Getting rid of rats/mice (merged threads)

joe134

hansi wrote: »

I'm not certain but I think Mickey has left the building. I bought an electronic plug in repeller in the local market last week, and since its been plugged in, there have been no signs of him/her. I'm still putting the traps out, but hopefully I can stop doing that soon. The only thing that worries me is that, can I leave the repeller plugged in permanently when I'm away?

Another winter. Just caught my 6th this week in my tried and tested method, of 2 traps with chocolate. (my chocolate)
Got expensive rat/mouse bait by the side, untouched.
I average 15-20 every year, last 18 years of living here.
near fields.hazard of country living.

rich_jtg

joe134 wrote: »

Another winter. Just caught my 6th this week in my tried and tested method, of 2 traps with chocolate. (my chocolate)
Got expensive rat/mouse bait by the side, untouched.
I average 15-20 every year, last 18 years of living here.
near fields.hazard of country living.

This is probably a daft question, but do you have the traps set up in any particular configuration (spacing, direction)?

joe134

rich_jtg wrote: »

This is probably a daft question, but do you have the traps set up in any particular configuration (spacing, direction)?

Not a daft question at all.
I place them Next to each other and rentokill (useless) granules in dish next to them.In the position I first found evidence of mice;;They chewed a hole in table rubber cover,(heat restistant) and foam insulation, in roof void, cubby hole,where I store things in bed 1. I often hear traps go off in the night, (insomniac) but they travel all over the house, rather a big one;;BUT;They always come back to the traps,they are clever;
They throw themselves on the chocolate, and leave the rentokill.
Mine come every year without fail, and I leave traps in the same place all year round, with choccie on;; they build a nest in my loft, don,t know where they get in, put mesh over every air brick;
they can get in a hole pencil thick, and breed a litter every 6 weeks, so you can soon become overun.
they can smell for long distances, and always leave thier trail marked, never move my traps , same place all the time.all year round, I catch em in summer even,' residents.'
caught 6 in 1 day, babies, on patio, coming out of airbrick, used broom, but they are quick.
vermin..happy hunting.

rich_jtg

Thanks for this info - really useful to know.

I've just broken my spare trap, so will get another tomorrow and get them set up in the loft.

I'm new to this mouse lark, and I'm already fed up of emptying the trap!

I'll also find some mesh for the airbricks as that could be where they're getting in.

joe134

rich_jtg wrote: »

Thanks for this info - really useful to know.

I've just broken my spare trap, so will get another tomorrow and get them set up in the loft.

I'm new to this mouse lark, and I'm already fed up of emptying the trap!

I'll also find some mesh for the airbricks as that could be where they're getting in.

I had 3 traps, but, mouse must have got caught and ran away with it still attached, never found it.
Goes without saying, beware if you have any OTHER pets.especially if using rat/mouse bait.;;;;;
I don,t but am surrounded by neighbours cats,security lights on /off all night,outside, some use they are as a deterent;

Luth5er

Keep all food sealed up and out of the way.

warmhands.coldheart

About 2 weeks ago, I had 3 mice in my house on the ground floor and since have just recently caught/killed 2 using traps. (Both on the head so no doubt a quick ending). however about 5 days ago i noticed the third scamper across our living room wall (Quite a small one) well since then there has been no sign of it. Nothing in the traps (6 of them set around the ground floor, no droppings anywhere upstairs or down. not a dickybird. I had been around the house exterior and filled up all holes they could have got in thorugh so would it be a possibility that if it was a really young mouse it has curled up somewhere and died? just can't figure where it may have gone or can they go long period without food?

joe134

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

About 2 weeks ago, I had 3 mice in my house on the ground floor and since have just recently caught/killed 2 using traps. (Both on the head so no doubt a quick ending). however about 5 days ago i noticed the third scamper across our living room wall (Quite a small one) well since then there has been no sign of it. Nothing in the traps (6 of them set around the ground floor, no droppings anywhere upstairs or down. not a dickybird. I had been around the house exterior and filled up all holes they could have got in thorugh so would it be a possibility that if it was a really young mouse it has curled up somewhere and died? just can't figure where it may have gone or can they go long period without food?

Hi, This happens to me often.
Catch 6>8. Then a spell with none, then several more.a few weeks later...They love keeping you on your toes.
There can be more than 1 nest in the house, therefore, breeding cycle varies.
I,ve got all airbricks meshed over, but they still come, once in, usually get them every year, leave your traps set all the time, mine are all year round, catch them in summer, babies, et.al
Fieldmice come in over winter. Housemice, all year round, and can .
litter every 6 weeks, hence the lull.
18 years for me, every year, summer/winter.near countryside.;;this years bad due to wettest summer for 100 years, they ain,t gone out to play;

warmhands.coldheart

joe134 wrote: »

Hi, This happens to me often.
Catch 6>8. Then a spell with none, then several more.a few weeks later...They love keeping you on your toes.
There can be more than 1 nest in the house, therefore, breeding cycle varies.
I,ve got all airbricks meshed over, but they still come, once in, usually get them every year, leave your traps set all the time, mine are all year round, catch them in summer, babies, et.al
Fieldmice come in over winter. Housemice, all year round, and can .
litter every 6 weeks, hence the lull.
18 years for me, every year, summer/winter.near countryside.;;this years bad due to wettest summer for 100 years, they ain,t gone out to play;

Thanks,

Thought I heard the little bu.gg.er. last night under the first floor, floor boards. the house has only recently been fully renovated no air bricks any more. They have definately only come in in the last few weeks so I'm hopping they haven't set up house just yet. I found one hole round the entire house that wasn't filled up fully so I think they must have got in there but that is now cemented up. Think (and hope) this is the last one standing

Sazparella_83

What happens if you have two lazy scaredy cats that run away from mice/rats though? Are vermin reluctant to enter a property if they can smell cats around? I haven't experienced mice at the moment, but moving to a semi-rural location soon and can foresee this problem in the future! :eek: :eek: Oh well, means I can rescue more cats I suppose!