Community Chat

[JoyFilled Warrior]

Hi  @Folks  

I'm freaking out!

This is horribly embarrassing!!

I have a distinct feeling that I newly have rodents under the house. And I have a Pest Inspector coming early this AM.

     Im wondering if there's Questions I should ask, or Directions I should give to this Pest Inspector, Fixer, to rid myself of this total problem, & any destructive, or protective utility after effects?

I dont really know all that is under a house! (crawl space)  ?water (I assume)  ?Electric?  ?What else there??

    (NO AirDucts under the house.  I believe the HVAC ducts are in the Attic)

If that under house water,  & any electric (If its there), dont cause the house to blow up, or fall into a sink hole!!

Background

   Several houses, down aways of the side street have been torn down.  And as a City Girl, the only thing I know abt rodents is that they scatter when an old building is torn down, (if rodents have been living in that old building).  I've never even seen a rodent, except to zip past me, on the sidewalk, running from the destruction of ant old City bldg!

I suspect rodents because I accidentally noticed, my garage has eaten seed shells on the floor.  I checked my car trunk, where I've stored some bags of bird seeds for 6 yrs, untouched by rodents, and NOW, more seed shells in the car trunk too!!

Thanks to a friend who came over to fix my washing machine, only to find out, there's low pressure in the cold water source (under the house?)

And last night, my cat & I were awakened with a *horribly LOUD* scratching noise, seems to lead to the Pantry, (which has no food in it, thank goodness)

So, at this early AM Appt with the Pest Company,  what should I ask, or look for,  & ask, or have him fix, when he inspects?

TIA

(added)

OHH.  It suddenly started pouring a drenching rain.  I wonder if the Pest Inspector/Fixer will still come??

[piperbay]

@JoyFilled Warrior  The pest control man should know what to do. My son lives in the city and has the same problem you do. He had traps placed in the house and outside and

it's been a success.

[JoyFilled Warrior]

Hi @piperbay    

Thank you! 

I'm also concerned abt leaking water from the pipes under the house, cause the water bill suddenly has gone crazy!

And not sure if there's electric under the house too.  And if the water & electric are near one another there.

[piperbay]

@JoyFilled Warrior  I would express that to the pest control man then. It wouldn't hurt to go over it.  

[on the bay]

@JoyFilled Warrior,

Aw, I just want you to know there is nothing to be embarrassed about.

My daughter's house had mice and she lives in a very nice neighborhood. Lots of trees, brick houses. Her house is beautiful and clean.

We kept hearing them in the walls several times over a few years. Finally when moving a mattress from the attic she saw droppings up there.

She freaked out too. A company came to get rid of them up there just recently. 

City, country, they will find a safe warm place to live and nest. They don't only choose creepy old places in the city.

And your guy will tell you all you need to know and do. That's what they do and are paid for. It is an unnerving sound when they are in the walls and ceiling at night.

My mother's house when I stayed there with her had one running across the floor at night. I could see him as I slept on the couch. He was so cute!

I put cotton balls soaked with peppermint oil from the grocery store in the garage and all around and that really did keep them away for awhile anyway.

But for huge houses with attics and crawl spaces you need a professional usually like you are doing.

But forgive me, I always think of "Cinderellys" mice and am sad for them too. 

[ciao_bella]

@JoyFilled Warrior   One thing at a time.  Take a deep breath and try and calm yourself.  It's not embarrassing.  Most all of us have had some kind of rodent or insect problem at one time or another.  When the pest company comes, tell them exactly what you told us today in your post.  They will know what to put down to rid your house of rodents.   As far as having seeds in bags, I would suggest you fit the bags in large heavy plastic bins or crates with snap on lids to make them air tight so as not to entice any rodents.  

The water/electric issue, since you indicated your water bill has increased a lot.  I would call the water department of your township and ask them to come and make an inspection.  If they won't come, ask them who you can call to make the inspection.   You can do the same for the electric.   

[KingstonMom]

We recently found out that mice were invading our elevated, screened in deck, enjoying our bird food.

First we discovered how they were getting in (via holes they made in the screens), then put traps and bags of rat poison scattered around the large deck, DH is an 'overkill' kinda guy.

The bird seed is now in a covered container, as well.

So far, the traps have been the most efficient, catching 3 of them.

Good luck with your mice problem!

[Eileen in Virginia]

@JoyFilled Warrior  Make sure your pest control company sends an experienced technician. We had ants in our house several years ago and the technician who came out for the ants was much more experienced than those who came later to conduct our quarterly inspections. They should conduct a comprehensive inspection of your house to include checking for small openings in your house's basement, roofline & siding and any shrubs/trees that would provide rodents access to those openings. I was told that, if a rat can get its head through a hole (about the size of a quarter), it can compress its body to get through. This happened a couple of years ago in the house where we were vacationing. The house was surrounded by shrubs and saplings that the owner had allowed to grow right up to the house.

Regarding your car, store your birdseed in an old-fashioned stainless steel trash can with a tight lid. Then have a mechanic check the car to ensure the rodents haven't gnawed through any wires, belts or hoses (or set up housekeeping). If you have any cars that you don't use on a regular basis, make a point of taking them out for a spin at least once a week. Unused or seldom-used vehicles provide a cozy nesting spot for rodents. 

Although we live in a typical suburban neighborhood, there are beautiful wooded jogging paths along a stream just a couple of streets away. Rats and possums use the storm drains to travel through the neighborhood. If they find a food source, they'll take advantage of it. Cleanliness has very little to do with it. Good luck! 

[sunshine45]

we have had on and off pest problems for years now.

it happens moreso during the colder months because the mice just want to come in and stay warm.

it is a bit unnerving to hear those scratching sounds late at night when you are trying to sleep. it makes you wonder if the mouse is close by, where he is, what he is doing. lol

we decided to have regular pest control services monthly. it has really helped. he sets the bait (no traps) and adds it monthly as needed. he also sprays all around the house outside. anytime we have any issue we call or email him and he either comes right away if necessary OR will add it to his list on his next visit.

we pay about $70 a month for the services.

[JoyFilled Warrior]

Mice are destructive too?

My HVAC man fixed my Attic Heat Equipmenta week ago, & I asked, "Did you see anything up there that doesnt belong there?"

Bless his heart, he was honest.  He said he "sees mice droppings on top of the HVAC unit."  I took my Disabled Body and climbed up the fold down ladder, & crawled up along in there for the 1st (& last) time!  I couldnt get close enough to see Mice Droppings, but I trust him.  He said "mice go up to such HVAC units in Winter to warm up."  I didnt exactly know what to do with that info.  I thought it was like a kind of Winter "Warm Cuddling,"  then they leave for somewhere during the warmer months.  I guess now, since I know they're destructive too, we need to do something to rid them too! 

The HVAC man talked about something like a Green Bouillion Cube that's put around the underground.  (I dont want dead under/around the house. And I dont want to have to dispose of dead/live caught rodents/animals). 

     He said rodents eat this Green Cube, and take it back to the rodent nest, they banquet, & I think he said they die there. (Hopefully not in my garage!   house, car,  trunk    or anywhere near me!  ..my cat, or .. my living space)