Mouse In The House?

[DavidR]

They can run right up the side of your house (not all homes, depends on the siding) or chimney. They only need a hole big enough to get their head into. If you have clapboard or wood shingle siding a fav spot in between the inner side of that and the foundation.

[ttocs]

Dec 19, 2021 19:07:56 GMT -5 DavidR said:

They can run right up the side of your house (not all homes, depends on the siding) or chimney. They only need a hole big enough to get their head into. If you have clapboard or wood shingle siding a fav spot in between the inner side of that and the foundation.

Yes, they can easily climb brick.

As I wrote the sentence above, I realized there is one spot which might have access to the roof interior. It's where the electric service penetrates the eave where it meets the brick wall. It's the only hole in the bottom of the eaves. Everywhere else a mouse would need to be able to "walk on the ceiling" so to speak, and then grab onto smooth metal. So this hole must be the answer.

Thanks!

I love it when a plan comes together!

[405x5]

youtu.be/dCUdf6Ji23g

Try this!

[ttocs]

For you keeping track at home:
Baits = ?
Snap Traps = 1

I collected the baits, but I think the first mouse might have eaten some, don't know for sure, but will know if something stinks in the next few weeks or I find a dead body. But there were two days of no activity on the first floor, then activity Tuesday night. I put the snaps out yesterday and found the offender this morning.

[cwmcobra]

I caught three in snaps a couple of weeks ago, but no activity since. I'll keep the traps out as I'm sure there will be more visitors during the cold of the winter months.

[ttocs]

I've been sick this week, so I've not been as observant as I would normally be, so I am not sure if it was the apprehended offender or happened since the execution of the aforementioned offender, but 3 other snap traps in the same area as the occupied one were licked clean without tripping. I didn't look as closely yesterday as I did today. Logic makes me assume that it was the little guy that bought the farm who was lucky 3 times because there was one more trap not touched which would've been #5 if drawing a line from one trap to each other.

So this one's name is Lucky. 3 Wins, 1 Loss.

[ttocs]

I'm pretty sure I found what I believe to be the original instigator.

New score:
Baits = 1
Snap Traps = 1

[ttocs]

Today's score:
Baits = 1
Snap Traps = 3

Putting two or more traps adjacent to each other has higher success rate. Applying peanut butter to underside of bait/trigger has higher success rate.

[DavidR]

Never thought about putting some UNDER the trigger.
I reverted to loading a big gob and still there were some clever mice who could eat all of the PB w/o tripping the trap.

[ttocs]

Dec 27, 2021 22:00:58 GMT -5 DavidR said:

Never thought about putting some UNDER the trigger.
I reverted to loading a big gob and still there were some clever mice who could eat all of the PB w/o tripping the trap.

Under, is what a number of videos showed and seemed logical. They have to work harder to get the stuff. I also load the "curl" of the bait area of the trigger just to make it to need even more effort.

One video I watched showed a narrow tunnel box with 4 traps inline but offset from each other in the tunnel. This trap only needs food in the middle and relies on the rodent to traverse the traps unsuccessfully. This is where I decided to lay my traps in pairs.

So, between how the bait is loaded and paring of the traps, the last two mice didn't stand a chance. One mouse was trapped by both traps simultaneaously. At 50 cents a trap, I'll keep tossing the used ones using full hazmat precautions in the disposal and OCD type cleanup.

[Zombie]

The few times I've had to set traps, PB did the trick. But, I wrap the PB in a small piece of gauze that they have to chew through. The extra effort required gets 'em just about every time.

[ttocs]

Only the first mouse caused audible activity I could hear on the main floor from my bedroom and only at night. This occurred for two nights. After the first night is when I put out the bait blocks, heard the mouse for one more day, then nothing for the next couple days. During this time is when I set the traps everywhere, but only got activity in the kitchen area, which is at other end of house.

The traps that have caught each mouse in kitchen happens to be under the dishwasher, which is directly above the basement dryer vent. I've been wanting to replace this vent for a couple years, and now I'm thinking this is where they are coming in. Tonight I foamed the entire vent from outside, and will replace it tomorrow.

