Mouses in Your Houses

[nottaprettygal]

What are the best traps/methods of getting rid of mice or for preventing them from entering a home in the first place? I live on the second floor of a really old home, and there are no other people currently living in the building.

My cats are friggin' useless. Even after carrying my large male in from another room and showing him the mouse, he turned around and went back to his food. My little girl cat got scared and ran away, only to return and have the mouse literally walk between her paws and do nothing. At one point, she had the mouse in her mouth, but then she let it go.

Thankfully, it got caught between the pages of a book and Haight beat it to death with a broom. My cats are clueless, and they are still searching around the house for it.

Anyway, I need some tricks because right now I'm paranoid, and I keep thinking that I am seeing mice run across the floor.

[Jennifer]

What are the best traps/methods of getting rid of mice or for preventing them from entering a home in the first place? I live on the second floor of a really old home, and there are no other people currently living in the building.

I don't have anything fancy to suggest.

We always used the cheap little mousetraps, baited with chunky peanut butter or cheese smooshed into the trigger.
Yes, it kills the mouse, and you have to dispose of the body, but it's highly effective.

And you don't have to mount a full-scale "Release the Mouse Back into the Wild" baiting and tagging them so you can recognize when the same mice come back and back again because you didn't finish them off the first time.

My cats are friggin' useless. Even after carrying my large male in from another room and showing him the mouse, he turned around and went back to his food. My little girl cat got scared and ran away, only to return and have the mouse literally walk between her paws and do nothing. At one point, she had the mouse in her mouth, but then she let it go.

It sounds like they were never trained by momma or dadda cat.

We had outdoor cats and they would eat the mice that they'd find... but they'd play with it first. As long as the mouse didn't move it was okay, but as soon as it started to run, the cat would play with it, batting it around the porch, grabbing its tail and holding it in place, etc. It was sort of amusing to watch... since I'm not a mouse.

In any case, I think domesticated cats that were not reared by parent cats have a harder time figuring out what to do with the goofy things.

Thankfully, it got caught between the pages of a book and Haight beat it to death with a broom.

Wow, is that how Jewish families train their kids to get rid of mice?

Get the traps, they're cheap and less violent overall than the "broom-beating" method that also leaves a nasty little smear on your poor books. just brainstorming, but i don't recommend poison because (among other reasons) they could die inside the walls and then you've got a smell problem.

[Owl]

Stop feeding your cats, or feed them very, very little. They'll learn to hunt right quick, and then you'll no longer have any mice.

[bluemonday]

You can buy an ultrasonic device which should send them on their merry way.
I have one in the loft. The mice moved out, the bats moved in - whatchagonnado?

[Owl]

My suggestion takes care of bats too.

[Jennifer]

You can buy an ultrasonic device which should send them on their merry way.
I have one in the loft. The mice moved out, the bats moved in - whatchagonnado?

[glowering] "I'm Batmouse: Tell all your friends!" *flaps away*

It's true, though. Bats are just ugly mice with cheap halloween rubber wings.

My suggestion takes care of bats too.

aw, I'd love to see those cats bring down a bat. That would take some strategery!

[INTJMom]

What are the best traps/methods of getting rid of mice or for preventing them from entering a home in the first place? I live on the second floor of a really old home, and there are no other people currently living in the building.

My cats are friggin' useless. Even after carrying my large male in from another room and showing him the mouse, he turned around and went back to his food. My little girl cat got scared and ran away, only to return and have the mouse literally walk between her paws and do nothing. At one point, she had the mouse in her mouth, but then she let it go.

Thankfully, it got caught between the pages of a book and Haight beat it to death with a broom. My cats are clueless, and they are still searching around the house for it.

Anyway, I need some tricks because right now I'm paranoid, and I keep thinking that I am seeing mice run across the floor.
Seriously?! My cat is a great mouser.
We get one or two every winter and she catches them.

We have also used those standard little wooden mousetraps successfully
down in the basement where the cat doesn't go.
The mice love un-popped popcorn kernels.
Good luck.

[INTJMom]

Stop feeding your cats, or feed them very, very little. They'll learn to hunt right quick, and then you'll no longer have any mice.
Clever fellow. :smile:

[Jen]

mousetraps. We had some in our garage and the traps worked very well. Do you know where the entrance for them is? Probably a good idea to find it and block it. Surprised the cats aren't chasing them.
It sounds like they were never trained by momma or dadda cat.

