How to catch a mouse?

grenners · November 2016

Does any one have any mouse catching tips not including the use of a cat?

We have mice which come from underneath the kitchen cupboards. We do not leave any food out and we clean up. We live in a first floor flat in a Victorian House. We have tried traps and also Rentokill branded poison both in little plastic traps and just placed in strategic locations loose on old saucers. No success yet no mice caught. The mice are not large in numbers and leave no particular signs but have been spotted between 2 am and 4 am. Very frustrating.

poxy · November 2016

Try baiting your traps with peanut butter.

grenners · November 2016

Tried it. Also tried chocolate as someone told me that was good.

Anka · November 2016

Try to turn them into much loved pets? On a serious note - any reason why cat is not an option? Saying that - I got 4 and they sometimes used to bring mice in.. from outside...

grenners · November 2016

Not a cat fan to be honest never have been. No desire to own a cat.

Mirandola · November 2016

Ferret?

miss annie · November 2016

If you see one you have six. They have a litter every few weeks. They will come inside when it gets cold. Peppermint oil sometimes deters them but a cat is the only guaranteed solution.

Mirandola · November 2016

It is difficult. I think I'm reasonably open minded about most lifestyle choices: marriage/not, children/not home-ownership/not one job for fifty years/freelancing - all can be fine and respectable ways to live. Not having a cat though, that's just wrong.

grenners · November 2016

That's very judgemental.

HolbornFox · November 2016

You can put wire wool in any holes, they hate it for some reason.

miss annie · November 2016

They can't gnaw through the metal. Great if you have obvious holes and gaps. Try putting traps under shower tray and behind bath panel. Those are their favorite places as they are warm with all the water pipes running underneath.

dorothy · November 2016

It's all about the placement of the traps. I don't use poison anymore. It's a horrid death by internal bleeding, not very quick and you never really know if you've got them. Place the trap along where they run, normally right next to the skirting board. Put at a slight angle, so they'll stop and sniff it coming as they run along, one way or the other. You have to sort of 'be the mouse' when you're working out where to put the trap. But don't assume they are super intelligent. I've got so good at it now that I've normally killed the mouse within a day.

grenners · November 2016

Dorothy I did put them along skating boards. But didnt work yet. What bait do you use?

dorothy · November 2016

Look for where the droppings are to see where the main run is. I don't think there's any magic bait. I used cheese and peanut butter and chocolate spread. Cheese worked less well. I know they are very attracted to peas. I thought I would try some mashed peas next time they come in. I think my dogs put them off coming into the open in my house. They can smell them under the floorboards, and sort of follow them, like they can see them under the ice.

Mirandola · November 2016

I know, I know. I must be less judgmental.

grenners · November 2016

They live under appliances and kitchen units so I saw one escaping under the fridge. It's old house and they must be in the walls and other flats. I found one in the living room at 3 am. So I tried to create a trap and nail it with my old crimean military sword which is on the wall. I took it off the wall from my great aunt Margarets house on the day of her funeral and smuggled it into my car. Didn't get the mouse.

conformable_kate · November 2016

No cats? Snakes are probably good. Everybody should have a few snakes. There is a entire appalling industry dedicated to producing mouse embryos to feed pet snakes, so this would cut out the middlemouse. Also, Mirandola might just have been joking.