Field mice in the loft

[tezzer26]

Hello all, looking for some advice, I am doing some work in my loft and found some friends ( look like field mice) I am an animal lover so bought a humaine trap. I am now 4 nights into my crusaide and have caught and released 4 mice. Have been releasing them in long grass across from my house around 25 yards away. Is there any chance they could be making thier way back to my house? and do mice live in large groups? Any advice would be welcome.

Tezzer26

[honeybee]

Yes, you need to release them at least a mile from your house, say in an old unused barn or near some shelter of some kind. They will have come in with the cold weather and do not cause such a problem as house mice but may eat things in your loft. We had the same thing in our cottage but they didn't cause us any major problems. Good luck with catching them all.

[naturelover]

hi tezzer26 a warm welcome to the site,and good luck with your mice.

[tufftie]

I had mice in my loft for ages when I was in Cornwall and they sounded like a herd of elephants before it rained! One day they just disappeared and I missed their funny noises! If you don't mind hearing them form time to time and there are no lose cables in your loft i'd just leave them. They wont reach large proportions in there and wont invade your house. If you are going to catch them and they're anything like the squirrels I rescued from a neighbours loft have fun!!!

[ron1863]

Why don't you mark them when you catch them then you would know if it was the same ones

[tufftie]

Originally Posted by ron1863

Why don't you mark them when you catch them then you would know if it was the same ones

spoil sport!

[Dogghound]

Yes i would agree, there is potential for mice to come and go to your loft throughout winter they are doing it whilst its cold weather. I doubt they will cause much damage or over populate you loft, if there isnt food up there and they carnt get to any they wont reproduce.

Also the term field mouse and long tailed field mouse are both generic terms for the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus . Just incase you wanted to look for more infomation on the species.

[m1.carson]

Hi,

I would think all lofts will have cables in them, not the least for lighting the room/s below, also releasing them 25 yards away would think they'll be back indoors before you.

I don't know what you use for bait, but chocolate works wonders, we've caught two at once in the trap at work, but released them way yonder.

Max.

[tezzer26]

Hello all thanks very much for all your advice. Just to update you on the mice problem. On the secon week of my adventure now and on Sunday night / Mon morning we caught 2. Took them almost a mile away from my house as it was 6 am and pitch black released them and will continue untill all is quiet.

I use peanut butter to attract them and it works a treat, I did think of marking them in some way so i could tell if they were infact the same mice but when releasing them they are as quick as lightening, almost an impossible task i think.

The problem with the loft is that my boyfriend uses it as a computer room aswell as all other storage . we are re insulating the loft now winter is here and either disturbed the mice or as some of you mentioned they could have come in for the winter, however have never saw them there before. The problem is that there are lots of computer wires up there and probably crumbs from his messy eating habits.

I will continue with my plan this week and will keep you informed. thanks again.

[coasty]

If you want to keep them out you need to check all your walls, Check the brickwork and any air grates, The minc can get through incredibly small gaps if in doubt point it up.....