In any case, I think domesticated cats that were not reared by parent cats have a harder time figuring out what to do with the goofy things.

It's instinct and likely that her cats are well fed and lazy. If you don't need the food why bother getting up?

[phoenix13]

NEVER using heat in the winter has done it for me. As long as your neighbors' apartments are warm, the mouse will always prefer it. As for keeping you warm, invest in a down comforter and cashmere sweater. It'll be worth the investment in energy savings :). Oh yeah, and this won't work for a house because the mouse's options are limited.

...I hope this doesn't sound as absurd as I think it does.

[Ivy]

I don't know as I've never had a mouse problem that I know of, but I do know that were I in the market for advice about how to catch mice, the guy named Owl would be the one I would listen to. ;)

Having said that, starving your cats would be mean. Have you seen these new mousetraps where you never have to see or touch the dead mouse? You twist it and put in some peanut butter to set it, then they go into the trap, and it snaps untwisted to decapitate the mouse and close it up inside the trap. I was like "This is a symptom of our culture which hides from the messy realities of life THAT IS SO COOL!"

[Jen]

Also if it's a stress reliever, let the unit smash it with a broom, baseball bat, whatever. ;PI don't know as I've never had a mouse problem that I know of, but I do know that were I in the market for advice about how to catch mice, the guy named Owl would be the one I would listen to.
But he starves cats!
Having said that, starving your cats would be mean. totally.Have you seen these new mousetraps where you never have to see or touch the dead mouse? You twist it and put in some peanut butter to set it, then they go into the trap, and it snaps untwisted to decapitate the mouse and close it up inside the trap. I was like "This is a symptom of our culture which hides from the messy realities of life THAT IS SO COOL!"Sounds less cruel and so much less fun, but this is coming from a woman who kills defenseless sheep on WoW. :rolleyes:

[Owl]

I don't know as I've never had a mouse problem that I know of, but I do know that were I in the market for advice about how to catch mice, the guy named Owl would be the one I would listen to. ;)

You could just set an Owl loose in your house.

Those suckers are mean though. I was actually attacked by an Owl once. I was climbing a mountain, and I saw these two fellows ahead of me on the mountain hootin' and hollerin' waving their shirts around, and I thought to myself, "my, they're excited about something."

A few minutes later they come running toward me, and one has some long, bloody rake marks on his back and a shredded shirt. Turns out an Owl attacked the two of them while they were climbing. So I thought to myself, "my, an agitated Owl? How interesting. I'd like to check that out."

So I climbed up to where they were when they were attacked, and there, behind a rock, was a nest with three little baby Owls chirpin' away, and then... THUMP. I thought, "my, a rock must have fallen from above me and hit my backpack. (I was wearing my school bag.) Turns out, the momma Owl didn't like my being so close to her chicks, and she dove into me full force. Unfortunately for her, my bag was full of hard cover books. So she perched on a rock above me and gave me the evil eye, as if to say, "touch my chicks, and die."

anyway, that's my story.

The end.

[Ivy]

Whoa. She has nobody to blame but herself for choosing such a public location for her nest! The nerve of an owl, nesting in a wilderness area humans are trying to enjoy. ;)

[Jennifer]

You could just set an Owl loose in your house.

Yikes. If you do that, the cats won't even be safe.

I still remember when I was young and one of our outdoor kitties lost her head over an encounter (presumably) with an owl.

Not a Pretty Sight.

[alicia91]

To take care of the problem in the long run you are going to have to figure out where they are coming in. They can get into spaces as small as 1/4" along pipes, foundation, under trim, etc. Figure that up, seal it, repair etc. Then trap them with regular mousetraps or poison. If you cannot figure out where they are coming in, then call a professional. It cost us $200 a couple of years ago to have critter-control come out and tell us where they were coming in, and place some boxes of poison. We also trapped a few. Problem solved. Prior to that, we were just using traps and they would come back every year.

[nottaprettygal]

It sounds like they were never trained by momma or dadda cat.

That's true. They were abandoned by their mom and dad! :boohoo:


Have you seen these new mousetraps where you never have to see or touch the dead mouse? You twist it and put in some peanut butter to set it, then they go into the trap, and it snaps untwisted to decapitate the mouse and close it up inside the trap. I was like "This is a symptom of our culture which hides from the messy realities of life THAT IS SO COOL!"

