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Old 07-12-2009, 04:52 PM posted to rec.gardens
Dan L. Dan L. is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Oct 2006
Posts: 340
Default mouse infestation

In article
,
Wildbilly wrote:

In article ,
Mysterious Traveler wrote:

Ohioguy wrote:
Actually, I'm dead serious about killing mice. It seems like mice
have moved into our 92 year old home with a vengeance. It started about
2 months ago, as it got cold outside. I was able to use traditional
mousetraps to kill a lot of them, but then that petered out as the
remaining ones seemed to keep to the walls more, and not bother with the
traps, no matter what tempting morsels I might put in them.

About a month ago, I finished installing clear plastic panels over the
open joists in the kitchen ceiling. I had installed tube fluorescent
lights up there. Now I notice that in just the past week, there are
probably 60 mouse droppings up there on top of the plastic, and I can
also see yellow where they have been taking ****. This is right up
above our kitchen stove.

I'm wondering if our mice could be numerous because my sister, who
lives on the other side of our duplex, is a packrat. She tends to leave
things lay around, including food, which probably gives them a perfect
breeding ground. They finally got into her foodstuffs so bad that she
was forced to make some changes, though. Still, I believe they have
plenty of hiding places in the boxes piled up over there.

Obviously, this is a serious problem. I want the mice dead. I've
been thinking of either fumigation or poison of some kind.

Anyone have experience with this sort of thing? I'd like to get
something that I can put all over in hidden areas, which will eradicate
these things.

Exterminators have some stuff that will kill every mouse you have
*Fast* and last years. They spray powder in the attic, under the
house, in cracks, everywhere. I had mice so bad they were chewing
holes in the wall to get at a sack of dog food.

Mysterious Traveler


A cat(s) is a less drastic, tried and true, traditional approach to mice
and rat control. This is a good time of year to stock up on a couple of
20 lb. "heater" cats.


I do not think cats are going to stop them if they are in the attic.
Cats are still very nice animals to have though. They are very good at
catching mice. I would put traps in the attic and places where pets
cannot get to. However, one still needs to find out how they are getting
into the house and seal up the holes. One can use bate (poison) blocks
which are in solid form and placed in attics and around where pets
cannot get to (safer? I do not know). As for powders and spays - I would
have my doubts about the health effects.

My little Yorkie is also very good at killing mice. But cats are like
mice they prowl at night.

My brothers cat would put the dead mice next to his food bowl. The cats
way of showing him "I work for food". My brother always praises the cat
for doing this as well.

Sleep well without the constant scratching sounds at night
I am currently mouse free inside the home.

Enjoy life ... Dan

--
Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.