Found a mouse in rental property

AdrianC

greatcrested said:

Mice don't smell when they die/rot - at least not that I've noticed. Now rats! They really do....!

Oh, they definitely do...

When they've escaped from the furry jaws of death, mortally wounded, and slunk off behind a bookcase.

nyermen

Peanut butter works well.

I can vouch for the peanut butter, caught 3 in the last few days in the loft (they're getting in somehow, but no where else in the house.  Can they really scamper up the house and in through the eave vents?  I also can't work out where they're getting their food from).  

Amazon did me some good value humane traps, if OP prefers that, just remember to release them several miles away, they're like homing pigeons!

Skiddaw1

AdrianC said:

greatcrested said:

Mice don't smell when they die/rot - at least not that I've noticed. Now rats! They really do....!

Oh, they definitely do...

When they've escaped from the furry jaws of death, mortally wounded, and slunk off behind a bookcase.

Or under the washing machine.

Or behind the sofa.

Or in the depths of my favourite shopping bag.

I could go on.....

bouicca21

Voice of experience - when dead they smell for 3 days.

When I had mice in my rental it proved impossible to get rid.  They laughed at traps, even when baited with chocolate/peanut butter.  They eventually ate their way through filler and steel wool.   

Protect all foodstuffs by putting them in plastic boxes.  Borrow a cat or a Jack Russell.

I can’t believe  how light hearted people are taking this. They are filthy creatures and it makes me feel sick just thinking back to it!

youth_leader

I agree that dead mice pong, finally found ours at the very back of the piano, horrible sweet piddly smell.  I learnt about biodiversity the hard way when I moved into rural countryside.  When we moved in I wondered why the previous owner had spilt their chocolate cake decorations all over the cupboards, ha ha!  Only when I'd cleaned them several times and there were wet patches as well I realised every cupboard was a mouse playground.  Finally found a mouse drowned, he'd got stuck in the tube of chocolate ice cream flavouring.  Used tins in all cupboards from then on - but lid downwards, they still came in.

sheramber

 Living in the country we got visited by field mice. For every one trapped there were dozens waiting to come in.
I found a sonic deterrent worked well. They packed their little bags and left.

nyermen

sheramber said:

 Living in the country we got visited by field mice. For every one trapped there were dozens waiting to come in.
I found a sonic deterrent worked well. They packed their little bags and left.

Interesting, I'd heard they didn't.  I think i'll try one anyway then if they worked for you.  They're only in the loft (can't work out where they're feeding).  I'm on the edge of town, with lots of fields / railway banks / rivers & banks nearby, so far 2 field mice, one house mouse.  Seem to appear (scutter scutter) when its extra cold.

Skiddaw1

They have a tendency to come in during the winter when the weather is cold. Its an occupational hazard of living in/on the edge of countryside I think (though presence of cat doesn't help it has to be said).

hb2

I can attest that regurgitated* mice smell foul.
*By the cat, not me, I hasten to add!

Stubod

..if I was the landlord I would want a rent increase for keeping pets...