There's a mouse in my house. What should I do?
Posted by hespedal on Nov 25, 2009 · Member since Mar 2006 · 5259 posts
I just saw it. It was in the kitchen and then ran over into the living room (where I am). I am afraid of scaring it.
What do they eat? All we really have is fruit. Should I worry about it or will it just go away. Hummm....
DaMN!
We have mice again! I think it is because I was working in the garage and left the door open all day the other day.
We still have 2 humane traps left over from before. They are already set up.
Last time, the mice just ended up moving out. I think I willed them away.
We had mice a couple of years ago: I was living in a shared house with a building site on one side and I think they were scurrying in to avoid the construction. We had some humane traps which worked well and as they never really left the kitchen, we just made sure that there were no crumbs around, food was in airtight jars and boxes and we did the washing up promptly. Really didn't have a massive problem getting rid of them like that :)
We caught our mouse last week (for the second time - this time we took him far. far away to release him) - thinking it was the only one - but now there's more poop on the counter! Ugh....
I get mice in my ventilation ducts. I'd like to catch said scampers, but I don't know where to set a trap. Also, do any of you recommend a certain brand that's easy to use? I got live traps from Home Depot once, but couldn't figure out how to set them.
We caught our mouse last week (for the second time - this time we took him far. far away to release him) - thinking it was the only one - but now there's more poop on the counter! Ugh....
was it the same mouse, do you think? that got back in from the yard?
we're trying to decide where to let him loose.
HH I got one by TOMCAT...the picture on the back is incorrect, which could be why you are confused. The pic of the mouse on the box is the right way to use it.
It's not hard at all.
Is that the kind you got?
We figured it out because our cat's dish was empty and there was mouse poo in the bowl. gross!
our cat is too fat and lazy to catch a mouse. :(
i forgot. last time we did get those things you plug in that make a high frequency noise and it worked (I think). I wonder if it's not bothering them now?
This grosses me out.
Noah doesn't even want to keep it as a pet.
At least they are just in the basement (laundry room). I hope they stay there!
We have rats running through ours and our neighbors' yard...again. It cold and they are looking for shelter and food. So, what are you going to do? My nextdoor neighbor believe's that it is the semi-vacant (only their every other weekend) house behind us that has an unkempt yard and shed that is harboring them.
I have been bringing in my chicken's food and water at night, sealing the compost in strong bins and trying to put tight row covers over our vegetable beds to make it less attrative for them. Luckily, they do not like our indoor cats and have stayed outside. Though, my sister says she can hear them running through the walls and attic at night.
Sigh!!! This is the first time I have ever had a rat problem, especially one so big. But, if they want to stay outside and away from my family, pets and me, I will leave them alone.
L2ant - the first time we caught the mouse, it was in the middle of the night so Andy just let it out in the backyard, even though we knew that wasn't a good idea. We were tired and cranky.
The next morning we saw him in the kitchen. So we kept setting the trap again (the cardboard and trashcan trap) but he didn't fall for it, so we stopped trying.
Just last week we set up the trap again, just to see.....and it worked, almost instantly - so we drove him down the road to a grassy field. I felt bad cuz it was so cold.....he tried to climb up my leg and it freaked me out....but I know he was just cold and pissed off.
But now there is mouse poop again - even though neither of us have seen anything. Guess we'll set the trap again tonight....ugh...
I don't know what kind I got. I was going to donate them to goodwill, but I think I ended up trashing them out of frustration. I'll try the electronic ones first. I thought it was hype, it's good to know they work.
I don't know what kind I got. I was going to donate them to goodwill, but I think I ended up trashing them out of frustration. I'll try the electronic ones first. I thought it was hype, it's good to know they work.
it worked on my old mice.
i think these ones are wearing headphones or something.
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/02/house-mouse-help/ <-- Step by step tutorial for humanely ousting mice from your living quarters complete with video instruction.
Personally, I love mice. My friend used to have pet mice when I was a kid, so I learned early to be very comfortable with rodents. I realize that many species of rats are notorious for spreading diseases though, so I don't know what I'd do if I was having rat issues myself. I figure the animals have just as much of a right to be there as I do, but if it's just not possible for us to share a specific space I'd try to employ the most humane method possible to move them to a new location. Good luck everyone!
Are mice dangerous at all?
Or is it just rats that are renowned for carrying disease?
A, er, erm, 'friend' *cough* of mine has discovered some.
This friend lives in a flat complex.
So getting rid of them will just leave a nest vacant for others.
Everything carries rabies =D
Everything carries rabies =D
is that why you foam at the mouth?
I thought you were just drooling over how good I look.
Nerdy moment - the foam is drool, 'cause rabid animals can't swallow.
But anyway, I'm sure they can carry other things too.
Nerdy moment - the foam is drool, 'cause rabid animals can't swallow.
But anyway, I'm sure they can carry other things too.
Stop playing language games, there was a clear distinction being made between foam and drool.
Very obviously one is more bubbly whilst the other is in a less air based form.
Here are three issues I have with humane trapping techniques:
1) And this one is a half one.
