topic Re: Mice in Community Chat

Mice

Shorty2U — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 13:52:07 GMT

Ughhhh I could scream. After over 2 years of not having field mice, the exterminator was here says mice took bait in basement. (but not upstairs). So mice got in again. We have a hole in yard out back and my husband puts big rocks in it regularly. BUT my husband continues to throw bird seed and peanuts out for the birds. And I told him he cannot be doing that. Plus we have a field behind us that a farmer plants on.

My husband and I rarely arguie but now Im mad. I know he loves birds but he needs to stop with the bird seed! And the exterminator agrees about the bird seed but says oh mice come in when the weather cools.

Well we never had mice till 2 years ago, and havent had them since till now as they took the bait.

I am a clean freak what can I say? And I have a mice phobia. And PS we have 3 cats, 2 old ones that are of no help for mice, but we have a 9 month kitten. So now Im concerned what if a mouse takes bait and our kitten eats a mouse that took bait? Well the exterminator said the kitten probably wont get sick but I will worry.

Lastly I had the exterminator come every other month since there were no mice, well now I am having him come monthly again after this!

What more can I do?

Re: Mice

jaxs mom — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 13:55:48 GMT

I would not use poison bait with cats in the house. It's not worth the risk. It's not the exterminator guys cat that is going to get sick or die. My cats safety is more important than killing mice.

Re: Mice

mstyrion 1 — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 13:57:09 GMT

If it will make you feel better...

I had 2 mice earlier this year. First time ever. I think thye squeezed under the garage door.

My cats caught both of them. A well fed cat probably won't bother eating the mouse. They just "play" with them. Once the mouse stops moving, the cat loses interest and walks away.

They leave them as a gift to you and you get the pleasure (ick) of disposing of them.

Re: Mice

Shorty2U — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:03:34 GMT

@jaxs mom wrote:
I would not use poison bait with cats in the house. It's not worth the risk. It's not the exterminator guys cat that is going to get sick or die. My cats safety is more important than killing mice.

I agree Jaxs Mom. Im really upset. They dont spray poison due to the cats. They use bait traps that mice go in, eat bait and go outside for water, but yes if my kitten eats a mouse that took bait and something would happpen I couldnt live with myself.

I just called and left a message to inquire about this at the exterminators office to double check this. I got myself all worked up about the whole thing. I dont want mice but I dont want anything to happen to my kitten. The exterminator didnt seem to think it would happen. (And he has cats) but I would rather be safe than sorry!

Re: Mice

jaxs mom — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:05:45 GMT

My cat had one in his mouth a year ago. I have no idea how it got in. Mine are well fed but the cat that had it had been a stray that lived in the park behind my house for months before we found him and took him in. Got that info from our neighbor. I know for fact he hunts if given the chance.

Re: Mice

Jacie — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:07:12 GMT

My husband has started his fall trapping in the garage. We have cats, so I have never seen a mouse in the house. But the 'shop" section of the garage gets hit every year.

We don't poison, but the traps get the job done. YUCK.

I would prefer he go the peppermint route but he says he doesn't want to smell like a mint all winter!

Re: Mice

Dusty1 — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:07:51 GMT

Our house is on some mice pipeline from H#LL! We live surrounded by woods & fields. My husband filled in every crack he could find with that Great Stuff foam & they would still just pour in. They would get into the walls & get stuck & die & stink for days! One evening he caught 20 some mice in a trap under the stove. Snap. Dump. Snap. Dump. All evening. I didn't want to do poison because of our cat & dogs, but they weren't eating the mice, so we did it. I hate to kill things, but I can not have those mice & mice poop everywhere. We did try other methods, but it did not good. Finally! I very rarely see any mice & I do not have to worry about my grandsons with mice poop. It's a mean thing, the poison, but my house is cleaner & happier without mice in it. They get in my Christmas decorations & pee & poop & eat stuff. My crafts & fabrics got peed & pooped on. Disgusting.

Re: Mice

jaxs mom — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:09:26 GMT

@Jacie I know I was shocked that a mouse would come in our house, we have seven cats. He had a death wish.

Re: Mice

SeaMaiden — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:13:26 GMT

I quit feeding the birds outside when I was seeing RATS under the bird feeder one day. I can handle just about anything - bugs, spiders snakes.... but I just abhor MICE AND RATS. My neighbor has cats and I think they keep the mice at bay around the house as well.... as I have never seen any mice in or around my house since I quit feeding the birds outside.

years ago I had a cocker spaniel who was a real hunter... he caught rats , mice and birds... I think if he was on his own he would have been able to feed himself. I would watch him stalk birds out in the yard... very much a stealth hunter!

