Mouse in garden

[Itsbloodyraining]

I am terrified of mice after having a huge house invasion years ago.

I have seen a mouse in my garden. I live on a housing estate, so not rural, but it is outside and I know that's where they live.

However, would I BU to put mouse traps down in case they start to get settled in the house again??

[WorraLiberty]

I use These in my conservatory. They're excellent and last over a year.

They kept coming in from underneath next door's decking, so I got them a couple to stick under there too.

[Dummynameforthisthread]

Get a cat?

[LilacWine7]

There are probably hundreds of wild mice living in your garden, you just happened to see one. It doesn't mean they'll be getting into the house.

Best to focus on mouse-proofing your house. Maybe put some traps indoors if you're really worried, but I'm not sure it would be a good idea to leave bait in them, it might attract mice even if there weren't any in the first place. Do you have a cat or would you consider getting one? They're really good at keeping mice away if you get one who likes to hunt. I've heard you can also get mice repellent sprays and electronic devices to deter them.

I do sympathise, because when living in the country we had a massive mouse invasion. It was horrible. We'd hear chewing and gnawing all night, they got into cupboards, left droppings everywhere and eventually we started seeing them flit across the living-room I still remember the feeling of one running over my foot when I was watching TV with the lights off. Eventually we discovered they were getting in through a tiny hole in the wall where the washing-machine plumbing had come loose. It took months of traps to get rid of them, and they continued to scratch around in the attic and wall cavities. Even now, living in a modern house in a city, I get really paranoid if I hear scratching at night!

I suggest examining your walls, floors and skirting-boards carefully for holes and cracks (especially behind furniture). Check drainage pipes are sealed and there are no gaps around plumbing. Check windows and doors close properly, they can squeeze through tiny gaps. Be alert to signs of mice like chewed fabrics, droppings, a musty smell, scratching noises. Don't leave food out and keep the kitchen floor clean.

Hope your house stays mouse-free!

[Dionysuss]

I was once jumped by a mouse in a rabbit hutch. I had to send in DH to poke everywhere with a broom first for ages after.

Do your neighbours have bird feeders op?

[Toooldtobearsed]

Bird feeders could be the problem.

We have a mouse who visits every tea time. He enjoys the peanuts.

[Itsbloodyraining]

Yes, the neighbours do have bird feeders! We can't really mouse proof as we have outside vents for our timber floors. This is what worries me. I might just put those traps down that were recommended, I just didn't know if it was an overreaction or immoral!

[Itsbloodyraining]

Lilac, your story made me shudder! I am always checking for droppings and gnawing! I can't forget how it made me feel, having them in the house.

[stepsharp]

I filmed a rat eating bird food in my suburban garden the other week, and I have a cat.

[TTWK]

I read that we're never more than 10 feet from a rat in the UK. Under your house, in the loft, nesting in cavity walls accessed thru a tiny gap, in your garden, sewers etc. Apparently the rat population of London is around 15m, that's 2 for every human.

Can't say I lose any sleep over it.

[Clawdy]

I saw a mouse run across our front garden and vaguely thought "Oh, a little wild mouse." A few weeks later they were all over the house. Pest control guy said it was most likely caused by the two bird-feeders in our front garden, as the loose seed ended up all over the grass.

[GlitzAndGigglesx]

I heard mice in my ceiling again earlier today it drives the cats wild. I'm petrified of them! My nan used one of them plug ins when she had them and it seemed to keep them away. I live in London near a lot of takeaway food places so see rats quite often

[Itsbloodyraining]

oh gawd. So the general consensus is that I can put traps down?? I'm not being unreasonable?

[Methe]

You would be unreasonable to put traps outside. You can put traps Inside to your hearts content :)