Losing fight with mice

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

canaldumidi said:

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?

Another vote for the traps link here, I put ketchup in them as it can be squirted in without messing about and the mice who were living in the shed were tempted enough judging by how many were caught. 

maisie_cat

We get mice here when it gets cold and although I don't like it, have opted for poison. They are probably field mice, we are surrounded by fields. We have woodpiles, veg in pots and beds as well as polytunnels so there is plenty of shelter & food outside. We also get them in the garage sometimes but I haven't found a nest. We have also twice in 2 years spotted a single rat in the old pigsty, so I suspect they have relatives too.
If they are in the kitchen, is there loose food in cupboards, check the cabinets for poo. We decant all dry food products into glass jars. Unopened packets are in plastic clip top boxes.
In our last house they came up through the floor under a cabinet and ate a water filter. 
Having a cat only helps if it's mother taught it how to hunt. Ours didn't so the one time we had one running around the sitting room she just stared at it !!

Ben1989

Firstly, try and confirm entry points. Air bricks is how they got into our house. Metallic mesh over them now. As has been said, a pencil width as the rule of thumb. Gas pipe entry points? Telephone lines? Any external wires? Any gaps around windows?

Secondly, declutter. You need the house completely tidy. Think of a modern minimalistic type of house. Mice like mess and hiding spots.

Move foods into plastic containers. Mainly foods in easily opened packaging (i.e. cereal boxes, chocolate bars etc. Essentially everything that isn't in a tin.

At the end of every single day thoroughly scrub down work surfaces, and vacuum every where. Any crumbs the mice will grab at night so it's important to do this. They can also get their water from food so this is essential.

If using poison (worked for us) ensure to leave it along edges (i.e. walls) as they use these to move around due to their limited vision. If you have children or pets ensure you have tamper-proof poison containers.

Poison can be confirmed as working by their droppings changing from black to the poison colour.

Good luck

Santinja14

I did put salami on my traps or cheese. On salami they are coming very quickly. Never heard of peanut butter or chocolate 😁 but i might give it a try. 

Mumof2girls£

A reputable pest control is the best option. 

We had an issue in November last year (probably started October) we heard scratching noises in the cavity walls occasionally. Couldn’t work out what it was and no evidence of droppings etc. The sound eventually went under the floorboards of the upstairs! Researched and found a good pest control, who came out assessed whole house, found droppings, put down traps, bait and sensors, inside and out. filled all entry points £150 for 3 visits, (upto 2 weeks between each visit) work guaranteed for 1 month. So far so good.
We never would have worked out where they were coming in (through the roof of our house!!)

ryan7

If you're not trapping any then I'm fairly confident there are no mice in that room. 

iaon

I know this will be unpopular, but could I urge people not to use poison, the rodent can still get out and if caught by an owl etc will poison the birds. I found using an attractant is not a good idea, as it does just that, attracts them. A trap of some kind is the best way imo. If you google it, there are many things that are worth a try. Bear in mind, too with mice if you can put a pencil into an opening, a mouse can get through. Good luck.

J_B

We find these blocks very effective ...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114867111274