Mouse problem.We have mice in our house and I need some advice?

Question

A few months ago my husband and I noticed mouse droppings in our kitchen so we set up these no show traps but the mice just got the treat inside without getting trapped. After we returned from vacation at the end of July we noticed the problem had seemed to have grown (more droppings on floor) We set up about 6 regular traps around our kitchen along with bait blocks, about 4 of em. We got one mouse out of all this effort. After this now all the bait traps are basically eaten all the way, and today my son dropped a car behind a side table in our living room and now I found a single dropping back there! WTF I need some advice on how to get rid of these little guys and if an exterminator is needed is our landlord responsible for payment? Please help we have a 3 year and a new baby that is due September 12th!

Answer 1

i have had those issues in the past as well. peanut butter works well on the traditional traps and the traps with the fake cheese with barbecue sauce. the smell of these foods attracts the mice and they can't stay away. good luck

Answer 2

i know the traps didn't work for u but i had like 1 or 2 mice and when my family saw signs of mice we didn't think it was mice because we never had any. The first sign was when we put butter out to soften to make grilled cheese. We let it soften and when we came back in the kitchen we saw the butter and it had bite marks like as if a mouse was chewing on it with is front teeth. My dad said a mouse might have done it but he was just joking so we though it just melted weird or our dog got it until when my sister was cleaning the kitchen she saw these droppings  and saw a mouse run across the floor to under the stove so my sis told my mom and my mom thought my sis was just joking because she loves to overreact. Then one day we saw mouse dropping on the counters then we believed we had mice. A little while after my dad caught a mouse and killed it by setting up some water in the sink and in the morning he saw a mouse in it. After that we cleaned the sink. The one problem was that we didn't act fast so that gave time for the mice to multiply. So we had more. My mom bought some mouse traps that worked perfectly. The mouse trap is VICTOR Quick Set Mouse & Rat Trap. We had in all 3-4 mice. To set the mouse trap put the peanut butter towards the back of the trap because if you put it on the edge they could get the peanut butter without getting caught but if its at the back they have to stick their head all the way in then SNAP! Also after you are done setting it put bacon grease on the parts you touched because mice have a good sence of smell and they might smell the parts where you touched and not go to the trap but if you put bacon grease on it they will smell the bacon grease. Also set the traps before you go to bed because they most likely come out when the house is dark and quiet and they are also nocturnal. If for some reason you catch a mouse but it is not dead despose of it at least 2 miles away from your house because if you put it in your backyard or close to your house it will find its way back.  Also when you think you have all the mice gone out of your house put flour around the places where you suspect the mice stayed when they were in your house and if you see little foot prints then you still have mice.

Congrats for the baby! Hope you have a healthy baby!

Answer 3

We put a small bin with food at the bottom and lots of screwed up paper the top. At night we listened out for rustling in the bin, popped the lid on it and escorted the little visitor out of our back gate and down the gulley where we let it go. We caught at least half of them like that. For the rest we bought eradimouse which is not harmful to any other animals (other than mice) or children. It dehydrates the carcasses after the death so they dont decompose and smell too.  

Answer 4

Before you set your traps, tie a string around the little metal bait section, making a few tight turns and a snug double knot. Clip the ends closely. Rub some peanut butter into this, and then set the trap. Leave your traps under the kitchen sink, behind furniture and along walls where they like to run.

Mice are smart and have a very light touch, but they will grab the string and pull while eating the peanut butter (which they love). This should solve your problem of catching them very quickly.

Answer 5

Mice are a health hazard, and your landlord should be informed ASAP.  He is legally obligated to take care of the problem.  However, that doesn't mean he will.  If you want an exterminator and he doesn't send one, hire one yourself.  To cover yourself, send a letter to your landlord 7 days before (for the mail lag) to inform him and let him know you will be deducting it from the rent.  If he protests, tell him the law is on your side and you're more than happy to argue the matter before a judge.  

One way or another, you need to take action fast.  Gestation for mice is around 20 days, and they reach sexual maturity quickly.  There are now almost certainly more mice in your home than there were a few months ago.

Mice usually don't stick around and reproduce unless food is available.  Do you have pets, and are their food bowls exposed?  If so, put them up high, say on top of the refrigerator, and give your pets set feeding times.  Don't leave the bowls on the floor longer than one hour at a time.  Also make sure your trash is rodent-proof, and clear out your lower kitchen cabinets and drawers to check for droppings; the mice may be snacking there, also.  

If you decide to give your fight another go, I would go with poison in the interest of speed.  Not all poisons are "one-feed," but one is: D-Con mouse and rat pellets in the trays.  It's effective.  If the mice die in walls, they will smell for a few days, but it goes away.

Cats also usually take care of the problem.  Ultrasonic and electronic repellants are clinically proven not to work, don't waste your money.

Good luck with the mice, and your baby!