So here's the question, is each mouse in the last couple days a "new" mouse, fresh from outside? To me, this would be a reasonable assumption if each new mouse is following the scent of each old mouse. The dryer vent is literally a foot below the dishwasher, and there is enough gap between floor and wall behind the dishwasher for easy access from basement to first floor for a mouse. So it also seems likely that the traps in front of the dishwasher are the first, and last, stop for these mice.

I would think that if some mice are living in the basement, somewhere, that there would be some activity that might be noticeable, but I see and hear none. No poops on the first floor, no scratching noises, nothing on the first floor. Even when I cleaned under the kitchen cabinets over last weekend I found no poops. So that means to me that there hasn't been any unknown activity in the kitchen - other than the mice who've either licked the bait or been caught in the traps. So again, is it possible to have rodents in the basement that don't frequent the main floor?

[DavidR]

[405x5]

youtu.be/ZpJm18Mbba8

Happy New Year 🎊

[ttocs]

Today's score update:
Baits = 1
Snap Traps = 4

Not sure if today's intruder is a leftover from before closing off the dryer vent, or if there is still a way in I haven't found yet. But, this guy was able to get the pb off the traps last night without triggering them, so I adjusted the bait trigger to be more sensitive, and this is what did the trick. Apparently, a package of 4 traps all had the triggers bent over too much, so now I know to adjust them every time.

[405x5]

Dec 30, 2021 10:05:12 GMT -5 ttocs said:

Today's score update:
Baits = 1
Snap Traps = 4

Not sure if today's intruder is a leftover from before closing off the dryer vent, or if there is still a way in I haven't found yet. But, this guy was able to get the pb off the traps last night without triggering them, so I adjusted the bait trigger to be more sensitive, and this is what did the trick. Apparently, a package of 4 traps all had the triggers bent over too much, so now I know to adjust them every time.

[vcautokid]

Mice suck. I remember as a kid there was one behind my bedroom wall. Drove me nuts. Now the mice I have are from Logitech and Kensington and one that glows.

[housetech]

I don't drive my pickup much any more, so it stays parked in the driveway. Popped the hood one day and a field rat jumped out right next to me and I nearly soiled my drawers. That little devil built two nests, one between the hood & fire blanket (which is where it was) and one in the airfilter box. Thank goodness it had not started eating the wiring. I once had a Z-car that I was re-building and rats/mice chewed-up enough wiring that I had to replaced the whole wiring harness from the firewall forward. Same with boats- they'll destroy your interior.
We had them in the travel trailer too. I spent 2 full days cleaning it, but the wife refuse to sleep in it again- had to sell it.

[ttocs]

Just went up on the roof to see if there is any evidence of critter infiltration into the exhaust vents. Nope.

But I did find an exterior wall outlet that was pulled away from the brick with plenty of room for any mouse. Caulked the gap closed. This location makes a lot of sense being that it's along the front wall of the house where a garden is and it's a big target of interest of larger animals with mouse eating expertise. My cameras pickup lots of activity at night and I've gotten to know the cast of characters who frequent my garden the most. Several cats, a couple of skunk, and some others here and there including coyote, plus there are owls who live in the trees of my backyard neighbor's property. I used to have some chipmunks out front for years, but they're all gone for over a year now.

Today's score update is up to:
Baits = 1
Snap Traps = 5

Happened to have been awake at 4am this morning to hear the trap snap for #5. Just because I'm getting pretty good at setting the traps doesn't mean I want any more customers. I go through a bothersome routine of sanitation each time, and it was annoying just doing it the first time.

[ttocs]

Today's score update is up to:
Baits = 1
Snap Traps = 6

Now I'm really annoyed!
Each time I think I've found the magic entrance, a couple days go by, and then, early in the morning, the traps catch another one. So today is Mint Spray day. I'll make the basement smell like mint once it's delivered.

I will also cram steel wool everywhere around the perimeter of the house between basement and first floor. Basement is unfinished so ceiling is open.

But still gotta find where an entrance is still available. I'll be checking the brick weeps again, as well as the recently sealed spots.