Time for the Mice to Move Back Indoors
Like clockwork, the one night of colder temps we had last week brought back our unwanted housemates—the mice. So we’ll gear up for the usual one-two-three punch of steel wool, poison and traps, but aren’t feeling too optimistic. (Mrs. B is allergic to cats.) One neighbor of ours is in the process of pumping his…
Like clockwork, the one night of colder temps we had last week brought back our unwanted housemates—the mice. So we’ll gear up for the usual one-two-three punch of steel wool, poison and traps, but aren’t feeling too optimistic. (Mrs. B is allergic to cats.) One neighbor of ours is in the process of pumping his walls full of cellulose insulation, which apparently contains mouse-repelling boric acid—maybe we should try that.This got us thinking about the preferences (and ethics) of readers: Glue traps or old-school snap traps?
Photo by shadphotos
Mice came unseasonally to our home this summer. (Good first sentence for a novel,don’tcha think?)
After having endured the horror of a staredown from a poison-addled mouse sometime back, I turned in fear and loathing to our fearsome Maintenance Guy. He invented or otherwise created the Perfect Mousetrap.:
Take one empty coffeecan with plastic lid.
Fill can about halfway with water.
Cut small hole in lid, exact size unknown, but mice get in anywhere, so it likely doesn’t matter.Smaller is better.
Put dab of peanut butter on underside of lid, near hole; put lid on half-water-filled can.
Mouse is inexorably drawn to the delectable delicacy, falls in and drowns! You shake can, hear the glorious sound of the inglorious rodent corpse, and jigger it up for the next drowning.
Works in Evanston, wish I’d had it on Riverside Drive.
PS: there may be something on the internet about this jerry-rig; haven’t looked.
Oops, guess this is a variation on the Vermont posting. It works. Didn’t need a ramp, though.
I’m surprised by all the recommendations for the rat zapper. We got the Rat Zapper Ultra but it only manages to kill one mouse per set of batteries – that’s 4 new “D” alkaline – about $7 per mouse! After the first kill, the thing emits a shock but not enough to kill the mouse. (The red light will be on indicating a kill, but the bait is gone, and no mouse in sight.)
Hey, how do cat owners feel about being licked by a cat that has been playing and eating dirty little mice? Yum, yum!
Seriously, how sanitary is it? I have my doubts!
I’ve tried two kinds of humane trap, and haven’t caught anything. On the other hand, I’ve filled all the holes in my apartment with steel wool and foam, and have not seen the mouse lately, nor any signs of mouse activitie (no little mouse poop pellets).
I know people think it’s being a selfish pussy to use humane traps and let them loose again, but hey, if everybody made their homes mouse-proof (closed off all holes and entrances, got rid of their trash in a clean and timely manner, don’t keep bowls of dog and cat food in the open — I might add that cats and dogs do better when they eat on a schedule), well, maybe they wouldn’t have mice that came to visit ME!
If my neighbors want to kill that mouse horrifically, that’s their issue and karma.
That mouse that came into my place came in through a new hole due to electricians working on the place. I had never seen a mouse for the five years previous.
I love the Rat Zapper, but i’ve noticed they only last a couple of seasons. I had 2 that worked like gangbusters for 2 years, but this year they both seem to have pooped out – one had a flashing light with no mouse inside twice and the other the light flashes as soon as i turn it on. I”m not keen on shocking myself to figure out what’s wrong with them so I many just get another one for this season. Glue, snap, poison and steel wool are a waste of time. In an old brownstone, you’d need 3 tons of steel wool and an army of people to fill every possible access point. They can get in a crack the size of a pencil hole!
Cleanliness will definitely help keep the mouse population down.
“That is soooooo gross Vermont skier. You all need to clean you nasty ass houses clean. That will help!”
they come in b/c it’s cold, not b/c your house is dirty.
you will have mice in NYC if your house is perfectly clean.
Rehab at 6:15, sounds like your friend got Cornish Rex or Devon Rex cats.
Mice best beware! Rex cats have long fingers and Nosferatu-type claws that don’t retract, similar to Cheetahs. (They need to be clipped regularly). They are built for speed, and their super-grip paws are so effective they can easily snatch up and grip objects with them. They have long skinny arms that can reach into nooks and crannies. We have a Rex and we watched her reach way in and remove a mouse from underneath a fridge one time. Don’t ever let them get outside though. They are smaller than average cats and though scrappy they get beat up in fights. Also their fur will NOT protect them outdoors in cold weather. CFA doesn’t recommend this breed to people in cold weather climates unless they are super responsible people who make sure the cat never gets outdoors. Anyway, it’s a very playful, fun breed that stays energetic and kitten-like into old age so your friend will enjoy them!
Try the RatZapper Ultra (the silver one). I got two on Amazon. They were about $45 each and run on D batteries.