Mice misery how can we get rid of them!
Discussion
When we moved into this (rural) house, there was definitely a mouse infestation, and we were catching several every day. Now, we catch 1-2 a year.
As above really, poison or snap traps - you're not dealing with an endangered species here!
I'd avoid glue traps - they *are* cruel - and live-catch traps really aren't effective. At best, in a densely-populated area, you're releasing the mice to be killed by your neighbours. In rural areas, they'll just make a beeline for where they were.
Mice can climb well, and can fit through any gap you can push a pencil through. Apart from blocking up any holes with mortar, consider putting fine stainless steel mesh over your airbricks.
Also, keep your doors closed - quite often, mice just walk straight in!
Opinions differ on external bait boxes, some pest controllers swear that they attract mice to the house and cause a bigger problem, so if you use them place them away from the house, probably around the perimiter fence.
Cats? I'm not convinced. Most house cats seem more interested in playing with mice rather than killing them. Maybe if you have semi-feral farm cats, but the average moggy would rather eat from a tin. I'm allergic anyway, so it ruled them out for us.
To try and spot where they are getting in\out, look for any holes or gaps that seem to have a dark greasy mark around them.
Edit - Ultrasound repellers won't persuade mice to abandon a nest, but it will drive them out of the open and into your underfloors, wall cavities, loft, etc. They do *something*, but I'm not convinced they actually remove the problem, rather keep it out of sight.
Keeping the house *spotless* will help, as it cuts off any food source. If you have a bird table, move it well away from the house.
You can also buy "tracking powder" to cover the floor and any suspect entry\exit points. At a pinch, use flour.
Snap Trap Top Tips.
Peanut Butter for bait (Smooth or Chunky is up to you.
)
Place the traps at the edges of the area that's infested - mice don't cross open spaces unless they really have to.
Place the trap perpendicular to the wall - that way, it catches mice from either direction of travel.
Try not to wash or handle the traps, you don't want them to smell of detergent or humans.
Place the trap on a piece of cardboard to keep the floor clean. 8-12" should do.
Don't buy 1 or 2 traps. You won't catch enough to get ahead of their breeding cycle. Buy lots of traps, place them all at once, and check them frequently. Our record is 6 mice in a single trap in about 3 hours.
If you place traps and don't catch anything after a few days, move the traps and try somewhere else. Mice are naturally inquisitive and won't avoid the traps if they are nearby.
As above really, poison or snap traps - you're not dealing with an endangered species here!
I'd avoid glue traps - they *are* cruel - and live-catch traps really aren't effective. At best, in a densely-populated area, you're releasing the mice to be killed by your neighbours. In rural areas, they'll just make a beeline for where they were.
Mice can climb well, and can fit through any gap you can push a pencil through. Apart from blocking up any holes with mortar, consider putting fine stainless steel mesh over your airbricks.
Also, keep your doors closed - quite often, mice just walk straight in!
Opinions differ on external bait boxes, some pest controllers swear that they attract mice to the house and cause a bigger problem, so if you use them place them away from the house, probably around the perimiter fence.
Cats? I'm not convinced. Most house cats seem more interested in playing with mice rather than killing them. Maybe if you have semi-feral farm cats, but the average moggy would rather eat from a tin. I'm allergic anyway, so it ruled them out for us.
To try and spot where they are getting in\out, look for any holes or gaps that seem to have a dark greasy mark around them.
Edit - Ultrasound repellers won't persuade mice to abandon a nest, but it will drive them out of the open and into your underfloors, wall cavities, loft, etc. They do *something*, but I'm not convinced they actually remove the problem, rather keep it out of sight.
Keeping the house *spotless* will help, as it cuts off any food source. If you have a bird table, move it well away from the house.
You can also buy "tracking powder" to cover the floor and any suspect entry\exit points. At a pinch, use flour.
Snap Trap Top Tips.
Peanut Butter for bait (Smooth or Chunky is up to you.
)Place the traps at the edges of the area that's infested - mice don't cross open spaces unless they really have to.
Place the trap perpendicular to the wall - that way, it catches mice from either direction of travel.
Try not to wash or handle the traps, you don't want them to smell of detergent or humans.
Place the trap on a piece of cardboard to keep the floor clean. 8-12" should do.
Don't buy 1 or 2 traps. You won't catch enough to get ahead of their breeding cycle. Buy lots of traps, place them all at once, and check them frequently. Our record is 6 mice in a single trap in about 3 hours.
If you place traps and don't catch anything after a few days, move the traps and try somewhere else. Mice are naturally inquisitive and won't avoid the traps if they are nearby.
Edited by shtu on Thursday 5th September 10:46
shtu said:
Opinions differ on external bait boxes, some pest controllers swear that they attract mice to the house and cause a bigger problem, so if you use them place them away from the house, probably around the perimiter fence.
External bait boxes are an extremely bad idea in a rural environment. You don't want a dormouse to get poisoned as it's protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. 
I'm late to the party here...but had a similar problem when I went on holiday last November and found that the mice had moved in whilst I was away. The joys of living in a (very cute) little cottage in the country...
Ultrasonic repellants
Save your money. They don't work.
I had a tray (well, I gave up on trays and used espresso saucers instead - much larger) and they ate 3 in one evening. The tray was under one of the ultrasonics...
Poison
Worked for me...but I'm not sure I would be as keen if I lived in an area with cats (I'm really in the sticks); they can eat poisoned mice and it's really not very nice for them.
Ultrasonic repellants
Save your money. They don't work.
I had a tray (well, I gave up on trays and used espresso saucers instead - much larger) and they ate 3 in one evening. The tray was under one of the ultrasonics...
Poison
Worked for me...but I'm not sure I would be as keen if I lived in an area with cats (I'm really in the sticks); they can eat poisoned mice and it's really not very nice for them.
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