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Cleaning Up:  Mouse Problem  |
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hannahelise92
Farmgirl in Training
10 Posts
Hannah
Carlton
OR
USA
10 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 08 2011 : 09:38:14 AM
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Recently my fiance and I moved into a rental, and soon after moving in we discovered that we have furry little visitors that like to scurry over our kitchen counters at night. We've brought it up to the landlord, but he (as well as my fiance and I) doesnt want to put poison out, because I have toddlers as well as a puppy. Does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of our furry intruders?
Hannah |
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Penny Wise
True Blue Farmgirl
1903 Posts
Margo
Elyria
OH
USA
1903 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2011 : 12:31:51 PM
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welcome to the forums! and mousehood! i have had a real problem with them this winter--it was suggested to buy the heavy plastic traps that you can bait with peanut butter and maybe a chunk of dog food--i paid about $4.50 for two- they are washable and reusable-easy to set and i didn't hurt self once! also death to the mouse is immediate.....i put them in out of the way places cuz my dog wanted to become a mouser and wasn't quite able!
it was suggested to use scented fabric softener sheets in drawers etc to keep them out...
good luck! hopefully others will make suggestions--
Farmgirl # 2139
~*~ counting my pennies and biding my time; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
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hannahelise92
Farmgirl in Training
10 Posts
Hannah
Carlton
OR
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2011 : 12:46:51 PM
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Thanks for the tip! I think I might try using those. I'll probably try setting them up under the kitchen sink, I've noticed a lot of mouse poop down there and it will keep it away from the puppy and toddlers.
Thanks Again!
Hannah
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." - Henry David Thoreau |
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Tea Lady
True Blue Farmgirl
645 Posts
Lorraine
Morris
IL
USA
645 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2011 : 3:52:29 PM
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I recently heard that peppermint oil soaked on cottonballs will discourage mice from coming in - or keep them a way from an area. Haven't tried it. Good luck.
Lorraine
(aka Tea Lady)
Farmgirl #1819
www.birdsandteas.com |
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SherBear
True Blue Farmgirl
77 Posts
Sherri
Mukwonago
Wi
USA
77 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2011 : 4:55:11 PM
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Peppermint oil does work. I used to have them in my kitchen drawers and cabinets all the time, but after the peppermint oil went in there were no more traces of them inside the drawers or cabinets. We have used the glue traps to catch the mice also, since we had a small child and dogs- they work pretty well. I've heard you can 'unstick' the mouse from the glue trap if you want to release it somewhere, but I don't know how involved that is.
My solution was to get cats- we now have 2, and about once a week we have a gift left for us somewhere in the house. I don't know if it's possible for you since you rent, but they definitley help keep the population down!
http://sherrileesgarden.blogspot.com/ |
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hannahelise92
Farmgirl in Training
10 Posts
Hannah
Carlton
OR
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2011 : 8:30:58 PM
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I'll have to try using the peppermint oil. We were originally going to get a cat, but my fiance ended up falling in love with a Chorkie puppy, so I'll have to wait until she's trained before I can get a cat. :(
Thank you for the suggestions though, I'm looking forward to trying out the peppermint oil. :)
Hannah
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." - Henry David Thoreau |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 07:05:53 AM
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hannah welcome to the forum. where in oregon are you? i am in bend redmond area. yipee another oregon farmgirl. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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hannahelise92
Farmgirl in Training
10 Posts
Hannah
Carlton
OR
USA
10 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 09:45:35 AM
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Thank you! I live in Oregon wine country. I'm not sure if you know where McMinnville is, but I'm about 5 miles north of there. :)
Hannah
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." - Henry David Thoreau |
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HookAngel
True Blue Farmgirl
253 Posts
Bren
CA
USA
253 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2011 : 11:58:49 AM
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| Just wanted to say that peppermint oil on cotton balls DOES work. We had a problem a few years ago and our landlord would not allow a cat . I tried the peppermint oil and it worked wonders! |
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RedHoopWoman
True Blue Farmgirl
513 Posts
Kathryn
Yoder
Colorado
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2011 : 2:04:47 PM
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I use the humane steel traps where the mouse goes in but can't get back out but I have to admit,I'm not so humane in cleaning out my traps,I immerse the trap and all in a bucket of water and allow the mouse to drink his fill then clean it out and replace it.
These traps are safe around kids and pets but require you to have a disposal plan,if you're squeamish they may not work,I don't have any delicate sensibilities and have been known to bludgeon baby mice with a meat mallet which I keep only for such occasions as some little critter needs a good flattening.
