MOUSE TRAP GAMES, NO FUN

Do you remember the board game Mouse Trap? I bet many of you do. I wonder if it would be as much fun to play today as it was as a kid... Well that might have been fun as a kid, but trapping mice today is no fun at all. I hate it. I feel so guilty at plotting to harm any living thing.

BUT when you know what harm they cause it is easier to remove them. Unfortunately mice in the house, isn't something you should leave to sort out by itself as these pests can breed a lot and where there's one there will end up being a colony.

This is the time of the year where field mice, find our houses, they're coming inside for food and a warm place to live.

I imagine that you had similar understandings about these critters. I assumed that mice were cheese lovers. I discovered the foods most favored by the house mouse are cereals, biscuits and chocolate. When in the house, mice will eat almost anything not sealed in an air-tight container. Yes what attracts mice is food. Mice are masters at finding any scrap of food in and around your home, but their favorites are not limited to: uncollected rubbish and litter, food for pets and birds that has been left out and not eaten, fruits and berries that have fallen to the ground, untended compost piles, and any discarded food.

If they enter into the home, wild mice may carry parasites and diseases that are harmful to humans and animals, including: Salmonella and Listeria. Another significant problem is the structural damage mice can cause from their gnawing and burrowing activities. This ranges from minor holes in walls/doors/furniture/cupboards to structural collapse, flooding, electrical faults and fire (due to gnawing through cables). Other things to be aware of is that: Mice are capable of reproducing from four weeks old and have an average litter size of 9-12 young. The average life expectancy of a house mouse is 9-12 months.

Something that I learned recently that I had never read before is from a John Hopkins study: "Mouse allergen appears to be more common in lower-income homes, but certainly is not limited to them. The researchers noted that 50 percent of homes with household incomes above $60,000 also contained mouse allergens."¹

Remember never handle mouse droppings as they could contain disease organisms. Always wear disposable gloves and wash your hands thoroughly.

 So without a doubt there is no good reason to have them in a house. But there are a few complications about removing them and these are very serious.

Most of us are averse to physically removing them in mouse traps. Dead or alive, we shiver at the thought of being near them.  There are two basic types: kill or capture alive. There is a humane trap that tilts with the weight of the mouse, using a bait like peanut butter. The mice get right into the trap and get caught like they should. But then you have to carry the live mouse outside to release.  Or the original mouse trap style, now has several versions and then there's the new selection of glue traps.

 There are more dangers to consider. Mouse pest control, using poisons can be an effective way of dealing with mouse infestations, but it does have its drawbacks. This is true particularly in domestic properties, where the presence of children and pets can conflict with poisons. You also have no control over where the poisoned mouse will eventually die, and this can lead to unpleasant odor, whilst the rodent slowly decomposes. The problem with poison is that once the mouse dies, predators will eat the poisoned mice and die. Cats and dogs have also been known to eat poisoned mice. So finding and proper disposing of dead mice is still necessary.

Another item you should be aware of when dealing with poison; baits used to kill mice and rats are mostly grain based. Not only does this attract rodents, but also it attracts dogs and cats. There are several different types of rodenticides. These can cause seizures, internal bleeding or kidney failure. Always make sure these items are placed in areas that pets (or children) cannot access.

Have you ever had this happen? What did you do? If you find that you have some kind of mice or rat evidence you will either have to lay traps yourself in the kitchen or call in a professional pest controller to sort the pest problem out for you.

 SO HOW TO KEEP THE MICE OUT OF THE HOUSE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

SUGGESTIONS FROM READERS

Peppermint Oil Did the Trick?

I live in an apartment and have found that there are two ways that are really helpful and fragrant as well. The first is to use natural mint oil (not mint extract). I get peppermint oil from the health food store and sprinkle it around my apartment (try not to put down too much because the aroma can be overwhelming). Or try Downy fabric softener sheets. For some reason, Herman (yes, we named our furry friend) was not to fond of these smells, but we enjoyed them.

Some Like It Hot in the Car… but Mice Don't

Mice hate cayenne pepper. Sprinkle the pepper generously throughout the car, within the engine compartment, in the glove compartment, under the seats, etc. After verifying that the mouse has left, just vacuum the pepper out and replace it with air freshener.  Joseph

The Luck of the Irish

Place several bars of open Irish Spring soap throughout the van. Mice and rats cannot stand the smell. A friend has more than 20 cars on his property in various stages of restoration, and this is the method that he uses. Hanging them in empty orange bags might keep the bars from sliding all over the car, as well.
Maureen in MN

Ultrasonic Pest Control

I have to say I am very encouraged by the number of people who don't want to kill mice just because they've wandered into human territory. Having lived with a white rat as a pet, I am very uncomfortable with the idea of poisoning these little creatures. It seems unnecessarily cruel, especially when the fine print on the poison label suggests it may take days for the animals to die.
That said, I didn't have any luck with the peppermint/spearmint oil from the natural food store, and I watched early one morning while my cat slept and the mouse ran by. That was funny, but still the mouse was getting into the trash. So I bought an ultrasonic pest control plug-in unit and so far it seems to be working. The mint made the house smell good but the cute lil' furry guy stuck his head out of the stove one morning right around daybreak so I guess he's not repelled by it. Jules W., Baltimore MD³

  WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR DOG MAY HAVE EATEN POISON?

Betsy Aust.... "We did have this happen with one of the more toxic varieties of rodent bait. it was a bright blue colored bait. I turned and saw my Boston’s nose in the tray, called poison control who informed me to take my dog to the vet NOW. Long story short, Indy had only sniffed the tray, not begun to eat yet. I threw all the trays away."
Your veterinarian will test the time it takes for your pet’s blood to clot to determine the severity of the poisoning. If you have a sample of the suspected poison, you should take it with you to your vet’s office. Samples of your dog’s stool and/or vomit may also be helpful. The antidote to anticoagulant poisoning is vitamin K. Vitamin K1 is the form of vitamin K that’s used for therapeutic purposes. It’s a natural form of vitamin K found in plants and is absorbed nutritionally. The less expensive vitamin K3 is not an acceptable antidote and should not be used.

Source  

¹ hopkinsmedicine.org 

² healthypets.mercola.com
³ The Dollar Stretcher, Inc

and readers....