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Barnyard Buddies:  mouse problem!  |
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laluna
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
New York
USA
295 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 08 2007 : 2:06:01 PM
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Hi Ladies,
I hope that I'm posting this question in the right forum...
We seem to have some mice residing in our basement, and haven't been able to get rid of them. First of all, my husband ascertained that it's a mouse problem due to the small droppings we've noticed (how he knows this is beyond me!  ). At any rate, we've set a few traps and so far, nothing. I've also sprinkled some ShakeAway around the foundation of our very old home, but it also hasn't seemed to help. I should probably mention that we store nearly a winter's worth of firewood in the basement, but there was evidence of mice before we moved the wood in. Clearly, my eco-friendly, compassionate attempts at getting rid of the mice does not seem to be working, so it's time for something more drastic. Any ideas that have worked for you would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!!
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JudyBlueEyes
True Blue Farmgirl
657 Posts
Judith
Spokane
Washington
USA
657 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2007 : 3:09:05 PM
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C-A-T.
We come from the earth, we go back to the earth, and in between, we garden! |
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laluna
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
New York
USA
295 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2007 : 4:12:41 PM
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| Heh, yeah, thanks for that ;-) Due to allergies in the family, we no longer own a cat. What else have you got? |
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PlumCreekMama
True Blue Farmgirl
730 Posts
Heather
Iowa
USA
730 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2007 : 6:37:37 PM
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| What kind of traps are you using? I haven't had much luck with the old fashioned wooden ones, I like the plastic ones that you just squeeze open to set. Then I smear some peanut butter inside on the upper part, not on the fake cheese looking part, that way they have to get inside to see the peanut butter. Plus, to get rid of the mouse, all you have to do is squeeze the trap and it opens, so you don't have to touch too close to the mouse. Hope this helps! |
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MustangSuzie
True Blue Farmgirl
634 Posts
Sarah
New London
Missouri
USA
634 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2007 : 7:26:58 PM
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Finding the source of entry and blocking it is a way. Someone just told me tonight, as i was complaining of my ant invaision, that cotton balls with peppermint oil would keep out mice. Idon't know if it works on mice, but it is keeping the ants at bay sofar. Can you get an outdoor cat?
Blessings....
Sarah
www.mustangsuzie.blogspot.com
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Oct 09 2007 : 05:35:55 AM
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Rodents follow along walls so if you haven't done so already, place the part where the mouse should get snapped at a right angle to the wall. Also too, mice very ofetn will lick the p-nut butter off and not even spring the traps Try tweaking the amount you put on the traps and keep w/ it. Move the traps around every week too. |
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FarmGirl~K
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Kelly
TX
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - Oct 09 2007 : 10:22:16 AM
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We used sticky traps even though they aren't too nice. But when you are desperate. Also we had set a trap real sensitive w/peanut butter. When we didnt set it sensitive, they just licked it off, but caught 2 that were a little older than babies at the same time. Also, when we got some lizards, we didn't have any more. I know some say to use steel wool where they are getting in & block the hole.
"Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow." ~Benjamin Franklin~
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Oct 09 2007 : 7:44:50 PM
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If we hadn't caught that rat a few weks ago, i almost reached for a sticky trap also out of desperation!. Only problem was, I also released 2 black snakes under the house a few days earlier and didn't want to further screw up.
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faithmarie
True Blue Farmgirl
143 Posts
faith
wappingers falls
new york
USA
143 Posts |
Posted - Oct 09 2007 : 11:39:05 PM
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Hi Laluna,
I used mouse traps of every kind and the peanut butter with a few grains of brown rice helped me kill about 50 mice this summer in our log cabin. And we were talking to the corner hardware store owners and they said they have never seen so many people buying traps this year. They can't keep them in stock.Whats up with NY anyway!
Now we have closed up the cabin for the winter and I have traps and also peppermint oil and someone suggested mothballs. They said the mice don't like them. I don't either so it might work. So we will see what happens. Oh and if I didnt get the mice right away on the sticky pads they would get off some how. Those made my grandcildren cry if they saw the mice stuck on them, so I discontinued using those.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven |
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britchickny
True Blue Farmgirl
1048 Posts
Angie
Port Orange
Florida
1048 Posts |
Posted - Oct 10 2007 : 03:09:16 AM
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Laluna, move the fire-wood. We store ours away from the house which i know is a pain in these NY winters but you are just creating a lovely spot for Mr & Mrs Mouse to set up home. We have battled mice here for years. They only need a tiny hole to get in so I would go around the foundation of the house with a fine-tooth-comb and find the hole and plug it. (On the outside)Now is a good time to do it before we get snow!
Good luck.
Angie.
"Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance" JUDE 1:2 |
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AFMom
True Blue Farmgirl
100 Posts
Erica
North Dakota
USA
100 Posts |
Posted - Oct 10 2007 : 04:35:34 AM
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| Laluna, I am working on the same issues as you...first I know you said you are allergic to cats, but we are too, and I got four anyway and keep them outside...well my kittens are catching mice all the time!! It is awesome to see...they even bring them to me to show me after they catch them or leave them on the stoop...they are great and it works! I only feed them in the morning and they are busy, busy, busy the rest of the day. I also keep rat & mouse poison in my cellar....up on the stone near the ceiling where I think the mice would roam since entry from outside is probably around there...so far so good...the corn has been taken off the fields and I haven't seen or heard a mouse yet...but you never know...either way...I wish you luck, I know how frustrating it can be to have the critters in your home. Erica:) |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Oct 10 2007 : 08:53:48 AM
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Erica-
Please don't put out poison if your cats are catching and eating mice. The poison doesn't kill the mice right away and if they go outside, your cats could eat the dead mouse and get secondary poisoning. This isn't one of those "maybe" things. I have volunteered at a vet clinic for several years and it is one of the most common reasons that I have seen, why people find their pets poisoned!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
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AFMom
True Blue Farmgirl
100 Posts
Erica
North Dakota
USA
100 Posts |
Posted - Oct 10 2007 : 2:17:14 PM
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Alee,
Excellent point...I didn't even consider that since the cats never go in the cellar. I will definatly get rid of the poison because I love the cats too much to have something happen to them....thanks, Erica:) |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Oct 10 2007 : 3:15:13 PM
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I am glad you are going to get rid of the poison, Erica! :D A lot of people don't realize how far a mouse can roam before it dies from the poison. *hugs*
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Oct 10 2007 : 5:49:49 PM
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Here's something of interest too That same stuff in mouse bait is similar to what is used for blood thinner in people only I think it's a mega dose
Basically the rodents eat it and bleed to death from the inside out same thing happens if a cat or dog eats the infected mouse 
pretty bad way to die if you ask me 'course so is sticking to a sticky trap and starving too
but hey i'm not a pesky, dectructive mouse
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Barnyard Buddies: mouse problem! |
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mouse problem!
