The nights are getting colder and the little bas##rds are starting to come inside. I'm referring to our furry little friends the mice.
I've set traps for them, blocked up any holes I can see and yet they still find there way into the house. I hate hearing the trap snap shut but at least I know that's another packet of crisps they haven't eaten!
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In truth its not just this time of year we've been having problems with them, all year they've been a major issue in the garden. My mum has suffered worse with mice in her garden this year, above is a picture of what is left of her beetroot, not very appetizing I'm sure you'll agree.
I didn't have a single strawberry this year. I blamed my inability with growing them, but I've seen the evidence and I know it's mice, my neighbour said she's caught 50 while her strawberries were growing!
So any hints or tips on getting rid of them? I'd rather not get a cat as I'm just not a cat person, also many friend have said that you end up with more in the house as the cat brings them in for you still alive!
I bait the traps with either peanut butter, chocolate or good old fashioned cheese (for the Tom and Jerry type nostalgia) and I can normally catch the one I'm after but I need to less the numbers considerably!
Kev - I feel, and share your pain...
ReplyDeleteThis (http://ecofootprintsa.blogspot.com/2014/02/another-eco-friendly-solution.html) works a treat. And, you can safely disposed of them where owls can find them, as they are non-poisonous.
Thats looks like a good method thanks! We did something similar with buckets of water once with rats in a grain shed. We caught quite a few as it was the only water in there.
DeleteI didn't like cats either, but when we moved to the house we live in now, 3 years ago, a cat was living in the greenhouse, it slowly but surely insinuated itself into our lives. Still semi-feral, but after 3 years it's a bit more domesticated.
ReplyDeleteIt keeps the mice down, only ever brought one alive which I caught without too much trouble, it lines the carcasses up on the front doorstep for our inspection before eating them.
It lives quite happily outside when we go away on holiday, always waiting for us on return.
Don't think there's a better solution to mice.
Trouble is I like the birds too much!
DeleteWe'll have the same problem soon.
ReplyDeletethats the trouble as soon as it starts getting cold!
DeleteI agree with Cumbrian, Kev. Get yourself a mice and you won't have any mice. I won't use poison around my smallholding. We let the cat and terrier earn their keep eradicating rodents like rats and mice. Chocolate is the best bait for mouse traps.
ReplyDeleteDid you see the River Cottage episode when Hugh went to see the white witch about his mouse problem? She told them to write a letter and leave it for the mice saying you don't wish them any harm but please will you leave the house.
You could always get one of those sonic plug in repellents that emit high pitched sounds that only rats and mice can hear.
Good luck!
Even get yourself a CAT.
ReplyDeleteI thought you were being very profound. Like send a thief to catch a thief! I remember that river cottage - got it on DVD somewhere - woman was nuts!
DeleteI put a couple traps together in the house an sometimes get a couple. You can make traps for outside with tin cans, wire and rubber bands.
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of the macgyver style trap!
DeleteI've heard that mice hate the smell of mint.
ReplyDeleteJane x
Now you mention it they've never stole the toothpaste!
DeleteSorry terrible joke!
See then, it's true!
DeleteJane x
I suppose I'm setting myself up for kidding, but I use "catch 'em alive" traps and they work pretty well. Then I just carry the mice out in the woods and let them go. People like to kid me about being the ferocious survivalist who wouldn't kill a mouse, but what can I say? I like animals.
ReplyDeleteI hope that second amendment discussion over at my place didn't make you think we were basing on the British. Not so. Different strokes for different folks.
i didn't think you were bashing the British at all. I enjoy those types of discussions, nothing gets Americans blood pressure up more than talking about the second Amendment!
DeleteI heard about the live traps that they can find there way back from quite a distance. Maybe next time you do it you should mark the mouse so you know if its the same one!
You need to make a few bucket mousetraps.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/cDuvxIVPUbw
Yep I think thats what I need to do. although they can jump pretty high!
DeleteI say get over the cat aversion. Our cat catches TONS of mice and leaves the evidence of his hard work at our doorstep. It's very satisfying to see and your love for cats will grow as the mice pile up! Your daughters will love the cat, too :)
ReplyDeleteI think there is little doubt of the girls loving a cat but I just don;t like them much! I hate the thought of them jumping on everything.
DeleteI personally wouldn't get a cat just to solve the mouse issue. Your mouse numbers would drop but so would your garden bird numbers. Seeing cats drag in half dead thrush chicks (declining species) is heart breaking. I used to use glass milk bottles with the inside neck lubricated with a dot of washing up liquid. Set the neck on a stone to keep the bottle on a slant and pop some bait in the bottle. The mice will go in but wont be able to get out. Then you can take the little things down the road and let them go.
ReplyDeleteMiss Tulip x
The Thrifty Magpies Nest
Thats the main thing that puts me off. I'd want one that would hunt but only animals with four legs - I doubt I could get them to understand!
DeleteWe have five cats and four dogs.........no mice x
ReplyDeleteBig feed bill though!
DeleteI hafta agree with the cat enthusiast. After all these strays started showing up our mouse problem dropped to almost nill. The only issue I ave now is the wife is constantly telling me where a dead mouse has been left outside to remove from her sight.
ReplyDeleteI did see a few mice running as I was brush hogging the garden down the other day though so the cats are slacking a little but if one gets inside they will eventually get it.
My wife won't touch the dead mice either! not sure I'd want the cats inside and then they'd never get very tame.
DeleteAh, now, mice are a prob. Plus rats. Just had the first of the winter visitors come into the house last night. Think it is rats. They make a bigger nibbling sound than do mice. Traps are no good. Has to be poison. Not nice to find flattened carcasses though. Or to have a lot of flies suddenly appear having been started in those carcasses. Won't get a cat though. We are not cat people either. Can't stand the thought of them climbing all over the furniture including the kitchen surfaces. Good luck with your mouse solution. Will follow with interest. Love and hugs to your two little girls. Vx
ReplyDeleteIt's the smell of finding a dead one but not knowing where it is that I hate about poison! It can linger for weeks as well! Yuk!
Delete