If you forget about one, any mice inside starve to death. Not an issue if you have a memory.
2) And this is my second biggest.
If there's an infestation over 2 months old trapping will have little to no effect. They will have breed like you wouldn't believe.
3) If you catch them what can you do with them?
Take them outside, they just come back in.
Take them far away outside, they become someone else's problem.
Take them outside to a secluded area-new environment, they don't know the food and water supplies, they don't have a nest for protection against predators, certain death.
If you keep them as individual pets then fair enough, but I doubt most of us will have the resources to consistently remain doing that.
The only place I can imagine releasing them where they can quickly make a nest would be a landfill. By the way they use poison by the sack full.
If anyone has any counters for 2 and 3 (I think I countered 1 well enough in some regards, it all depends on the person) then please post them.
As long as you don't have cats/dogs that will eat it, I suggest just leaving it alone. The mouse is in your house for a reason, it's eating and surviving on it's own, and happy to share your home with you. Keep your food sealed, and make sure to clean up any droppings you may find. Even though they're such cute little babies- they do often carry sickness and disease. Share your home, but remember, you are 1000 times bigger than him, let him live on his own. If he wasn't eating an surviving, he wouldn't stick around. I have a couple mice friends in my home, I thought about leaving out food and water, but the less interaction with non-domesticated animals the better. Keep the wild, wild!
As long as you don't have cats/dogs that will eat it, I suggest just leaving it alone. The mouse is in your house for a reason, it's eating and surviving on it's own, and happy to share your home with you. Keep your food sealed, and make sure to clean up any droppings you may find. Even though they're such cute little babies- they do often carry sickness and disease. Share your home, but remember, you are 1000 times bigger than him, let him live on his own. If he wasn't eating an surviving, he wouldn't stick around. I have a couple mice friends in my home, I thought about leaving out food and water, but the less interaction with non-domesticated animals the better. Keep the wild, wild!
This is some of the stupidest advice I've seen on the matter. Do you know how quickly mice breed?
As long as you don't have cats/dogs that will eat it, I suggest just leaving it alone. The mouse is in your house for a reason, it's eating and surviving on it's own, and happy to share your home with you. Keep your food sealed, and make sure to clean up any droppings you may find. Even though they're such cute little babies- they do often carry sickness and disease. Share your home, but remember, you are 1000 times bigger than him, let him live on his own. If he wasn't eating an surviving, he wouldn't stick around. I have a couple mice friends in my home, I thought about leaving out food and water, but the less interaction with non-domesticated animals the better. Keep the wild, wild!
This is some of the stupidest advice I've seen on the matter. Do you know how quickly mice breed?
How is it stupid? He said the leave the wild mice wild and not bother them. So, basically, do nothing. Are you suggesting the mouse should be killed? Because I am understanding that is the only other proposed alternative to letting the mouse be. And what the hell difference does a few mice in the house make? My parents' house has had mice in it for the past 90 years, and it's doing just fine. You seal up your food, and their population stays in check. They're not B movie monsters, moving in and trying to destroy your house with their massive population when you're not looking.
Mice check their own populations, in direct correlation to how much sustenance they can find. If your food is sealed, they won't overpopulate and the females will skip ovulation cycles. Do YOU know how quickly mice breed?
As long as you don't have cats/dogs that will eat it, I suggest just leaving it alone. The mouse is in your house for a reason, it's eating and surviving on it's own, and happy to share your home with you. Keep your food sealed, and make sure to clean up any droppings you may find. Even though they're such cute little babies- they do often carry sickness and disease. Share your home, but remember, you are 1000 times bigger than him, let him live on his own. If he wasn't eating an surviving, he wouldn't stick around. I have a couple mice friends in my home, I thought about leaving out food and water, but the less interaction with non-domesticated animals the better. Keep the wild, wild!
This is some of the stupidest advice I've seen on the matter. Do you know how quickly mice breed?
How is it stupid? He said the leave the wild mice wild and not bother them. So, basically, do nothing. Are you suggesting the mouse should be killed? Because I am understanding that is the only other proposed alternative to letting the mouse be. And what the hell difference does a few mice in the house make? My parents' house has had mice in it for the past 90 years, and it's doing just fine. You seal up your food, and their population stays in check. They're not B movie monsters, moving in and trying to destroy your house with their massive population when you're not looking.
Mice check their own populations, in direct correlation to how much sustenance they can find. If your food is sealed, they won't overpopulate and the females will skip ovulation cycles. Do YOU know how quickly mice breed?
Firstly you're ignoring the hazards they bring from tampering with wires, especially motors.
Secondly you're ignoring all of the health risks that come with mice. They piss and shit all the time.
Thirdly they're kept in check by food yes, but they can eat almost anything, including but not limited to things like soap, plaster, paper.
Those three things alone are usually found in abundance in any house hold.
Fourthly they breed VERY quickly. And whilst small infestations can be dealt with relatively easily. If you leave them for a few weeks then you've got a real problem on your hands if you're trying to get rid of them.
The advocacy of just 'share your home' is ludicrous at best.
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