"Today's Mighty Oak is just Yesterday's Nut" |
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alterationsbyemily
True Blue Farmgirl
686 Posts
Emily
Thomasville
PA
USA
686 Posts |
Posted - Jan 13 2011 : 5:31:00 PM
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Dually noted on the peppermint oil.... will put that to good use. We used the old fashioned set traps and caught the one we had an issue with last week. Three days free and clear!
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See my custom costumes, download free patterns, and hear some spook EVPs from Gettysburg, PA on my site, www.alterationsbyemily.com |
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prayin granny
True Blue Farmgirl
1874 Posts
Linda
Kansas
1874 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2011 : 09:08:48 AM
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We struggled with that last fall!! I will try the pepperming oil. Years ago someone told one of my kids that trick too. I just dont want them to come back again this year!! Yuk! Going to give it a try.
Blessings, Linda
http://scatteredlittleblessings.blogspot.com
Country at Heart |
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mndreamer
True Blue Farmgirl
191 Posts
Vicky
Popple Creek
MN
USA
191 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2011 : 09:13:18 AM
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They also love chocolate syrup... just pour some on the trap.
It sounds like alot of people are having more problems then usual with them this winter. I've got lots of cats outside...haven't seen one this year (knock on wood).
~Vicky~
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God. ~~Ronald Reagan
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sharikrsna
True Blue Farmgirl
185 Posts
Shari
Carthage
Illinois
USA
185 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2011 : 6:07:11 PM
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Thanks, I'm going to go put peppermint soaked cottonballs in my pantry right now! the little buggers are gnawing my cookbooks!
Shari
Farmgirl Sister #607 |
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chickenjanedoe
True Blue Farmgirl
96 Posts
Sandy
Claypool
Indiana
USA
96 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2011 : 6:47:38 PM
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Recently our mouse population went thru the roof. I was moving stuff in the back of the bedroom closet when i kept hearing squeaks. In the bottom box(of course) I found a mouse care center.ICK.
over 40 babies...eeeewwwww. Called the cats inside...snack time. Set a bunch of traps the next week and in 24 hour period I caught 8 mice. The kitten at really well. The next day 6 and the next 4. None since then. Did hear some scratching last week so I put out pepermint oil. No little presents since then .
On a side note my kitten will be totally unconcious and I can snap a mouse trap and he will show up in less than 2 seconds, expecting mousies.
sandy |
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KanMogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
349 Posts
Katherine
Rock
Kansas
USA
349 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2011 : 1:37:13 PM
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Sometimes you have to replace the traps after a few uses unless you clean them really good. I think they get a smell about them that discourages mice coming near them.
I would rather wear out than rust out.----Richard Cumberland |
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Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Jan 16 2011 : 5:42:13 PM
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| We tried humane traps many years ago. They never worked. I think the best solution is to locate their point of entry and block it with something mice can't chew through. If they're already homesteading indoors, of course, that won't help. Be sure to keep anything that looks like mouse food in a tight container, or in the fridge or something. Keep the stove and areas inside cabinets immaculately clean -- which I'm sure you do, but maybe a previous tenant let something fall into cracks. If there's nothing for them to chow down on, maybe they'll pack up and go somewhere else. This is how we were advised by the exterminator we ultimately called in. We got the problem under control, although an occasional little dude gets in. I just catch them and put them back outside. Good luck! |
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SantaTeresita
True Blue Farmgirl
474 Posts
Teresita
Sacramento
CA
USA
474 Posts |
Posted - Jan 17 2011 : 11:03:53 AM
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I'm glad for this forum. We didn't have a mouse problem for years. My cat passed away at the age of 18 years old in 2008. It wasn't a problem last year but this fall we found some. We set the traps and thought it was all taken care of. But just this week, we discovered that they had not gone away. I can think of 1000 to a million things I would like to do more than being on Mouse Patrol this new year. We have our traps in action. But I had not heard of Peppermint Oil on cotton balls. No indoor cats in the house anymore either to help out. It was very cold this Decemeber and we've had a ton of year more than usual this fall. I guess the mice didn't care for the rain.
Anyone else has tips...... would be greatly appeciated.