Oh wow. Do you know the name of them? I definitely don't want any humane sort of trap where you release them into the wild. I just want to torture them endlessly for entering MY HOME! MWA-HAHAHA *ahem*

Do you know where the entrance for them is? Probably a good idea to find it and block it.

That's one of the problems. I'm not sure. We have radiators for heat and Haight said something about them coming up through those little holes. There are probably a zillion openings for them to enter, and it's tough because I can't control the openings on the other floors of the house.

We do have a pest person who just visited recently and put a couple of traps under the sink, but I don't even know if they have bait on them. I'm cleaning this place from top to bottom today!

Surprised the cats aren't chasing them.It's instinct and likely that her cats are well fed and lazy. If you don't need the food why bother getting up? They were more interested when it was moving. One is verrrrry well fed and lazy, but I had high hopes for him because he has caught a bird in the past. The little one is playful, but a little skittish and probably frightened that mom is standing on a chair shrieking.

NEVER using heat in the winter has done it for me.
...I hope this doesn't sound as absurd as I think it does.

Oh HELL NO! If I don't use heat then that just means that the mice have won.

Stop feeding your cats, or feed them very, very little. They'll learn to hunt right quick, and then you'll no longer have any mice.

I want to torture the mice, not my precious fur-babies.

The good thing is that they are still on the prowl, so if there is a next time, they will perform better, or I will verbally berate them again. All those hours we spent playing with those little toy mice . . . and for WHAT!?

Also if it's a stress reliever, let the unit smash it with a broom, baseball bat, whatever. ;P

I think he was more stressed and a bit frightened, especially when he thought it was dead and went to clean it up but it started moving. Heh heh.

[Ivy]

Oh wow. Do you know the name of them? I definitely don't want any humane sort of trap where you release them into the wild. I just want to torture them endlessly for entering MY HOME! MWA-HAHAHA *ahem*

Amazon.com: d-CON No View, No Touch Mouse Trap: 2 Count: Health & Personal Care (http://www.amazon.com/d-CON-View-Touch-Mouse-Trap/dp/B000P9GNF2)

[nottaprettygal]

Amazon.com: d-CON No View, No Touch Mouse Trap: 2 Count: Health & Personal Care (http://www.amazon.com/d-CON-View-Touch-Mouse-Trap/dp/B000P9GNF2)

Thank you!

Now I want to clean up this place, but I'm scared that I will see mice while I'm doing it.

[Jennifer]

Thank you!

Now I want to clean up this place, but I'm scared that I will see mice while I'm doing it.

here's a tangent issue.

Why do mice scare you?

They don't particular scare me, I think they are cute.
Although they do move quickly and change direction just like those gross thousand-leggers that show up at night all the time.
Those make me jump, especially the big ones.

[Ivy]

We had a big-ass flying beetle in here last night, and I realized what our low ceilings at home are good for-- quick catching of flying beetles and moths and so forth. This one kept retreating up into the rafters before divebombing me, and Noah would take a swat at it before it went back up. I eventually went and took a bath while he finished it off.

(Yes, I am afraid of flying insects and I get my man to kill them for me. Don't make me give back my NOW card.)

[nottaprettygal]

here's a tangent issue.

Why do mice scare you?

They don't particular scare me, I think they are cute.
Although they do move quickly and change direction just like those gross thousand-leggers that show up at night all the time.
Those make me jump, especially the big ones.

I'm not sure. I was wondering that myself because as I was searching through websites on mice, I thought some of the pictures of them were sort of cute.

Maybe it's the fact that there is a dirty little creature in my home that I never invited inside. You know, besides my husband. Also, it could be the unexpectedness of seeing one, especially if it is in motion.

[nottaprettygal]

(Yes, I am afraid of flying insects and I get my man to kill them for me. Don't make me give back my NOW card.)

Oh suriously, girl. I'm with you. I am afraid of every single bug/little critter . . . especially crickets.

[Ivy]

It's the uninvitedness that bugs me. Outside, I think ants are cool and I marvel at their colonial style and think deep thoughts about the nature of collectivism and the needs of the many compared to the rights (or lack thereof) of the few. Inside, they need to die. So I kill them. I'm all out of the arsenic my grandmother gave me (she bought it in the early 80s before so many wives used it to murder their husbands) and back to the yearly struggle with inadequate poisons legally available to me now.

