Help

[Jelli]

Hi

I'm new to this and need help with a little problem. I get up at 5am every morning. This morning After sitting down on the floor with my cuppa, a little grey mouse ran across my front room floor.
I have no idea how he/she got there or where it went to when it ran off!
I am an animal lover and don't want to hurt it but also don't want it in my house.
How can I catch it humanely and where should I take it to let it go if I do mangae to catch it?
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Za]

Hi Jelli, welcome to WAB, I have mice at the moment in my flat and have been using humane traps called The Big Cheese, I got mine from eBay but have seen them in hardware shops, if you use them I found it best to use peanut butter as a bait.
As far as distance for release goes, I`m not sure, I just let them go outside the flat, so I may well be catching the same ones over and over again
The traps are simple to use, and effective.
All the best,
Za

[MartinL]

Originally Posted by Jelli

Hi

a little grey mouse ran across my front room floor.
I have no idea how he/she got there or where it went to when it ran off!

mmmmm You have only seen one of them!!!!!!

And it was probably long after the others went to bed.

Best thing would be to put small amounts of food down in the same spot.
Try to identify the species first, then place whatever trap you choose in the same place.

Remember that in this weather it may be equally cruel to evict them into the freezing temperatures, away from where they have been foraging known and sustained food sources. Perhaps more humane to use the good old proven traps and count the bodies!

[Jim Ford]

The humane traps that B&Q sell are excellent. They're a square section black plastic tube with a bend in the middle. We've had a plague of woodmice, but I think I've got on top of the problem now. I've lost count, but it's well over a hundred!

Don't get a transparent plastic trap, as the mice try to escape and damage it. They don't do this with opaque traps as I think they feel hidden and secure in them, even though trapped.

Jim

[Juliet1200]

You need to identify where it came in if at all possible and block it up, or there will be more! They can get in through a tiny hole (size of a biro, somebody told me!).

Apparently waste pipes are a very common way for them to get in (eg washing machine). We've had them coming in through the air gaps between the bricks, I've just blocked them off so hopefully that will keep them out...

Once you've caught it, I think you need to release it about 2 miles away as they do have a large range. Put it somewhere with some plenty of cover, and don't forget to check the trap at least every 6 hours.

[MartinL]

Originally Posted by Juliet1200

We've had them coming in through the air gaps between the bricks, I've just blocked them off so hopefully that will keep them out...

Once you've caught it, I think you need to release it about 2 miles away as they do have a large range. Put it somewhere with some plenty of cover, and don't forget to check the trap at least every 6 hours.

Be very wary about blocking vents or weep-holes in a building! They are there for a very good reason, blocking them up can lead to damp being trapped resulting in fungal growth and decay!

When evicting your catch, be thoughtful of the new environment you are inflicting upon the poor creature (which has only entered your house because it's warmer and dryer than outside). Leave it some food and try to put it close to shelter, it's very cold outside and being suddenly away from a previous warm home could be deadly!

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by MartinL

Be very wary about blocking vents or weep-holes in a building! They are there for a very good reason, blocking them up can lead to damp being trapped resulting in fungal growth and decay!

Also you might be trapping the rodent in the house!

[Juliet1200]

Originally Posted by MartinL

Be very wary about blocking vents or weep-holes in a building! They are there for a very good reason, blocking them up can lead to damp being trapped resulting in fungal growth and decay!

Should have specified - I've blocked the holes with little grilles you can get for that very purpose, so the air can still get in but the mice can't.

I have blocked some into the house, just hoping I'll be able to catch those in humane traps. It's been a recurrent problem and without doing this they would have carried coming in forever!

[Jim Ford]

It'll be a battle - they can breed almost as fast as you can catch them!

Jim

[vole-woman]

You do sometimes get a lone one coming in from the cold, though. We've had that, and caught that mouse and there's been an end to the story (bar having to buy my son a new lunch bag, hem hem).