Losing fight with mice

muffinek

I am after advise what else I can do to get rid of mice. 

We spotted their activity out of nowhere few weeks ago. Initially only in the living room now they seem to moved to kitchen only as no activity in the living room for two weeks.

I have no clue how they got in but I put now mesh on airbricks more as a precaution rather than confirmed entry point. 

I put baits and traps. I put peanut butter and chocolate on them. They don't touch baits at all and I put two different ones. We got two using traps but that's it. I have no clue how many there are. The two we got were small and we saw one adult one which I guess is still out there. 

We make sure no food is left and house is clean. We also have cleaner coming once a week. 

I could call pest control but I used them few years ago when in different house but they just put some baits that mice haven't touched and charged me £120 for the pleasure. 


Any suggestions what else we could do? Especially I want to avoid situation where they start reproducing so far apart from some droppings here and there I haven't seen any other signs of mice so I assume there are not too many yet. I live in Victorian semi if that matters. 

Our next door neighbours said they don't have any issues but neighbours on the other side (not shared wall) also have the same issue.

another_casualty

Have you looked at the eaves and fascia boards? 

Have you a loft ? I guess you haven't a cat 🐈‍⬛ . Is someone feeding birds/ squirrels nearby? 

muffinek

I have a loft haven't seen there any activity but perhaps I should put there a bait to see if it attracts anything. I can't check eaves and fascias, the house is too tall but if that was the entry point I guess I should see some activities in bedrooms upstairs but there is none. 

No feeding birds/squirrels but neighbours who also fight with mice they have a large dog and I think often they leave his water and food outside. Also neighbours couple doors down have a rabbit cage in the garden so I assume perfect breeding ground for mice. 

another_casualty

Regarding the eaves and fascia , no need to go on ladder etc. just stand back and check at alll angles taking pics on your phone .
Maybe get the neighbour to look with you.
The dog food outside is an attraction to mice , as is the rabbit stuff. The people with the rabbits  should be wary of those rabbits being watched by foxes 🦊🦊

canaldumidi

I get field mice coming in every winter when it's cold. Mostly under the floorboards where I don't worry too much, but recety I found they'd been in the airing cupboard and eating into the spare loo rolls. Don't ask me why!

I caught 8 over 3 days with traps (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353734656536 ) using peanut butter, and also set poison (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380941639993?var=650282100772 ).

However I have found in the past that they manage to get the bait out of the traps without springing them - think they teach each other!

If peanut butter does not work try chocolate.

I'm afraid if you caught young ones that means there at least 2 adults out there, and they breed fast.....

How many traps do you have and where are they?

FreeBear

Used to have mice here, particularly during the winter months. The cat would catch an occasional one, and a snap trap would get another.

It wasn't until after I had plugged all the gaps in the floorboards & between skirting that the mice stopped coming in. One of their favorite entry points was where the ring main cables disappeared  through a hole in the floor - The little burgers can get through a hole the size of a pencil (allegedly), so you have to be thorough in plugging the gaps. It also help to cut down on draughts, so the house should feel a little warmer.

muffinek

There is concrete floor in the kitchen and I have a laminate put over original floorboards no gaps there and also no gaps between the floor and skirting boards. I have put already some chocolate next to peanut butter but still not biting. 

ObserverOfLife

Try Jam on the trap, sticky and sweet. Killed 3 mices within hours of using this. 

greyteam1959

Make sure you fill any gaps around waste pipes going though your walls.

LateStarter

I've used these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pest-Stop-Sure-Set-Plastic-Mouse-Trap/dp/B000LPA2KC/ and Nutella. But when I got  4 in 4 days, I moved on to https://www.screwfix.com/p/pest-stop-rodent-wax-blocks-10g-15-pack/7894x. Seems to have done the job.

twopenny

I've had mice in the loft during winter, the really cold spells mostly. They found their way up the rendering to a gap where the guttering went to the wall. Usually used by sparrows nesting. They came between the brick courses I'm guessing. No other way.

So some further dective work. It only needs somewhere very small.

I then sprayed the loft with flea spray (don't judge) it was very smelly and strong smells put them off. It did work.

Apart from them being attracted by the multiple things like bird and rabbit food we all put out they are out there and like the warm as much as we do.

Canaldumidi, the toilet rolls ideal nesting material when shredded.