[JivinJeffJones]

+1 for the chunky peanut-buttered trap. I killed about 16 mice in 48 hours with that stuff. Fortunately we have some aggressive ants in my part of the world to dispose of the corpses. Very elegant and clean skeletons afterwards.

[Ivy]

Oh suriously, girl. I'm with you. I am afraid of every single bug/little critter . . . especially crickets.

Oh, fuck crickets. You never know when they're going to jump! And those camel crickets are the worst. *shudder*

[nottaprettygal]

+1 for the chunky peanut-buttered trap. I killed about 16 mice in 48 hours with that stuff.

Yikes. Note to self: Never visit Australia.

Oh, fuck crickets. You never know when they're going to jump!

That's always my defense when someone questions my fear of crickets. They are so erratic! How can someone NOT be frightened?

[rhinosaur]

That reminds me of the other night when Starla found a big camel cricket in her bathroom. She let out a healthy shriek before she figured out it was just a cricket and not a spider. She still made me put it outside, though.

Fuckers can jump!

I've always been a little wary of crickets ever since one bit the living crap out of me while I was fishing.

[Martoon]

Thankfully, it got caught between the pages of a book and Haight beat it to death with a broom.
Eww. Well, your guy does things I couldn't do.
Even after carrying my large male in from another room and showing him the mouse, he turned around and went back to his food.
Oh? So Haight won't beat it to death with a broom until it's caught in a book? Or just not when he's busy eating?

You can buy an ultrasonic device which should send them on their merry way.
Do those actually work? I've always wondered about those.

It's true, though. Bats are just ugly mice with cheap halloween rubber wings.
Bats are adorable! Okay, so I have a thing for rodents. Oh, okay, so it's critters in general.

NEVER using heat in the winter has done it for me. As long as your neighbors' apartments are warm, the mouse will always prefer it. As for keeping you warm, invest in a down comforter and cashmere sweater.
Aw, that's sweet! Then the mousies can cozy up with you in the comforter and sweater!
...I hope this doesn't sound as absurd as I think it does.
Why, no! Not at all.

[rhinosaur]

Hmm, this thread also reminds me of the other night, when I was rudely awakened by a big spider crawling over my face.

[INTJMom]

...
Maybe it's the fact that there is a dirty little creature in my home that I never invited inside. You know, besides my husband.
...
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg311/ddhockey/smilies/thspitcoffee.gif

[Ivy]

That's always my defense when someone questions my fear of crickets. They are so erratic! How can someone NOT be frightened?

That's precisely why I'm afraid of moths, even moreso than crickets. They just flap all around and don't care if they flap right into your face. So many people think this is a ridiculous fear, and I fully recognize that there is no way a moth could hurt me. But enough people share my fear that there is a name for it (mottephobia) and a support group forum (ihatebutterflies.org, although I don't hate butterflies, I hate moths).

[BerberElla]

I had mice in one of the houses I lived in once, I couldn't bring myself to kill them, or even trap them humanely because I barely saw them and they didn't bother me.

They were so cute. :wubbie:

Although I understand they are considered to be a health hazard so can see why others wouldn't want them in the house.

[nottaprettygal]

That's precisely why I'm afraid of moths, even moreso than crickets. They just flap all around and don't care if they flap right into your face. So many people think this is a ridiculous fear, and I fully recognize that there is no way a moth could hurt me. But enough people share my fear that there is a name for it (mottephobia) and a support group forum (ihatebutterflies.org, although I don't hate butterflies, I hate moths).

I dunno. I'm still a little iffy about butterflies to be honest. I'm totally with you about moths. When one comes in the bedroom, I hide under the sheets until it's taken care of. I just imagine it getting in my hair or flying into my mouth as I'm screaming.

Oh wow. That's an actual website.

[JivinJeffJones]

*trying to relate*

We have these huntsman spiders (the non-fake spiders from Arachnophobia) where I live which are apparently attracted to light. Which sucks when you wear a head-torch to bed as I do for reading purposes. The little fuckers have dropped onto my pillow a few times and then chased me down the bed and across the room. They run fast and can jump a bit too. It's a bit like the scene from Aliens in the med-lab.