Home+Yarn+Ocean-loving Farmgirl Sister #2503 |
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mywunderfullife
True Blue Farmgirl
113 Posts
Amanda
Douglas
WY
USA
113 Posts |
Posted - Jan 20 2011 : 12:34:35 PM
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EEEEWwww...Sandy!! I nearly passed out thinking about your "discovery"!! I do not handle mice well at all and unfortunately we get them once in awhile. But...I am going to try the peppermint oil thing in all my drawers and cabinets. Luckily they only get into one area so it should be pretty easy to get the cotton balls put where ever I need them.
Thanks to everyone for the great tips!
"don't outsmart your common sense and never let your praying knees get lazy"
Farmgirl #2424!! |
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Lindsay C
True Blue Farmgirl
117 Posts
Lindsay
Rogersville
AL
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - Jan 22 2011 : 10:46:17 AM
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We've had an awful problem with mice this year! I'm fairly new to living in the country so I've never had to deal with this before. I'm definitely going to be trying the peppermint oil on cotton balls. I have a three year old and two indoor pugs, so poison is not an option. We are currently using traps baited with peanut butter and they are working pretty well. But we have a crafty mouse or two who have figured out how to get the peanut butter without getting caught (much to my dismay)! We do have an outdoor cat that catches a lot outside, and if the inside of our house wasn't so full already I would add an indoor cat. Sometimes I do let our cat inside if I hear the tell-tale squeaking and set her loose on a mouse hunt. She usually springs into action and catches them, then she's happy to head back outside with them. She's my hero. :)
Lindsay
Farmgirl Sister #1452 |
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2011 : 06:04:38 AM
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Oh, I am going to try the peppermint oil, too. Whatever you do, do not use the glue traps. They are horrible and inhumane, and gross, speaking from personal experience. A good thing to do, too, is try to find areas where they come in and use that foam to fill them up. We had them coming in the kitchen from a small hole underneath the sink where the pipe came up. Closed that up and haven't seen them since, until yesterday in the basement when I went to get some potatoes and there were some having a party in the bag...ewwww!
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2011 : 10:09:41 AM
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I don't know what is worse, a mouse running around or a dead mouse that you can't find. I have the latter. Somewhere in my living room. I have moved all the furniture. Covered the heater vent. I have even turned the recliner chairs upside down. Didn't find anything but a whole lot of dust. Well, I'll get the vacuum out later. I have sented candles sitting around, did a fire in the fireplace last night and burned some herbs. This morning it is worse than ever.
I have done the peppermint balls and they do seem to work. I guess I got a little too relaxed. Will get out the peppermint as soon as I get off here.
I wouldn't recomend the practice of catch and release. They WILL come back in. If you are going to do that, load up the little critter and haul him off to the landfill. There is plenty for him to eat out there. I wouldn't worry about being humane when it comes to mice. There is nothing humane about me having to clean out the pantry or rewashing all the silverware. They love pastry brushes and wooden spoons. Or having to smell the nasty little thing while I am trying to read or watch TV. OK, going to go find my bottle of peppermint.
Belle
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 3:57:55 PM
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I don't like mice, either, but I can't stand the sight of anything suffering,even a disease-carrying rodent, and when I used a glue trap the little bugger was still alive! My stomach turns thinking about it...
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 8:32:39 PM
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We used regular mouse traps with a piece of yarn knotted to the bait part with a tint bit of peanut butter on the yarn. Gets them every time. I want to try the peppermint oil if we get more little " visitors"!
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
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LeighErica
True Blue Farmgirl
306 Posts
Erica
PA
USA
306 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 8:39:35 PM
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| We too had a major mouse colony residing in our home when we moved in this past summer. Invest in some cats...we have 4 who stay inside and that helps keeps the critters away. We have baited mouse traps set up in areas where we saw alot of droppings...just 2 storage rooms in our basement and the garage. The smartest thing we did to keep them out....went through the house and found all areas that they could be coming in and filled them with expansive foam. And I can proudly say, since we have done that, we rarely get a mouse in the house..they are all caught in the garage. The stuff really works:) Good luck:) |
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SherBear
True Blue Farmgirl
77 Posts
Sherri
Mukwonago
Wi
USA
77 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 10:14:15 PM
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We have at least one mouse right now, and usually one of our cats is wonderful at catching the mice and killing them. This one however, she has been catching, carrying around, playing with and letting go! Usually she leaves them for us as nice little presents, but so far, I haven't found a mousie body. I watched her over the weekend chase it down, catch it, carry it around, let it go, chase it, catch it, carry it around and so on for about an hour. I'm surprised the poor thing didn't have a heart attack!
http://sherrileesgarden.blogspot.com/ |
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Cleaning Up: Mouse Problem |
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Mouse Problem
