the room.

I bought some traps yesterday (Monday) and caught one.
Are there likely to be more? I suspect so!