[rhinosaur]

YouTube - Huntsman Spider (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67aL4K7EPdc)

[nottaprettygal]

Ahhh, why did I click that!? Eww. Eww. Do they even exist in the U.S.? If so, I'm never showering again.

[Ivy]

I dunno. I'm still a little iffy about butterflies to be honest. I'm totally with you about moths. When one comes in the bedroom, I hide under the sheets until it's taken care of. I just imagine it getting in my hair or flying into my mouth as I'm screaming.

Oh wow. That's an actual website.

I love you so much right now. Nobody ever understands my moth thing!

When I was pregnant with Thing 2 I realized I had never been entirely alone, and I wanted to be entirely alone for a few days before I went back to total togetherness with another human being that relies on me for all of its sustenence, so I went to my father-in-law's mountain retreat by myself. I took the long way up and stopped at a few places to shop or whatever, so it was after dark when I drove up the loooooooooong driveway and had to open two locked gates. I used my headlights to see, and at the second gate there was a HUGE-- I mean HUGE orange moth flapping around in the beam of light, trying to get me. It was fortunate that I was entirely alone, because otherwise my squealing and darting up to and away from the gate lock would have been very embarassing.

http://organictobe.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/regal-moth.jpg

[INTJMom]

Ahhh, why did I click that!? Eww. Eww. Do they even exist in the U.S.? If so, I'm never showering again.
Yeah. I knew better than to do that.
I didn't dare click on it.

[Ivy]

JJJ, if I ever travel to Australia will you be my spider-killer? I'm not sure even Noah will touch that thing.

[Jennifer]

Maybe it's the fact that there is a dirty little creature in my home that I never invited inside. You know, besides my husband.

Oh, he's not THAT little!

+1 for the chunky peanut-buttered trap. I killed about 16 mice in 48 hours with that stuff. Fortunately we have some aggressive ants in my part of the world to dispose of the corpses. Very elegant and clean skeletons afterwards.

holy cow.

(Speaking of that, can they strip a cow in under 2 minutes?)

...Bats are adorable! Okay, so I have a thing for rodents. Oh, okay, so it's critters in general.

Maybe you could catch the mice, dress them up in cute little rubber bat suits, then fling them across the street with a homemade trebuchet.

Just sayin'.

Hmm, this thread also reminds me of the other night, when I was rudely awakened by a big spider crawling over my face.

SHRIEK

No spiders.
None.
Nada.

Now you've got me recalling that "fear factor" episode where the guys had to get their girlfs' out of those large coffins while they were covered in tarantulas.

I need a shower, my skin aches.

Ahhh, why did I click that!? Eww. Eww. Do they even exist in the U.S.? If so, I'm never showering again.

waaa -- we can run but we can't hide... or shower?! :(

[JivinJeffJones]

YouTube - Huntsman Spider (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67aL4K7EPdc)

Yeah, that's them. They're okay when they're not eg running at your half-asleep face.

[JivinJeffJones]

(Speaking of that, can they strip a cow in under 2 minutes?)

I wouldn't know, but they can strip 16 mice corpses clean in 24 hours. If a cow had been running around in my house, eating my tobacco rolling-papers I might be in a position to satisfy your morbid curiosity.

[Haight]

Clean the house!

[cafe]

Normal crickets I can handle. Camel crickets -- No way. :horor:

I am a bad lady that poisons mice because I'm spacey and forget to check the traps and don't remember until they start smelling. With the poison they usually wander off somewhere outside my house to die.

My cats will kill mice, but they don't eat them. That would be too normal and convenient. No, they put them in the bathtub for safekeeping and playtime. :dry:

[Mitzy]

stupid cats.

[Ivy]

Just took this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/2922252284_17d8b5c9c5.jpg?v=0

[nottaprettygal]

I love you so much right now. Nobody ever understands my moth thing!

Aww. See, that story doesn't seem odd to me because I would have acted similarly. I think the worst part about a moth in the house is that 15-20 seconds after someone tries to hit it with an object (and misses) and you have no idea where it flew off to. It could be down your shirt, under your pillow, or in your hair. NO ONE KNOWS! It's a very tense moment.

Oh, he's not THAT little!

That what she said.

Yesssssssssss. :cheese:

[nottaprettygal]

Clean the house!

Oh yeah. I'm scared though. I need a flashlight to look under the radiator.

