Humane Mouse trap not catching the mouse

Teapot55

The mice are coming in because they’re finding a ready source of food. 

(We once bought a bag of porridge oats and put it in the cupboard. After a few weeks we went to get the packet out and there were bite holes in the plastic and loose porridge oats in the bottom of the cupboard. Nowadays we keep porridge oats in a tupperware box and everything else like rice and pasta and lentils in glass jars with airtight lids).

If you’ve got mice then every day for a few weeks you’ll need to watch out for any breadcrumbs or other morsels of food that have been inadvertently left lying around. That’s also bedrooms and living rooms - including down the sides of sofas - if food has been dropped there. When there’s no longer any food around the mice will go somewhere else. 

You also need to be aware that as well as leaving deposits of tiny black grains of poo behind cupboards etc mice also urinate everywhere they run. Cleaning all food preparation surfaces down using antibac spray or wipes just before you get the dinner ready is essential. 

MoonChild91

We've been unlucky enough to have both mice and rats in our house and this is what's worked so far for us:

- Wire wool or expanding foam every place where mice can get in; if you can work out their entry route even better
- Seal all food away in storage containers, and if possible move it into wall cupboards rather than those lower down
- Hoover or mop floors regularly, make sure there are no crumbs around whenever possible - strong scented cleaners also seem to deter them
- No food left out at any point, including scraps left on plates in the sink and fruit bowls etc
- Make sure bins and any recycling are inaccessible
- Move any outdoor bins away from the house
- Move anything that can end up collecting rainwater (like plant pots or garden furniture) away from any points of entry, they will come to drink this
- Remove any bird feeders from your property, it's sad but rodents will come for this

Admittedly our landlord did bring Rentokill in, but they more or less gave us the advice above as the nest was on our neighbour's property so they couldn't do anything about it. If you can find out where the nest is this will be a big help in getting rid of them. 

Ganga

I am surprised no one has suggested buying or borrowing a cat   

Savvy_Sue

GDB2222 said:

I’m being lazy here, but what does the RSPCA recommend? 

By chance I spotted this today:

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/24113153.rspca-shares-get-rid-rats-without-harming/

stuart45

Ganga said:

I am surprised no one has suggested buying or borrowing a cat   

It depends on the cat. We used to have feral cats that used to kill and eat rats, mice, rabbits etc, and were good for keeping vermin down. 
A friend of mine has got a house cat that catches mice, brings them inside and then let's them go.

Savvy_Sue

stuart45 said:

Ganga said:

I am surprised no one has suggested buying or borrowing a cat   

It depends on the cat. We used to have feral cats that used to kill and eat rats, mice, rabbits etc, and were good for keeping vermin down. 
A friend of mine has got a house cat that catches mice, brings them inside and then let's them go.

This is worse than bringing the mice in, dead or alive I'm not sure, and then leaving various parts of their anatomy around the house. And I thought that was pretty bad! 

stuart45

Luckily ours lived outside. They used to eat the whole rat, starting with the head working down to the tail. Good thing about feral cats is that they learn from the mother how to hunt and get down from trees backwards. 

Eldi_Dos

GDB2222 said:

I’m being lazy here, but what does the RSPCA recommend? 

I'm truly sorry Man's dominion 
Has broken Nature's social union
An' justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle


Was Rabbies take on it two centuries ago and as usual he was ahead of his time.

YoungBlueEyes

Ganga said:

I am surprised no one has suggested buying or borrowing a cat   

I had varmints in my garden last year, and Lovely Neighbour's cat thought they were the very best thing ever. Bit like CatTV, he'd sit and watch them running round 'til he got bored, then wander further into the garden to umm move his bowels and then come back to CatTV.  Useless swine. 

Brambling

YoungBlueEyes said:

Ganga said:

I am surprised no one has suggested buying or borrowing a cat   

I had varmints in my garden last year, and Lovely Neighbour's cat thought they were the very best thing ever. Bit like CatTV, he'd sit and watch them running round 'til he got bored, then wander further into the garden to umm move his bowels and then come back to CatTV.  Useless swine. 

luckily my current cat has only brought in 2 mice in 6 years my 2 previous cats would catch, bring in, let go and lose interest leaving me catch the mouse, shrew, frog or  bird    whilst they sat and watch