Mice problem, but we have a dog..?

Question

It's winter here in New Zealand and it's getting quite cold here, so a lot of mice are coming inside to get away from the cold. This week my Mum has found 4 mice in the kitchen. They climb into the rubbish bin.

We're not sure what to use to get rid of them as we've got a dog as well and don't want her to swallow any bait.

I live in New Zealand, so some of the products you recommend might not be available here or come under different names. What can we use to get rid of the mice, but keep our dog safe?

Thanks.

Answer 1

H-mans got the solution. He told me sometime ago and I have had similar success.

Answer 2

Here are some suggestions, some more do-able than others!

First, try to see how they are getting into the house and seal their entry points if at all possible (I know this can be hard!)  A good thing to put into holes is steel wool! I've also sprayed insulation foam into small cracks and they don't like to gnaw on that.  That said, mice can get through really tight spaces...so look at the rest of my suggestions.

2: put all your food in containers they can't get into (I know this can be hard too!)  Or at least keep your food in the higher cupboards.

3: this includes your dog's food.  Put it  away at night, when they might come out to nibble. Or may put it in a much larger dish with water i.e. create a mote that they would have to swim across to get to the food!

4: keep a clean floor... i.e. crumbs on the floor -- another source of food.

5: Use a live or snap traps, again, where the dog can't reach.

6: I hate sticky traps, they are really cruel -- and you definitely don't want your dog to get into them.  If you must use them, check them often and put the mouse out of its misery by drowning it ASAP

7.  Some people suggest keeping shrubbery away from the house... as plants attract mice to the house too, and they can crawl up plants to get into the house.

8. Stay on top of the problem... the last thing you want is for them to start multiplying!

9. If you give them poison, they can go die in the walls and then you have to live with the stink for about three weeks while they decompose!

Good luck!

Answer 3

Traps with peanut butter on the trigger

Answer 4

Yes you do not want to use bait/Poisson it will kill the dogs as you know.I have used these sticky glue strips before they work well.but for my money it doesn't get better then the old snap trap.you now the old saying you cant invent a better mouse trap.

Answer 5

Put the mice poison in cabinets where your dog cannot get to.

Get a cat!

Answer 6

If you aren't allergic, get a cat!

Answer 7

Try some brown sugar on one of those grey plastic traps that you squeeze to set.

A mouse got into a packet of brown sugar I had, and I inadvertently spill ed a little.

Out of sheer laziness and a lack of time at the time, I brushed it together with my fingers, and in a touch of brilliance set the trap with some sugar on the trigger.

I got 4 in two days, then gave up walking around it and got out the vacuum cleaner.

Answer 8

We've got a mouse problem and a dog.  We've also got a cat which catches mice.  But we also lay bait and mousetraps in inaccessible places like the loft and behind thedrawers in the kitchen where we keep the cereals and flour.  The mice can get in but the dog and cat can't.