Just took this:

Holy crap. I don't recommend going outside today.

[Jennifer]

I wouldn't know, but they can strip 16 mice corpses clean in 24 hours. If a cow had been running around in my house, eating my tobacco rolling-papers I might be in a position to satisfy your morbid curiosity.

I bet one of those would scare the hell out of rhinosaur if it landed on his face while he was asleep!


.... hmmm... maybe a cow dressed up in a rubber bat costume?
("I'm BATCOW!" Not very stealthy though, the damn cowbell keeps giving her away.)

... I think the worst part about a moth in the house is that 15-20 seconds after someone tries to hit it with an object (and misses) and you have no idea where it flew off to. It could be down your shirt, under your pillow, or in your hair. NO ONE KNOWS! It's a very tense moment.

ugh. I don't know how they do it. It's like a stealth plane, they just disappear.
Those thousand-leggers do that too. Grrrr.....

[Ivy]

Based on photographic evidence I estimate that moth to be roughly 2/3 the size of the hot tub.

[JivinJeffJones]

Based on photographic evidence I estimate that moth to be roughly 2/3 the size of the hot tub.

Yeah, that'll end up down your shirt sometime tonight. It is written.

[Kora]

In my former house there were mouses. My parents put some glue on a plate with cheese in the middle, and it was pretty effective. But maybe you just don't like having a mouse sticked to somewhere yelling and all that...

But IMHO, you better take care of the moths *shivers at the pic*.

[nottaprettygal]

Yeah, that'll end up down your shirt sometime tonight. It is written.

I dunno. She's likely to be nekkid in that hottub, so the possibilities are much much worse.

[JivinJeffJones]

I dunno. She's likely to be nekkid in that hottub, so the possibilities are much much worse.

She should be able to get away as long as she doesn't pass out with fear and have it crawl all over her unconscious and helpless body.

[Ivy]

Screw you guys.

[Martoon]

Just took this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/2922252284_17d8b5c9c5.jpg?v=0

Have to keep... working. Must... resist... urge... to photoshop...

Ah, screw it. Anyone have a good pic of Ivy sleeping?

[Jen]

Screw you guys.No, go screw Noah. :devil:

[Anja]

My cats are friggin' useless.

Hah! I hear that. My girls have their own cat doors and they bring mousies IN so they can play with them.

I nearly always have a live mouse in here somewhere.

Thankfully, it got caught between the pages of a book and Haight beat it to death with a broom.



So. We are to asume that Haight is not "friggin' useless?" ;)

Seriously, I don't let it bother me much. It's amusing to me.

I probably should be more concerned healthwise but it's never gotten to the point where it seems unhealthy. If it did I'd be clueless about how to remedy it as I don't care to murder small fuzzy creatures.

Maybe call your County Extension Agent? I'll bet they'd have some good ideas.

[nottaprettygal]

So. We are to asume that Haight is not "friggin' useless?" ;)

Well, I'd probably still be standing on a chair right now if he were totally useless.

I'm not necessarily worried about one mouse. I'm worried about mice. And it's not even that cold outside yet, and one is already in here. I don't want my apartment to be infested.

[Anja]

Yeah, I hear that. I dunno. I was thinking if a mouse were pregnant and got away you'd definitely have a problem. For one thing, the little rascals GNAW!

Do try your Extension Agent. They can be really helpful for matters of household.

I was watching "Red Green" with my husband the other night and a mouse ran up someone's trousers. Do they really do that? If so, maybe I'll start using the chair method too. Just got a real woozy feeling about that one. . .

[nottaprettygal]

I was watching "Red Green" with my husband the other night and a mouse ran up someone's trousers. Do they really do that? If so, maybe I'll start using the chair method too. Just got a real woozy feeling about that one. . .

Hrm. A mouse up the pants could be oddly enjoyable.

[bluemonday]

Do those actually work? I've always wondered about those.
.
I don't know about you, but this thread is giving me the heebies.
They call you evil?
you're f-ing :jesus: compared to these girls.

Re: ultrasonics - not so much, but at least you feel you made an effort to be vermin free without all the bloodythirsty decapitation and stuff

[Ivy]

Hrm. A mouse up the pants could be oddly enjoyable.

