Mouse problem again!.

evansc · #1 (**permalink**) 29-11-2006, 04:19 PM

Hi, I am new to this forum and I have a problem with fieldmice getting into my loft. I have had the problem now for the last 3 years, always around this time of the year. 3 years ago, November time, I started hearing noises in the loft. Noises like brick dust or rubble falling between the wall cavities, eminating from the loft. At first I dismissed it and just thought it was general settlement or the wind etc. However the noises got more frequent and my wife and I would lay in bed at night hearing these noises right above our heads as the loft floor is our bedroom ceiling. My wife said she had seen a mouse run across the patio one day and under the garden fence which joins the side of our house at the back. Further inspection behind the fence revealed ther was a big hole going under ground between our wall and next doors garage wall. I eventually called the envrionmental health out (council pest control) as I thought it could be rats etc. I had suspected mice or rats myself anyway and had purchased (I have to confess) two plastic snap traps which I had baited with peanut butter. Anyway the chap from the council came round, had a look in the loft and indeed I did have a problem with mice as he could see the droppings on the floor and I had trapped two fieldmice, one in each trap. However I was still hearing noises and in the end he put some poison bait down which continued to be taken until eventually the noises stopped. Anyway to stop this happening again I had the hole behind the fence concreted up. This appeared to be the end of the problem, until last year around this time another fieldmouse somehow found it's way into the loft and drove us mad with all of the noise it was making. Eventually it trapped itself in the unbaited trap that had been reset by the pest control man. He put some more bait down just in case and we heard nothing else, he could not identify how they were finding their way into the loft however. Now our nightmare started again last night, more of the same noises that I recognise straight away and looks like we have the problem again. How the hell are these mice finding their way into the loft and why do they persist in scratching/scrapping the plaster/mortar off the walls which they then use to cover up the bait stations. I know this is what they do becuase the pest control man showed me what they had done last time. How can I stop this happening every year, myself and my wife had no sleep last night and we dread going to bed each night when this happens becuase we cannot sleep with the racket they make. I have the pest control man coming around tomorrow for what now is an annual event. The woman next door also has evidence of mice activity in her loft as he checked hers out last time also. Any thoughts or suggestions would be most welcome. I know that I will anger some people due to the fact that I have or have had someone to exterminate these creature but until you have experienced the noise they can make then you just want rid. I like animals, particularly birds. I used to have bird feeder etc. in the garden but had to remove these as the mice were being attracted by the seed etc.

honeybee · #2 (**permalink**) 29-11-2006, 04:24 PM

As i sit at the computer there's a mouse running around my feet and it's not a pet! I found a dead one in the house the other day so somebody must be poisoning them and they must be able to get in somewhere. Luckily they're not doing any (visible) damage and seem to be living in the old chimney. I've got humane traps down and the clever little things aren't falling for it! There have been a lot of other people with the problem, if you search "humane traps" etc you may get some advice.

I have to add my opinion which is that a poisoned animal has an agonising drawn out death and that other animals in the food chain etc can be affected, if you must kill them then do it the quick way!

werdnal · #3 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006, 07:37 PM

I have to sympathise as we get them every year too. We have a single storey extension on the back of the house, the roof of which is level with the top of the neighbours field bank, and we assume thats where they get in. However, they can climb almost vertical walls, so even if you think you have blocked the gap you found, there are probably many other ways they can get in. I'm sure I read once that if you can get a pencil through a hole, a mouse will fit!

They also make a horrendous noise for such little chaps! Sounds like the Grand National in our loft some nights!

I must agree that I don't like poison bait though. Its not just the mice that suffer, but if one does stumble outside, and fall prey to a cat, owl or kestrel, its almost certainly doomed too. I have heard good reports about the ultrasonic pest deterrants that you plug into the mains. Not used them ourselves, as we also have bats in the loft and they would be driven out too. Otherwise, you can get new bait which is fatal to mice and rats, but not actually poisonous. Its a sort of pellet which they eat and it blocks their digestion, but had no toxins in it so any other animals are safe. If you have to use bait, perhaps some of that would be a better option.

henrya · #4 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by werdnal

Otherwise, you can get new bait which is fatal to mice and rats, but not actually poisonous. Its a sort of pellet which they eat and it blocks their digestion, but had no toxins in it so any other animals are safe. If you have to use bait, perhaps some of that would be a better option.

Word of warning - I tried that stuff against Rats. They said "Yummy - bring some more" and ate huge quantities without any noticeable effect. It may work for some, but it didn't for me!

henrya

Gill Catton · #5 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 08:33 AM

have had no mouse problems since I got a cat

Jane_Russell · #6 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 08:43 AM

Is it possible to allow a cat access to the roof space?

Jane

henrya · #7 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

have had no mouse problems since I got a cat

As mentioned in another post, in Norfolk, our cats used to bring mice into the house and let them go!

henrya

Gill Catton · #8 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 08:56 AM

Didn't put the cat in the roof, but it seems that roof mice don't stay in the roof they must venture into the house at night because four dead house mice later (that I found) no more racket / chewed stuff.

but yes they do sometimes bring live ones in and rabbits, such beasties generally don't want to stay in the house though they seem keen to run away when I released them - funny that.....

Jane_Russell · #9 (**permalink**) 07-12-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Didn't put the cat in the roof, but it seems that roof mice don't stay in the roof they must venture into the house at night because four dead house mice later (that I found) no more racket / chewed stuff.

but yes they do sometimes bring live ones in and rabbits, such beasties generally don't want to stay in the house though they seem keen to run away when I released them - funny that.....

It depends on the loft space and whether it's safe for a cat but if it is then I have left the trap door open and the ladder accessable and she's gone scurrying up most excited!

Jane