Re: Mice

Jacie — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:12:05 GMT

@jaxs mom LOL

Mouse Death Wish!

Re: Mice

Havarti — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:12:10 GMT

If the bait is toxic enough to the mouse it can kill your cat, too. At best, if your cat eats a mouse that ate the bait, you will have a very very sick cat and extremely high vet bills (that is…IF you can get the cat to the vet before it dies). Please use caution with all poisons when children & pets are a factor. Exterminators often down play the danger to pets & children because they want you to use their service, but poison is poison…it kills! If you keep bird seed in the garage, compromise on how it is stored. Get a small METAL garbage can with METAL lid and keep all stored seed securely in that can with the lid firmly in place. Rodents can eat through plastic tubs and nearly every other substance used for storage, but 100% metal will stop them. As for the outside, the truth is, if you have a field in back you will always have field mice (and snakes, too)…many more than if that field was not there. So, feeding the birds is not really what is causing their presence – they are there because of the environment surrounding your home. Mice & bugs do tend to try to find a warm place to live when the weather turns cold…it happens everywhere.

Re: Mice

Pearlee — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:16:16 GMT

Part of my neighborhood - fortunately not may part - had a rat problem last spring. The city sent us all letters instructing us not to put out bird seed or any other type of feed that could attract rats to the neighborhood. Also told us to be careful about how we wrap up and put out our garbage, etc. I was really glad this didn't occur in my part of the neighborhood, but bird seed, etc. will definitely attract rodents so your hubby needs to give that up and let the birds fend for themselves.

As for mice, I can hear one in my kitchen now. Ugh ugh ugh. I usually get them every few years or so in January when it gets really, really cold out and they come in. I live in a very old home with a lot of cracks where they can get in. I've heard one - or probably more than one as they say - in the kitchen for several weeks now and although the peanut butter goes missing from the traps I've set, I haven't been able to kill it (or them). Ugh ugh ugh. It skeeves me out. I've got to set more of them. (I know it's a mouse - I've seen it!)

Re: Mice

Carolm — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:13:11 GMT

I would find out what the exterminator is using, and then contact your vet's office and talk to them about whether your kitten would get sick. They may have some insight or advice regarding the situation.

Re: Mice

cherry — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:13:14 GMT

I am ducking to avoid objects wizzing past my head, but if it were me ,I would stick with the exterminator, and not insist that your hubby forgoes feeding the birds. My husband loves to feed the birds and squirrels too

I am so happy he is still alive, and able to do things like this, I would put up with the exterminators if they are able to handle the rodent population.

Re: Mice

Lynnster67 — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:14:49 GMT

Me too ... it seems to happen whenever the weather starts to turn cold. Mice can make themselves very flat to fit in the smallest nook and cranny.

I have bait stations in the kitchen and a couple of those ultrasonic noise things that is supposed to repel pests but unnoticable to humans/pets.

I also adopted the peppermint-soaked cotton ball cure in the pantry since I'd rather not use chemicals where I store my food.

Re: Mice

Lacey1 — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:15:15 GMT

Used to live in the country, and stored an RV. I do not use poison, but you have to get rid of their food source.

All sorts of remedies out there-peppermint oil, moth balls, dryer sheets, etc. Guess what I use? A bunch of lifelike rubber snakes, a lifelike stone cat and those plug in things that make some kind of vibrations. Move the snakes and cat around every time you walk by, so the critters know they're moving. My DIL almost had a stroke when she opened my garage and saw the snakes!

Give it a try!

Re: Mice

SharkE — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:15:16 GMT

My gripe is flys ! They're trying to get in, too. Hubbo, goes in and out the doors 100 times a day when he's home and brings them in then I spend half the day with a swatter. Never ends.

Re: Mice

Jacie — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:16:21 GMT

Must admit that I quit ground feeding of the birds a couple years ago when I saw a RAT in the feeder. ICKY ICK.

Haven't seen one since. Hope not to.

Re: Mice

Pearlee — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:17:56 GMT

@SharkE wrote:
My gripe is flys ! They're trying to get in, too. Hubbo, goes in and out the doors 100 times a day when he's home and brings them in then I spend half the day with a swatter. Never ends.

@SharkE For your hubby or the flies?

Re: Mice

SharkE — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 14:18:48 GMT

LOL both !