One word: claws. We had a flying squirrel for a pet a few years ago and she would run up under your clothes if you let her. I hated it. She was a sweetie and as long as I had a shirt with tight cuffs and a tightly buttoned-neck on I was fine to hold her.

[Martoon]

*trying to relate*

We have these huntsman spiders (the non-fake spiders from Arachnophobia) where I live which are apparently attracted to light. Which sucks when you wear a head-torch to bed as I do for reading purposes. The little fuckers have dropped onto my pillow a few times and then chased me down the bed and across the room. They run fast and can jump a bit too. It's a bit like the scene from Aliens in the med-lab.
J, the Australian tourism board has gotta love you. I had already decided I'm never setting foot in Australia. Now, I think I'm just going to avoid that entire hemisphere.


They call you evil?
you're f-ing :jesus: compared to these girls.
Well, I try, but yeah, these ladies are tough competition in the whole evil game. (And I really hope that's an adjective you were using there.)
Re: ultrasonics - not so much, but at least you feel you made an effort to be vermin free without all the bloodythirsty decapitation and stuff
Ah, too bad.

One word: claws. We had a flying squirrel for a pet a few years ago and she would run up under your clothes if you let her. I hated it. She was a sweetie and as long as I had a shirt with tight cuffs and a tightly buttoned-neck on I was fine to hold her.
Heh. I've had a few pet rats over the years. Though they tend to prefer climbing up the outside of your pant leg, just for the traction.



When I was younger I worked in a bakery for a while. We had a resident mouse, which was a bit of a problem for health regulations. One time it ran across the floor, and Mr. Hunt, the manager (who was this large dude) grabbed a dinner roll off a nearby cooling rack and chucked it at the mouse. He narrowly missed, and the mouse darted under some shelving against the wall. It then immediately ran back out, grabbed the dinner roll, and dragged it back under the shelf with it. Mr. Hunt was enraged. I was laughing so hard I had to sit down on the floor.

[Anja]

That's funny!

[Noel]

When I used to live in San Ramon, California, due to construction of new surburban developments, mice flocked over from the fields into nearby residents' homes. I'm quite familiar with how to dispose of them swiftly.

As others have mentioned, peanut butter works miraculously. Especially paired in conjunction with sticky-glue-board traps. Place some peanut butter in the center and walk away. Granted, the sticky traps are terribly inhumane but they effectively get the job done. Better yet, it's like killing five mice with one stone so to say. What's key is too regularly change them everyday, maybe sooner if it's a pandemic. I've seen mice that have crawled over their fallen comrades to get their super chunk fix only to step on a part of the sticky surface and chew through their arm to break free.

Good luck!

[Anja]

I just heard something so bizarre on NPR. This guy was talking about a moustrap that doesn't cause physical harm to the mouse. Once the creature gets in the box a pellet drops into a container of water which creates carbon monoxide and kills the mouse. The narrator expressed doubt but the person she was interviewing insisted that such a device did exist.

"Where?" she questioned.

"Germany." he answered.

I thought to laugh but he insisted this was true. Too lazy to pursue a search.

Save for the grim irony, it sounds like a good idea.

[Oberon]

Myself, I completely fail to see what the problem is.

[bluebell]

I'm fine with domesticated rodents and I used to let my pet rats crawl all over me. But I freak out with wild mice in my house. Not entirely sure why.

We used mousetraps in our old place (again, recommend peanut butter). My only advice is to get the old fashioned metal and wood ones, NOT the new plastic versions. One morning, I could hear this weird sound coming from the kitchen. I got up and a mouse was limping round the kitchen dragging one of the new plastic traps behind it. I did the only thing that was possible in the circumstances - I burst into tears and went back to bed, and let my partner deal with it. Unfortunately, he is not a morning person. When he took the mouse outside (he was too squeamish to kill it by hand and I don't blame him), he didn't take it far enough away from the back door. It came back inside with minutes. :doh: We caught it properly a few days later with one of the old fashioned traps.

YouTube - Huntsman Spider (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67aL4K7EPdc)

I started to cope a lot better with huntsman spider removal when I realised that if their legs were too long to fit under a plastic cup, I could just use a rice strainer to catch them.

[millerm277]

I use the "trap-door" kind. Bait at the end. When the mouse walks in, it's trapped in the little box. Release it into the sewer, and problem solved. (I personally would prefer to use the old style traps and kill them, but squeamish family members disagree).