House or field mouse?

[ShelliB]

Hi, we have recently heard lots of scurrying around in our loft and the wall cavities. Upon investigation we discovered evidence of mice. We didn't want to kill them so we put down humane traps. Over two days we caught three. We would have had four but the last one had chewed his way through.

However, I came home today and went into my utility room to see a mouse. We put one of the traps in there and half an hour later we had caught a baby mouse. At the same time my Husband spotted another baby mouse. When I looked at the mouse we caught I didn't think it was the same as the one I had seen earlier, as this one was smaller. I am now very concerned that there may be a next somewhere in the utility. When my Husband returns from his meeting we will move the dishwasher, washing machine etc and see if we can find any evidence. We can't seem to locate where they are getting in from. The children have seen a couple recently in the garden and my neighbours cat left a dead one outside the back door recently. But with all these recent sightings, during the day as well has left me with the worry that there is a serious infestation somewhere. I took a couple of pics today which I'm hoping someone may be able to tell whether or not they are field mice or house mice. I would also be grateful for any advice or tips on how to deal with this situation.

Many thanks in advance for any help or advice

[RKB]

It looks like a Wood Mouse, but could also be a Yellow-necked Mouse. It's not a House Mouse, but that isn't much comfort as Wood/Yellow-necked can be just as annoying.

They live everywhere where there are bushes and grass, so there isn't much you can do about them in the garden, but you can look around your house and block all access points - holes as small as 1 cm. Fill them up with filler. Although mice can chew through aluminium and steel if they want to. You also need to make sure that there is nothing attractive in your house - no food debris or loose veg, no stacks of paper/boxes where they can nest.

Until you block access and remove temptations, any kind of traps/poisons are just very short-term solutions.

[ShelliB]

Hi

Thank you for your reply. We have just caught another one in the same area, only a tiny baby one and we've released a mile or so away where we left the others near to a farm. I did feel guilty about leaving the poor little thing but I couldn't cope with them being in the house.

We think we they are accessing the cavity walls somewhere in the garage as all the cats in the street same to make a beeline for the garage. We have found that there is no skirting board behind a cupboard in the utility and there is a gap there so we assume they must be coming in there via the garage. We have blocked that hole up and the next job is to locate any access points in the garage. This will not be an easy task as the garage is very full. Although it will be a good opportunity for a long overdue clearout.

Thanks for your help

[STYRBJORN]

[quote=ShelliB;765489]Hi

Although it will be a good opportunity for a long overdue clearout.

Your husband is probably releasing them so you will clear up and save him the hard work.

Ric

[ShelliB]

Haha, you may be right!!!

[scott tilley]

Its a great idea to release them some distance away. All winter I run a Premier Inn for wood mice in my garage. I catch them at night in humane traps (loaded with food and a nice place to sleep) The following morning they are released at the bottom of the garden (30 metres away). The next morning I release the same mice On one occasion I released a mouse only to have it jump over my feet and make a be-line directly to the garage
I swear he was back in their before I had time to shut the door!

[davecatt]

You could try something like this
Rodent Deterrent - Ultrasonic
Dave

[ShelliB]

We haven't had any more mice in the utiltity but the neighbourhood cats are still making a beeline for our garage. We have bought another humane trap which is metal and can hold more mice. So far we haven't caught any more yet. But at least they don't seem to be coming into the house anymore.

I might try one of those sonic devices. I'll try anything as long as it won't hurt them. That's one reason why I don't have a cat, just a dog. I hate seeing little critters being killed, even though I know it's nature.

Thanks for your replies

[RKB]

Originally Posted by scott tilley

The following morning they are released at the bottom of the garden (30 metres away).

You might want to rethink that - I was tracking some tagged Wood Mice last autumn and they were regularly moving at least 250 m each night!