Mice - nicking poison trays!

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by Fat Controller, Apr 10, 2025.

  1. NigelJ

    NigelJ Total Gardener

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    As a youngster I thought it was pretty poisonous, especially with jelly (what was was wrong with evaporated or condensed milk to go with the Jelly?).
    I've always used a Little Nipper trap with a piece of fruitcake or dried fruit.
     
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    • infradig

      infradig Total Gardener

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      Cant spare fruitcake here, attractant of choice is a monkey nut (peanut in husk) ; they need to work to get an edible treat rather than hit'n'run.
       
    • Fat Controller

      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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      I think mice may be the critters I have in the greenhouse - as this is for the second time in a week that the seedlings I bought have been decimated:

      WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 12.32.49_989eeebf.jpg

      WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 12.32.49_b855fbab.jpg

      That stalk in the last photo is/was a tomato seedling.... never seen a slug nor snail do that, ever.

      We've also had more damage (looks like chewed plasterboard) in the outhouse overnight so I now have three trays of poison in there and will keep going until it stops being taken. Once I win that battle, the whole room is getting ripped out so I can repair damage, redecorate and recarpet.
       
    • CarolineL

      CarolineL Total Gardener

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      @Fat Controller unfortunately I have found in my greenhouse that as fast as they are killed, more come to take their place (my garden backs onto woodland). Maybe you can seal off the outhouse better than my greenhouse, but I resorted to covering pots with bulbs or smaller seedlings to protect them.
       
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      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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        This is the first year, in 15 years here, that we've had this issue in the greenhouse - there is a fair bit of building work going on around us though, so I wonder if they've been displaced somewhere and taken refuge here. We have had the odd mouse in the past, but nothing to this level. The outhouse, I am convinced that is a rat or rats - the damage in there is not insignificant either... it appears they've gnawed their way in through a wooden wall (boarded up door, essentially) worked up and through the ceiling, then gnawed through the plasterboard to get into the room itself. Frustratingly, I've no clue what it is that they've shredded overnight last night, but it looks papery as though it is more plasterboard. I suppose I won't find out until I haul the entire room apart (a huge task in itself) and I am not inclined to do that until such times as the poison stops being taken, signifying I've won the battle.
         
      • Philippa

        Philippa Gardener

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        The most success I've had with rats ( in the loft and running about in the space between floors ) is the Snap traps with a splodge of Peanut butter. Seemed to cure the problem until the Water company turned up to dig up part of the garden to find their water pipes ( don't ask !! ). Obviously disturbed a rat run and we found a rat had had broken thru the cellar floor and wandered up into the Pantry:frown: Hope you get yours sorted @Fat Controller
         
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        • Fat Controller

          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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          There has also been a spate of gas main replacements and water works right round our area, so that may be a factor here too. I've got a load of wire wool, so will stuff the entry holes with that before filling over eventually with filler.
           
        • Sheal

          Sheal Total Gardener

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          Rodent poison pasta is successful FC. We had mice in the loft of our previous home, they ignored the granular poisons so we tried the pasta and they cleared it.
           
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          • cactus_girl

            cactus_girl Total Gardener

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            The wood mice always get into our GH and can chew the tops off seedlings. Caught them before on video running around and jumping up onto the benches. Can't keep them out. Funny though that this year, touch wood, they haven't done this or been in the garage as far as we know as the proper trap still has cheese in it.

            Picture of mouse running wild in GH.

            VideoCapture_20250416-101014_resized.jpg
             
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            • Fat Controller

              Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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              Well, the rate of stuff being taken in the outhouse has slowed, but some was taken last night; the tray in the greenhouse has been emptied, so I will fill that back up shortly. I'll keep going as long as it takes
               
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