the rodent wars

We deal with mice every few years. Can not figure out how they enter, but I go into a cleaning frenzy, then out come the traps and peanut butter, buy more than you think you will need. I like to reuse, but sometimes I just throw the whole thing out if it was a messy kill.

The dogs leave the set traps alone, guess they learned the hard way that it bites back.

This year we have even started with poison, up on the basement wall where it meets the house, out in the garage, and anywhere the dogs can not get to it.
In about a week we trapped 10, since then none. But I am leaving them set up and check daily.
I am re thinking feeding the birds in the winter, because I really believe the seed outside attracted them this summer/fall.
I leave no food anywhere they can get to it, I store a lot in plastic see through bins, never had a problem with them getting into it, and even the dogs food in their bowl is put up at night now. I keep my trash bins closed outside, and keep my house cleaned around the perimeter. I really believe they are looking for warmth right now.

It I thought I had an actual infestation, I would not hesitate to call in a professional exterminator
I am going to try the peppermint oil mentioned here too now.

Poison will certainly kill them, but as others have said they may crawl inside your wall or other places, die, and stink. And other animals may eat the poisoned rodents, and that could be a disaster. Regular rat and mouse traps certainly work, but they only catch one varmint at a time. The solution? A bucket trap will catch them and keep catching them. There are lots of videos on youtube showing how to do it.

If you get a dog, bait the mice into an area that is easily accessed by the dog. This should spare your couch. Your dog will also let you know where the mice are so you can close access or lure them to the open.

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Nothing is as strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength - St. Francis de Sales

I was thinking of getting a jack russell. The ones ive been around live to kill. And they are nimble enough to get into lots of places. If i get one i will put a doggie door in the basement door so it can patrol down there as well. The mice i get are mostly looking for shelter. I cant see where they get into any food other than some corn in the shed and a few ears i had in the garage. I need a mouse proof hamper. They get in my dirty clothes and chew them up for bedding.

It looks like the previous owners didnt try at all to keep mice from coming in. I catch some, patch more holes. Go a week or two and repeat.

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How can I be lost, if I've got no where to go?

LOL outloud at saving the couch. We have friends who have a lovely deck that had a couch for nap taking.

One day a rat took up residence in the couch....... when the rat was done in so was the couch

As others have pointed out dogs as mouser/ratters do have problems. They have the ability and the will to do a LOT of damage to get at the critter. We had a Doberman who found something in a hollow tree trunk. She chewed all the bark off the base of it and dug a hole so deep all you could see was her rear legs and stubby tail. I have had dogs chew/claw huge holes in walls, rip doors off cabinets, knock stuff off shelves and worse trying to find a mouse. I've seen them spend 30 minutes trying to get under a cabinet which I saw the mouse run out the other side before the dog got there.

Inside a cat or ferret might be a better option.

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Remember, when seconds count. . .
the police are just MINUTES away!

Congress has no power to appropriate this money as an act of charity. Every member upon this floor knows it. . .Davy Crockett

Rodent Wars The Movies - Taa dah dah, Taa de Dah La de Dah! Dum dum diddly dum dum dum dum...

Rodent Wars Episode 4: A New Hole
Rodent Wars Episode 5: The Homeowner Strikes Back
Rodent Wars Episode 6: Return of the Pig Stye
Rodent Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Cat Menace
Rodent Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Crones
Rodent Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Lisp
Rodent Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens (starring Mickey Mouse as an aging sorcerer's apprentice Jedi Mouse, Donald Duck as Jar Jar, and Minnie as Princess Layla.)


Memorable quote:
Goofy: "Garwsh Luke, I am your father, ah-yup, ah-yup!"

a couple years ago i had a sheba inu dog a guy gave me.along with a outdoor cat. they litterally wiped out the rodents on my farm. the sheba dog caused absolutely no problems but it was so shy i could not catch it. i think it finally got so wormy from eating all the rats it just went off and died. or possibly the coyotes got it.

the cat is still here and it was eating a mouse today in the yard. i actually saw the dog and the cat hunting in conjunction more than once. the dog would dig in brush and stuff and the cat would wait for what would come running out.

still to this day we have a lack of rodents but they are coming back a bit.