Mouse / scratching in loft - help!

[Joe5y]

Evening all,

Last year we had some scratching in the loft (between our ceiling and loft conversion). This resulted in some cables being chewed and the house electrics tripping often. Luckily it coincided with having our bathroom done, of which the ceiling was replaced and the chewed cable was found, repaired and cost me nothing.

Upon inspection I found droppings and general mouse paraphernalia so I put a few traps in the loft and in the ceiling.

Since then, nothing. Not a squeak - pun intended.

However 2 weeks ago I’ve been hearing scratching which has now got worse to the point I think it’s waking my 2 year old at night (always been a good sleeper, last 2 weeks he’s been waking a fair bit coinciding with scratching).

I’ve contacted a local rodent killer / finder / remover. Now, this is where I’ve become confused as he’s quoted £240+VAT to do the following; and with no promise of any result.

- Inspect and put tracing power down.
- Search the exterior looking for entrance points.
- Trap where needed.

What has put me off is he was adamant it was going to be rats, not mice and that it will be to with ours or the neighbours drains. Stating it could be up to £6000.00 to rectify?! Ignoring this guy for a second based on him scaremongering my question to the PH finest is;

What traps are best?
Any recommendations on these ultrasonic/ electric repellents?
What can I do to best stop them in their tracks?

I mentioned it’s between the ceiling and the floor of the loft conversion. Luckily I’ve got an access panel and can get into the space. It’s tight but doable.

What would you do to start killing the buggers off?

As a side note, the neighbours (semi-detached) had someone come over last year who found entrance holes by their front door and have had mice issues themselves.

One of the most frustrating issues I have faced!!!

[hyphen]

Assuming nothing else will come across them, cover the area in loads of Glue traps..


some are against them claiming distress etc but they work. Just check regularly as you don't want to leave the poor sod like that for long.

[bobmedley]

We had the same problem, exacerbated by living in a rural location. They really do need to be exterminated with extreme prejudice, they spread disease, chew on wires, pee everywhere and hold what sound like tap dancing lessons every night - bit like some people I know....

Don't use poison in the loft, they will just go and die in the wall cavity or something and stink for a bit. Use plenty of traps with peanut butter and put some peanuts near the traps as well - they seem to love them. The electronic devices are a complete waste of time. These traps work well.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Cheese-Ultra-Power-Ba...

I very much doubt they are rats, they will be house mice coming in for the winter, and ours were coming through the weep vents in the wall. Bunged them up with wire wool, and it seems to be under control. Note they can get through a gap the size of a pencil, so you will have to check around the house perimeter very diligently.

If you have a garage near or attached to the house, use these to keep the overall population down.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rentokil-PSF135-Action-Ki...

Worst comes to the worst, buy a high powered air rifle and shoot the little fookers.

Edited by bobmedley on Monday 25th November 21:05

[BigRickus]

I had a similar thing earlier this year and assumed mice. Deliberated about it for too long until the point came when I noticed stains on the ceiling from what turned out to be their urine seeping through the plasterboard.
Cue instant reaction....
Carpets lifted in the areas that proved to be their favourites, plunge saw out to cut some decent access holes in the floor and traps set with peanut butter.
One dead within 10 minutes. A second followed shortly after.
On investigation there was a redundant soil pipe from a manhole into the ceiling void. This was promptly rammed with metal mesh and Postcrete.


No problems since.

As a note - do a really thorough check of your manholes before concreting up any of the pipes!!! Luckily I am head of the run.

[Stuart70]

BigRickus said:

Luckily I am head of the run.

Is this the new statement for the powerfully built director type, dominating the stairs and “heading the run”?

[55palfers]

I had a similar problem

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=18...

This has been the best money I have spent. Still quietly harvesting squeaky souls in the garage and outbuildings.

[Trophy Husband]

Council. We had rats coming up into our loo. Drowned a few myself. Stables next door. Council environmental sorted them out for nothing and did a follow up to make sure. Human health issue. No need to spend money.

[BertB]

We live in a rural location I used

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001DYO634/ref=cm_sw_r...


