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
There are many more reasons than hairballs not to get a cat. Speaking as someone who had two cats for ten years, I’d rather deal with the mice.
And to do that, nothing beats the RatZapper.
Amy
In order:
Ratzapper: totally works, kills ’em dead instantly, no mess.
Snap trap: totally works, occasional mess, pain in the a$$ to set.
cat: often works, frequently a deterrent, but eats food and craps in your house. Subjective call.
glue traps: works, cruel, disgusting, you have to kill a mouse by hand or handle a live one, ewww, ewwww, I’m getting the heebie jeebies just thinking about it.
“humane” cage traps: lol. I’m sorry. just, lol. (1) Mice often return (2) or become someone else’s problem (3) and would kill you in a second if they were able.
plug-in high-frequency rodent deterrent gizmos: may as well hire a shaman to cast a spell.
Being humane IS the priority of some people, 11:36.
But of course somebody who uses glue traps so proudly, would also prove to be rude.
How’s this image – mice have been known to pull themselves in half when struggling to get out of a glue trap. At the very least they pull so hard they break the bones in their little bodies.
I hate glue traps but use them and then smash the mice with a paint can to put them out of their misery. That’s the only way they are ‘ethical’ otherwise they just starve to death/suffocate in your trash can.
Rat Zapper works pretty well.
I used glue traps. I don’t give a damn about saving vermin. Get your priorities straight.
And the “cheap” version of the rat zapper is $35 plus batteries. That buys a lot of glue traps and dead mice.
I second the snap traps, since I have seen mice free themselves from glue traps after they have eaten the bait.
Anybody know what breed of cat works best for catching mice?
Thanks.
What about those things you plug into an outlet that make some noise that drives them crazy..and hopefully out of your house.
I’ve found stepping on them to be quite effective.
Can you tell us more about “pumping walls full of cellulose insulation” can this be done to a finished home? Do they poke small holes in the ceilings? Do you know the cost? Can I get a referal?