I've got mice in my kitchen. What do I do next? DIY Pest Control or Call in the Pros? Please help

toby3210

I've got mice in my house They are living under my kitchen units. I'm not sure how many but at least 3 probably more. It's freaking me out and my dog spends the whole night barking under the kitchen units at them.

I need some advice. Do I go ahead and buy one of these DIY mouse control kits or just cut my losses and call the professionals in. I did a quick search and we are talking about £20-40 vs. £150-200.

It's a lot more money but I feel so squeamish when it comes to dealing with it myself.

Albermarle

Even cheaper just put some mouse poison on the floor underneath the units at the back.
Normally there is a plinth at the bottom of the units that is removable.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000LPA2KC

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https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/305834749

Keep dog out of kitchen, keep resetting the traps until you don't catch any for a week or so. 

If calling in pest control see if your local council offer such a service, might be cheaper than a private company.  

Cressida100

Pest control every time. Check your house insurance as you may be covered for this. (I was). I think the cost would have been around £180 for 3 visits. 

Bigphil1474

I'd definitely get the pest control in - even if you kill/catch them, what are you going to do with them? Definitely try the local council's pest control - they are cheaper than a private company, and do a more through job - just from my experience where I live.

CliveOfIndia

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000LPA2KC



keep resetting the traps until you don't catch any for a week or so. 

This.  Those traps work really well, and as said, just keep resetting them until you catch no more mice.

I've never tried tomato ketchup as a bait, but peanut butter always works really well for me.  And the mice aren't fussy, just get the cheapest own-brand stuff you can find from Aldi or Lidl (that's if you don't already have some that you use yourself).

Do make sure there's no food supply for the mice, so make sure there's no odd scraps or crumbs or anything kicking around under the kitchen units.  But even with no food available, you can still get mice - I have them in my loft every so often.  There's no food up there, but they do seem to enjoy nibbling away at the pipe lagging - I'm guessing it makes their nest nice and cosy?

born_again

Peanut butter is a great bait for mice. Gets them all the time.

Rodders53

You need to find the hole(s) where they are getting into the dwelling and suitably mouse-proof those as well as eliminating the intruders.

That is, in part, what you pay the professionals to do... trace where they are getting in and stop them.  

Before they breed and cause more extensive damage.

FreeBear

Rodders53 said: You need to find the hole(s) where they are getting into the dwelling and suitably mouse-proof those as well as eliminating the intruders.

Used to get mice in my kitchen for many, many years. Switched to keeping all food in good quality rigid containers and keeping works surfaces clear of crumbs. Little burgers would still run around. The snap traps helped to reduce the numbers one at a time - Place them against the walls so as the rodents scurry across the traps, they run over the trigger plate.

Eventually found a hole in the floorboards hidden by architrave around the door frame. Plugged that hole, and haven't seen a mouse since.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Bigphil1474 said:

 even if you kill/catch them, what are you going to do with them? 

Put them in the bin

I do feel sorry for the poor things but can't have 'em running around the house. 

Brie

Meanwhile make sure everything, and I mean everything, that is not in a tin or a glass container and is edible is put into something that is mouse proof.  Cereal, rice, flour. Fruit on the counter into the fridge perhaps.

Mice are in there for 3 reasons - warmth, safety from predators and food.  Once you cut off their food supply the place is less attractive but they'll still like it for the first 2 reasons.  (soppy dogs aren't too much of a deterrent - it's cats or foxes that will be more of a worry)

And when setting traps put them right next to the cupboards or wall - mice try to keep safe by being ninjas rather than stomping across the middle of the room unless they have to.