Mice between floors

skycatcher

We seem to have a mouse/mice in the ceiling of our living. The room above is our bedroom. You can here it/them scurrying along in the living room ceiling but not in the bedroom. I have no idea how it/they are getting into it and there is no evidence of mice anywhere else. I've no idea how to get rid! 

Anyone else had this problem and found a solution? 

Thanks.

DullGreyGuy

Had the problem, poison and traps were put in the loft, in the kitchen behind the kkckboards and outside by an air brick which they thought was too small for mice to get through but couldn't see anything else at ground level. 

Poison outside went, but that could have been anything. Poison in the kitchen was untouched, thankfully, loft you couldn't tell but none of the traps caught anything. 

Scratching in the lounge ceiling stopped a few days after the poison went down. 

elsien

I worked out where they were coming in and put traps down. They were coming into the loft from next door and then using the central heating pipes to move around so most of the droppings would be where I couldn’t see them.

fluffymuffy

We found ultrasonic deterrents to be effective. 

goldfinches

elsien said:

I worked out where they were coming in and put traps down. They were coming into the loft from next door and then using the central heating pipes to move around so most of the droppings would be where I couldn’t see them.

My neighbours and I have an ongoing mouse problem because our block is infested and I often hear the little so-and-sos in the walls which is horrible so I do sympathise with you.
I've quoted @elsien above because I've also found that pipe work is a very easy way for them to get around and they can get through incredibly small gaps.
You really need to block up every gap around pipes, doors etc. with wire wool and sealant and put mouse proof mesh across air bricks and any other openings that can't be closed off and you need to do it before they start breeding or you'll never get rid of them.

Here are some useful links for you.

Traps design I've found easy to bait and set, they kill the mouse instantly without making a mess and are easy to empty the body from as well. Peanut butter works well for baiting them.

These traps also work well but are harder to bait and set, are often messy and difficult to remove the body afterwards. Walnuts, almonds and chocolate digestives work well for bait for these, it has to be something that needs gnawing and so moves the platform.

Sealant and wire wool and mouse mesh are your friends, push the wire wool into any gaps and then use the sealant to set it in place. Use the mesh to cover any openings that can't be sealed.

I haven't gone as far as one of my neighbours who set up a motion sensitive wildlife camera under his kitchen sink but the camera he bought cost about £30 so you might like to ask for advice on the Techie Board.

There's some rather horrifying information about mice here and it tells you how to find a pest controller if you need one too.

Good luck and good hunting.

531063

May sound obvious but 1st thing to do is make sure they have no access to food and water, then they have no reason to stay around your property

Silvertabby

fluffymuffy said:

We found ultrasonic deterrents to be effective. 

We put one of these in our garage, after finding that field mice were after the bird seed.  The little beggers just chewed through the wire.

EssexHebridean

We've got an ultrasonic thing that just plugs directly into a socket - while we can't be certain it has an effect, we've certainly not had issues since it being plugged in and left on... Frankly they are cheap enough that you probably have little to lose. 

skycatcher

If forgotten i have an ultrasonic plug from it or house in the garage! I'll go and try and find it!

Albermarle

Silvertabby said:

fluffymuffy said:

We found ultrasonic deterrents to be effective. 

We put one of these in our garage, after finding that field mice were after the bird seed.  The little beggers just chewed through the wire.

They like fishing bait in a shed as well, and even gnawed through the side of a thick plastic box to get to it.

However now I wrap up the stuff in 3 or 4 layers of plastic bags, and put that in a plastic box and no more problems.

skycatcher

I think it might be starlings! There 2 hanging around at the end of my guttering but got off when i try and see what they are up to!