Mice

Have just moved to a new house, and this morning saw a mouse running throught the shrubs. My wife has gone mad.............

How can i get rid of them, how do i ensure it was just 'passing through' and is not a resident. HELP please. The wife is doing my head in, fretting about them and that they will come into the house.....could tbis happen?

HELP please.

Andy

 

our cats bring them in every night i wouldnt mind but they just play with them for a while then let them go :confused: we,ve got little nipper traps all over the place they do seem to catch them chocolate works best

 

Andy, it can happen.
I know I've got mice in my garden, bird food is a big draw to them.
Mouse traps work, but unless its a real problem I leave them alone and they leave me alone. Try the live and let live approach first and if it dont work there's plenty of nasties in the shops to sort them out.
pete

 

I got wood mice in my garden, nesting under my shed, and other than the odd one entering the house (dealt with by my then elderly cat - they are no problem.

They leave me alone, and I leave them alone. House mice are a whole different story.

 

I'm going to sound really thick and stupid now, i DO live in a rural location and have done for many years (so not a city person), but never been 'bothered' by anything other than hedgehogs. How can i tell what sort of mice are in the garden, that's if i get to see one for long enough, that is.

Thankyou for the responses so far, they have been useful.

 

Hi Caddy,
I consider myself a bit of an expert on mice and I have a love hate relationship with them. I love wood or field mice and hate the house mouse!
I would suggest that the mouse you saw is a resident because their territory is very small although the wood / field mouse ranges further than the house mouse.
House mice live in and around homes and farms and eat food meant for humans or pets. They contaminate surfaces with their poo, which can contain the bacteria that causes food poisoning and are very good climbers in addition their constant gnawing causes damage to property (wires, wood etc). They are occationally seen during daylight hours but more often than not you never see them, just evidence of them.

House mice are predominantly grey with medium sized ears and small eyes. An adult is about 4 inches long and has a 3 inch tail so 7 inches in total

The wood mouse or Field mouse is similar in size but can easily be distinguished from the house mouse by its larger ears and popping out eyes. Its also got a brown coat which cannot generally be confused with the dull greyish coat of the house mouse. They are also great climbers and you will see them in trees (I dont think a house mouse will climb trees)

To confuse you more the field mouse will sometimes come into the house but only in search of food it will not live or nest in the house. Equally the house mouse will go outside, again in search of food and can be seen scampering around in flower beds near to the house

To get rid of them - In my opinion there are only two effective ways either get a cat or use a trap which you can find in any hardware store. A cat will eventually deal with all the mice they never fail! If you dont have a cat the best trap is a good old fashioned wooden one but it has to be a good one there are some rubbish ones out there. You could also try a plastic one they have a plate you press at the back which lifts a dome shaped lid. The best bait is chocolate but cheese will do- I hate poison I just dont like the idea of it and I'm not actually sure how effective it is. - place the trap where you saw the mouse the chances that it will take that route again are high - I've caught many house mice outside near to the house ie around flower pots or flower beds.

If it were me and it's a field mouse I'd befriend it I love them but if it's a house mouse.......curtains every time I'm afraid!

Hope that helps

 

Hi Caddy I have a cat who would gladly clean them up for you! (she brought us a whole nest of babies, one by one, last summer. can't tell you how many mice I've had to fish out from behind the bookcase!!! :eek: )
Wood mouse here : -http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/264.shtml
House mouse here : -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/270.shtml
Humane traps here : -
http://www.trapman.co.uk/mouse-traps.htm
or ultimate control here : -
http://www.catchat.org/adoption/leics.html

 

Hi Andy,

My Husband's Andy as well and his suggestion to your mouse problem is put the wife outside and bring the mouse in that way you know where they both are. LOL
Sallyann.

 

Sallyann, thank you husband for that suggestion, he has a point!

Thanks too, to Charlie and Bayleaf, your help is very much appreciated. Since my sighting last weekend, i've not seen anymore furry creatures in the garden. We are clearing a large part of the garden in the next few weeks (it's not a big garden), and will see if that disturbs anything, and then go from there.

Andy