I use block poison like that mentioned by Driller (bought at Atwoods) in our barn. The blocks are too large for a mouse to carry off and the field mice around here seem to love the taste. Luckily, I have found only 2 dead mice inside the barn and 11 dead ones outside.

 

Be sure and do the first part in the dark of night.

The dog can help during the day.

 

I've tried just about everything thats on the market but try this get about a 3.5 gal. bucket fill it up about 1/2 way with water then put in some real hard dog food just enough to cover the top . Then check it in the morning . And I'll bet you'll have some water logged mice !


Dan

 

I can tell you that those sonic things DO NOT work: I've seen bugs set up their homes in 'em.

In addition to what's already been suggested (particularly about sealing up the place), I recommend finding ways to increase the predator population. Maybe discuss it with a local game warden, naturalist or forester.

Cats and/or dogs are a start. You can also try ferrets - for those with cat allergies - or who, like me, just don't like cats. Otherwise, snakes, weasels, mink, owls, hawks, falcons, bats and some wasps (bats and wasps for the bugs) are all efficient predators and otherwise beneficial to the woods.

Maybe a rock pile for the snakes (unless you might have problems with rattlers), some kind of rookery for the birds of prey, and/or a house for the bats (google "bat house").

Of course, if you use natural controls, you'll have to get rid of the poisons, since they can kill off your predator friends, too. But since you're posting this here, it sounds like the poisons aren't working too well, anyway.

It's a funny thing. In Utah, rats and mice can be a big problem, especially with Hanta virus going around. But I never had a single rodent problem in 15 years in Utah until my kids got a cat. We saw one mouse - it ran across the floor, stopped, looked at me as I looked it it, dumbfounded, and then it scampered off. The next night, the cat caught it, and then it got away. I haven't seen another one since.

I guess the cat and mouse were in cahoots to make the cat look good. (Cat to mouse: "Just sneak in, run around, I'll catch you, you play dead, I'll let you go and then you take off. Otherwise, I'll just eat you now.")

 

Push steel wool into all openings and cracks where ever you find one. the bucket of water mentioned above is a great idea also. Use regular traps when possible and sticky boards work well. Get some cat hair and tie little bundles of it together and place it under the house and near any opening and this will help.

Jim

 

Thanks guys! You've managed to dispense some great advice for me!

I have, indeed, sealed the house off as well as I possibly could. Having construction knowledge, I am well versed in the application of caulk & spray foam. These products are second only to duct tape in my arsenal. Wherever the pests' remaining entry points are, they're well hidden. Getting pets in the house is not an option -- we're only there a couple weekends a month and a week during hunting season . Any cat left to fend for itself in -20 F weather in the winter surely wouldn't last long enough to be an efficient predator, anyway.

I will, indeed, start using the glue board traps. I know of the "block" poison baits that have been mentioned here, and I will use them in lieu of the pellets, too. I'm also seriously considering some bat boxes! The only issue is that I haven't seen any bats around, so I wonder if they will ever habitate the boxes.

So any other thoughts on the fly problem? I already sealed off the house as thoroughly as I could to prevenet their entry, but a few still manage to find their way in. What's the best way to kill them? Will the wasp trap with honey/water be sufficient, or is there anything more I can do?

 

are you a dog person?
there are dogs that were bred to hunt vermin and sense you can't leave any cat ( even one as evil as ours ) up there in -20
you can carry a dog with you.
just a thought.


bremerton6

 

I hope this post doesnt violate the posting rules but being youre in NJ i have this tracking powder stuff that works wonders only problem is you have to be an exterminator to get it ( I am not) if you want to contact me ill sell ya what i have left or you can try to ask an exterminator supply to sell ya some. this stuff soaks up the water in the rodent killing it within 24 hours gotta be careful with kids and with pets with this stuff tho
flies are the result of death you prolly got dead mice and rodents in there too.. the maggots turn into flies when they rot i use fly paper for flies constantly with good results