What do I do about mice? I don't have them on the bottom 4 floors of my townhouse, tenants complaining on top 2 floors.

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stricklands

in Pest Control 13 years and 6 months ago

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BHS | 13 years and 5 months ago

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glue traps are totaly aweful and inhumane. use the other traps mentioned. it’s not just about leaving food out on the counter. mice will eat through sealed cereal boxes and other dry food in the cabinets. they will feast on tiny scraps that fall between the stove and counter that are impossible to reach.

shirleys | 13 years and 5 months ago

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I tried peppermint oil.  It didn’t work. I hired an exterminator and they put down tracking powder, glue traps and those green blocks.  I had steel wool and they also plugged up holes.  Mice still was able to get in.  I was so agitated I went to the dollar store, purchased quite a few glue traps and placed them completely around the room at the baseboards.  By morning they were caught. For each room that give me a problem I’ve done the same thing.  Finally, I am able to sleep at night.  I also spray clorox on the counters and around the kitchen baseboards after doing the nightly dishes. That is one smell I know they don’t like.

FishieFishie | 13 years and 5 months ago

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Not to be gruesome, but what are the guillotine ones?  Glueboards are the only thing that have worked for me. I’ve just heard something interesting, but don’t yet know how valid it is:  That peppermint oil repels mice.

Silvermax | 13 years and 5 months ago

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As above, seal every crevice you can with steel wool. Mice have flexible skull bones and can slip through any crack that is the thickness of a dime. Stuff in steel wool especially around pipes — heating, water — that come from lower floors. Don’t use glue traps — they’re slow and horrible. Use the guillotine ones. If you’re squeamish, get the covered guillotine ones, then just shake out the body. Have your tenants be scrupulous about food, crumbs, keep bread in fridge. You too. Encourage cats. Eventually it will get to the point where you have one or two a year — usually around this time of year, when it’s starting to get cold.

Hardcharger | 13 years and 5 months ago

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Seal up every hole.  This is a time consuming effort.  Looking behind kitchen cabinets, baseboards etc..  Flashlight on hands and knees.  Do not believe that a hole or crack is too small.  They can fit through mortar cracks in bricks.  It is outrageous.  Keep sealing up and looking and then look somemore.  Do not trust anyone unless  they say they will keep looking.  A good exterminator knows that the job is never done.  Wood frames settle, foam and steel wool get gnawed, caulking cracks off.  They will die in the floor or wall if you are diligant and it will help your heating bills too.

slopegirl | 13 years and 5 months ago

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We have some traps that electrocute the mice. Takes regular batteries, they work well. Costs about $25/trap. Nice thing is you don’t have to personally kill the mouse you catch as you would with glue trap. There’s a light on top of the trap so set them up and tenants can call you when they catch one.

Rick | 13 years and 5 months ago

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If you keep a clean house, never leave dirty dishes out, stuff any holes you may have, they will not hang out.  Taking in a young cat helps too.

callalily | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Mice are everywhere in New York City. Get an exterminator and seal up all the holes. Do it now before the apartment reeks of mice urine permanently, if it doesn’t already.

Lion55 | 13 years and 6 months ago

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You have 2 options. Either you call in an exterminator and let them do whatever it is that they do and at whatever cost, or…Begin by telling the tenants not to leave any food, crumbs, anything out at any time. This will certainly attract the little buggers. They may need to put their kitchen items in plastic containers. Next, take a careful look all around the apts. that are affected. Stuff steel wool into any whole or opening you see. Mice can get through just about any small opening. Next, put either several glue traps with a dollop of peanut butter as bait and/or the wooden, well, “guillotine” style ones with peanut butter. This will help tremendously. Every neighborhood has this problem…Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Bed Stuy, Brownsville, doesnt matter. Mice will find their way in if you make it hospitable for them.