Mouse in attic-HELP!!

[homebody]

We have a mouse that goes in and out of the attic when he wants. Chews on something in different places in attic. Have mouse trap set with bacon (tried peanut butter first) and 2 glue traps. This has been going on for a couple of months now. He is not coming in the living areas of the house, just in & out of attic. Can he be getting in through the attic vents? Can't use poisen because we're afraid it'll die in the walls and stink. Is there anything else we can do? I am SO tired of the chewing.

[michiganfarmer]

If you used Decon the body will not stink when the mouse dies. Decon makes their blood clot, and drie up...so Ive been told. I used Decon, and have never smelled any dead mice

[Country Lady]

Several years ago, when we were in another house, we bought some blocks of something from an exterminating company that's supposed to be safe if animals get hold of it and rats aren't supposed to stink when they die. I can't remember the name of it.

[Donna-6]

This is the way we get rid of them. We live in a trailor and they come thru the hole for the water-pipes. Get a lid from a quart can. Pour some antifreeze in it. Not the new stuff Walmart sells. Put a small piece of bread in it. The rat will swivel and that,s it.

[homebirtha]

I would give the electronic mouse away things a try. As I posted above, we tried on a few months ago and have had no signs of any mice. It's the first time since we move into the house that we haven't had mice. We had tried traps before. They worked, but we just kept getting more mice. This thing is actually keeping them away.

Just keep the package so you can return it if if doesn't work.

[gobug]

The most common mistake made in rodent control is to not place enough devices. You may be able to find trails through or over insulation if you look closely, otherwise, you will have a hard time because there are so many square feet up there.

Access to the attic can be through many paths. First they could run up the outside wall, especially if you have vines for cover. A more likely path would be the route for a plumbing vent or electric wires. These often go straight down to through the walls.

Mice need a lot of food each day, like 20% of their body weight, so they always like to be as close to dinner as possible. If they are not raiding your pantry, or pet food, you need to find what or where they feed. If you find what they are eating, you have a much better chance of catching them by where they eat or rob food.

It may not be a mouse. I have seen mice in attics occasionally, but it is rare. Provide some more information and I'll try to help more.

Decon and other rodent poisons except one are anti-coagulants -- the exact opposite of blood clotting chemicals. They hemorage and bleed to death internally. Their is rarely and odor. I have had only a few cases out of thousands where the mouse that ate the poison was pregnant and almost ready to give birth.
Gary

[Barb]

Ah, the fun of mice in the attic and the chewing noise. Do you have an attached garage? Our mice were getting in that way. No not the door but they went under (semi-finished walls) a piece of plasterboard that didn't quite go to the floor. Then they tunneled up to the attic thru the insulation. To get at the food they came out thru a closet. We fixed their entryway in the garage. You will always have them until you figure out how they get in.

Your mice are coming out somewhere into the main house. Set some traps in the main part of your house - kitchen would be best. Or like gobug says if you have pets they are feeding there. We got ours in the attic but as you haven't, try the rest of the house. If you are worried about other animals getting caught, put the traps under a clothes basket or a crate. We always have traps set in the garage under a potato crate and get them all the time.

[Cheryl in SD]

Do you have a cat? When I hear a mouse in the basement or attic, I toss in the cat. Wait a few hours, let the cat out and no more mouse.

Cheryl
who loves her cat

[BaronsMom]

This tip was given by a Pest Control Operator we work with...he loves using this bait in snap traps...

If you are using a mouse snap trap, try a piece of caramel candy. Warm a small piece of the candy in your fingers and then place it on the trigger. Several people I know swear by it!

Below is a newly updated resource on Controlling Mice in the Home from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Covers everything from rodent proof construction, baiting SAFELY, trapping techniques and one of the most important, but least thought about....safe cleanup after a mouse has been in the house.

http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/wildlife/g1105.pdf

[homebody]

I don't have any pets, no vines on side of houuse and the garage is detached. Gonna get some caramels and try. Haven't heard him in 2 days, dh will take attic opening box down and look , redo traps. this w/e. when he gets home. Thanks all.

[djb473]

what uu need to do is deploy the death bucket----take a five gallon pail fill it with water till about 4-5 inches from the top take sun flower seeds and make a layer so that u cant see the water lean a wooden ramp to the top and wait about 4 days then dump the bucket and do it again till u kill them all the more buckets u have spaced out around the house the more you'll catch let me know how u do my best so far is 8 mice in 4 days 1 bucket