My wife just called to tell me at work, that we have an entire population of mice living in our basement. I guess there is sign all around. Little black poops all about. Why does she call me at work to tell me stuff like that?

Anyway, I suppose I'm gonna have to set some traps. The thing is, the way she described it, it sounds like traps are going to take a LONG time to irradicate the little devils being that there are so many of them. Decon works okay, but it stinks when they all die and fade away. At least until there is nothing left but bones.

Does anyone know of a quick way to get rid of the little germ infested rodents, without stinking up my house?
I guess I could set lots of traps, but what a pita to keep up on them. I don't want to get another cat, and my wife's cat doesn't have claws.

Help!

 

A 7 foot boa constrictor would do nicely .

 

First you need to find out where they are getting in from. Block it off, then start catching them.

If you want to catch many at once. I would try putting some strong adhesive on a piece of plywood. Then put some food in the middle. The little buggers will step on the glue and get stuck, then just toss the whole board and all.

But beware!

Did you ever see the movie Mouse Hunt?

 

I hope there isn't a guy in the area named "Willard" and is training his top rat "Ben".

We have mice the size of rats.

Find their entry point and seal it up.

Can you fumigate the area?

 

How about a mouse collection trap ? They hold up to 2 dozen of the little buggers.

Do you like Cats ? They work too

 

5 gal bucket, fill with water, they cant swim

 

To answer your question " Why does she call me at work to tell me stuff like that?". It is the hunter, gather syndrome. No matter how independant some people can be, there are some tasks they wish not to undertake. The humaine traps are nice if you have a place to drop them. You own yard doesn't cut it. They will or their own young will be back.
Best bait I have found for any mouse is peanut butter. We had a few field mice attempt to make a home in our basement last year. One well placed trap and a tiny bit of peanut butter in the the cup and they went to a better place one by one in two days. If you choose the old fashened traps dont handle the carcus with your hands. I use a shopping bag as a glove and it doubles as a disposal bag. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

Most poisons cause them extreem thirst. So make absolutely sure they have no water supply inside your home. This will force them to leave and die outside. Also, don't block their escape route until they are gone. I once read an old time formula for rat poison. I've never had the need to try it but it sounds neat. 50/50 mix of corn meal and portland cement. I doubt you will find any more droppings. Good luck.

 

a cat would work!

 

the absolute best anti mouse device is a 410 gauge shotgun. if you don't have a 410, a 28 gauge over/under works also. or a 20 gauge. or even a 12 gauge. but don't use anything bigger than a 12 gauge, it is considered unfair to use a 10 or 8 gauge, as the ammo is larger than the prey.

 

Possums eat mice too, and their scent will keep other mice away.

Of course getting rid of the possum was quite a job in itself.

 

Mice jerkey.

I hear they taste like..............................chicken.

Ever see that scene in "Never Cry Wolf"? Where the guy eats these field mice.

 

Where do you think they get ratatatoui from

 

My job (i'm at work for three days) has kept me very busy since I posted this thread. I hate to post and then not follow through with the thread but it was out of my control. Just so much going on here. Sorry for my absence after starting the thread.

Now, with that said. You guys crack me up. Some of those replies gave me a big smile to rest my weary bones. Some good ideas too. Thanks! The wife just called me and said that she put out some decon. Nasty stuff but I guess it beats the human residents of the household getting hantivirus. I'll call mamma and advise her to leave the egress open and make sure there is nothing to drink down there (except maybe antifreeze). As far as how they're getting in, I'm gonna have to find their entry point. From what I have heard, it doesn't take much of a hole so I suppose I will need to belly through the low part of the basement to find that one up close. Kind of a tight space for a shot gun though. Hope I don't run into Ben.

Thanks again guys,

 

olfordsnstone, I hope you don't run into Ben either.

Heard he's the size of an opussum.