Caught a couple of rats with it, when the bait (peanut butter) had been cleared but the trap not triggered I switched to.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A5YJS4O/ref=cm_sw_r...

Have not a had a problem since the above got 4 or 5 mice.

Edited by BertB on Monday 25th November 21:30

[Castrol for a knave]

We had squirrels in the loft.

Trapped a couple but the last one was like a brick sthouse. Despite being trapped across it's stomach it was going mental

Teeth like tombstones.

I picked up the nearest thing I could find in the loft and beat it's brains out with a "Santa stop here" sign.

Eyes were hanging out.

Put it in the wheelie bin. Forgot to tell the wife.....

[hotchy]

Had pest control as a perk with my bank current account for free. Check that.

[theboss]

I pay a bloke £60 a time to come around a few times a year and bait the loft with a big stash of poison. He says he makes them thirsty before death so they go outside in search of water. Never have too much of an ongoing problem just the odd noise, never any smells. (Big barn conversion in the sticks)

[Joe5y]

bobmedley said:

We had the same problem, exacerbated by living in a rural location. They really do need to be exterminated with extreme prejudice, they spread disease, chew on wires, pee everywhere and hold what sound like tap dancing lessons every night - bit like some people I know....

I very much doubt they are rats, they will be house mice coming in for the winter, and ours were coming through the weep vents in the wall. Bunged them up with wire wool, and it seems to be under control. Note they can get through a gap the size of a pencil, so you will have to check around the house perimeter very diligently.

Edited by bobmedley on Monday 25th November 21:05

I feel your pain; they’re a bloody nightmare. I too believe that they’re mice and not rats. I have found fairly fresh droppings that are from a mouse. There’s evidence of wires being nibbled which concerns me; a lot!

We’re not in a rural location but we have an old orchard behind us; C2 acres which is overgrown and hasn’t been touched for c20 years with all kinds of wildlife - foxes, deer, cats, rats, moles, badgers etc.

Unfortunately finding an entry point is going to prove very hard. Next door, where I strongly suspect them to be entering owing to previous investigation and proof have had a two story extension which is 100mm from the neighbouring one. Numerous tracks were found here last time. Adding to the annoyance, because of our loft conversion I have limited access and can only survey 10% of our adjoining walls.

[overunder12g]

My wife is an animal lover. So, when we had this mouse problem. Only humane traps were on the option list. Caught a few nd released some distance away from our house.Cue one ritter with a black flash on chest, caught and released about 1 mile away. Next night caught he same mouse. Local game keeper reckons they will travel miles back to their original destination. Still insists on humane traps! New house now and so far no such problems.
Cheaper than a new wife I guess.

[acme]

I too live in a converted barn in a rural location and have them in the loft, caught 20 in a month in the garage - this winters been a nightmare.
Council contractor has put enough bait to kill an army in the loft yet they still keep coming. I’ve admitted defeat & will be getting two farm cats.

Edited by acme on Tuesday 26th November 12:33

[Joe5y]

acme said:

I too live in a converted barn in a rural conversion and have them in the loft, caught 20 in a month in the garage - this winters been a nightmare.
Council contractor has put enough bait to kill an army in the loft yet they still keep coming. I’ve admitted defeat & will be getting two farm cats.

I’ve got 2 cats but both a fat, lazy uppity little sh*ts. Thinking about not feeding them for a day or two, opening the access hatch and enticing them in.... no, seriously I am!

[Joe5y]

hotchy said:

Had pest control as a perk with my bank current account for free. Check that.

Thank you. I will have a look in to this.

[Brads67]

Normal wooden or metal mousetrap with a raisin . 24hrs, job jobbed.

[Too Late]

Had noise in our loft a week ago. Very loud, woke me up

Primed this for next day https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B076QFPHLH/ref...

4 packs of these launched sporadically in the loft
24 hours later i heard scratching in the loft
24 very light scratching
72 onwards - nothing

[Canute]

We called our insurer and they sent a pest control guy out who put some traps down and some poison. He returns now every 4 weeks, insurer offer this for free as you can imagine what bigger costs they could incur (house burns down).

[hyphen]

Your insurer must have healthy margins!!