Getting rid of rats/mice (merged threads)

Browntoa

Remove the kick boards under the units and look for holes in the floor or along the side of soil pipes going outside. There may be evidence of a nest. Put a humane trap there underneath

VfM4meplse

Work out all points of entry (mice can squeeze through spaces as small as 5mm), and then stuff them with wire mesh sponges soaked in mouse poison.

It's humane in the sense that it keeps them out of your kitchen. They'll find easier pickings elsewhere.

Heyyouguys

I hear they can come back to the house if not released too far away (not sure how much of this is true though!)

Agree with the non-humane traps, the snap traps though rather than the sticky paper.

Also they are probably accessing the kitchen through holes somewhere, have a look under the units if possible. If you find a hole, I think you have to use steel or some metal wool to stuff the hole (not plastic or rubber which can be nibbled through), and maybe put some caulk or expanding foam in the hole as well to keep the wool in place and stop any movement.

Last thing to keep keep any open food in containers and keep the kitchen clean (I'm sure it is already though )

DCFC79

Move your freezer and see if the point of entry is there, if its too heavy for you then get a friend or neighbour to do it.

Have you noticed anything before that might indicate presence of a mouse.

kazwookie

Get a cat in!

NaughtiusMaximus

kazwookie wrote: »

Get a cat in!

Depends on the cat, ours would just sit there and watch it.

Ellieduval

NaughtiusMaximus wrote: »

Depends on the cat, ours would just sit there and watch it.

Ours is the same.
Ours have been known to bring in mice.frogs and birds and play with them,get tired then lie there washing themselves before dozing off to sleep leaving me to catch the damn things.
Nothing worse than getting up in the morning to an angry blackbird thats been locked in your kitchen all night and has pooped everywhere while your cats lie peacefully alseep in their beds after having had their play with it.
They never kill them tho,just leave them to do their own thing when they get tired of playing.
I don't think either would earn their keep as mousers :rotfl:

asdv

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Work out all points of entry (mice can squeeze through spaces as small as 5mm), and then stuff them with wire mesh sponges soaked in mouse poison.

It's humane in the sense that it keeps them out of your kitchen. They'll find easier pickings elsewhere.

Spot on advice, in my experience. You have to physically block every single possible entry point at ground level. It is generally only if trapped, starving (ie. not finding food elsewhere) that they will go to the trouble of knawing through (or enlarging an existing hole) woodwork to get in to a house.


I don't think cats are much good. I knew one that brought live mice in to the house and let them go there!

pimento

Not just ground level. I was finding mice in my bathroom on the first floor.

tiggerkid

NaughtiusMaximus wrote: »

Depends on the cat, ours would just sit there and watch it.

Haha, reminds me of my aunt's cat. She got him precisely for this issue of dealing with mice in her cellar. The cat couldn't care less