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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Now what?

38 replies

RatInMeKitchen · 04/04/2011 23:14

Know that this is not the right board to post this on, but as it always is the most active....
Was just about to go to bed when I heard a scratching and gnawing noise in the kitchen. Thought it was outside at first, until I walked into the kitchen. Sound seemed to come from behind the bin. Poked it with a broomstick, and then decided to move the bin. Saw something jumping and running away. Looked like a big mouse. Please tell me it's a mouse. Not a rat.
Feel disgusted and am not sure what to do now. Dh is away this week.
Usually there's not just the one, is there...
Really don't understand how it got in. But am more concerned how to get it out.
HELP!

OP posts:

TheyKnowEsperanto · 05/04/2011 13:01

To echo dreamingbohemian - mine turned out to be only one mouse (think it got in through the window next to a field) - but I was too squeamish and have a 15 month old so couldn't use poison or the glue strips to get rid of it.

Punkatheart · 05/04/2011 13:11

Contrary to popular belief, the poison does NOT kill straight away. It can take 1-5 days for them to die. Also, that poison goes into the ecosystem. It may kill other animals: cats, foxes and birds of prey. Glue traps are horrendously cruel.

Mice will leave small droppings and rats will leave larger raisin sized one. If you call the council they will charge, poison but not take away the bodies. When we once called them, they couldn't come out for 24 days! The problem is, if rats die under floorboards or behind cupboards they will stink.

I have never caught a mouse in a live trap but I have caught some rats. Released them in woods and broken the cycle.

There is an electronic device that you can plug in to send them away - not the cheap ones you buy in shops but the more expensive versions that will penetrate the floors and ceilings. We have found ours to be effective.

But don't panic - mice are tiny and this time of year very commonly pop into the house to have a look around. Sprinkle some peppermint oil in cupboards (they hate the smell) and clean up all crumbs and foodstuffs.

Punkatheart · 05/04/2011 13:13

Oh alas check outside. We had a rat come in via a broken airbrick and then under the suspended flooring. The man from the council would do exactly that - go around and look for holes, then charge you!

mrsruffallo · 05/04/2011 13:17

Sorry, but if you heard it gnawing it's probably a rat.
We had one in our house, and had to chase it out. It jumped into the laundry basket to hide amongst the dirty clothes!
Rats tails are longer than their bodies, if that's any help.

DeepPurple · 05/04/2011 13:17

The council should come out if you call them. It's not a free service but they do come back twice usually to check they are really gone. I think it cost us £60.

mrsruffallo · 05/04/2011 13:18

Rats droppings are crescent shaped and bigger than the small droppings mice leave,
Also,their urine stinks

thumbwitch · 05/04/2011 13:20

Don't use one of those ultrasound thingies if you have pet rodents of any kind, including rabbits and guineapigs - really upsets them as well as rats/mice.

Punkatheart · 05/04/2011 13:26

Yes - should have mentioned that - sorry...

Original poster

RatInMeKitchen · 05/04/2011 18:32

thank you all so much for the useful info.
i think it is a mouse. i spent until 1am last night to chase it, and found some droppings under one of the kitchen cupboards. they were tiny, shaped and sized like grains of rice, but black/dark brown.
there were maybe about 10-20 droppings, which sounds like a lot, but i guess one mouse can produce quite a few in a short time. i think it may have come in on the w/e, as we have had the back door open because it was so warm and sunny. we are backing on to fields.
i have placed some traps in strategic positions. and made sure all foodstuffs are packed away and will clean the floor.
the peppermint is interesting.

OP posts:

Punkatheart · 05/04/2011 18:57

Sounds mousey - not too much to worry about in comparison to Mr Rat. If you back on to fields, it is highly likely to be a Field Mouse, rather than a House Mouse. It will probably leave. Mice like chocolate - if you want some bait...not cheese, oddly...

bigbadbarry · 05/04/2011 19:02

My council do it for free - I'd ring them if I were you

Original poster

RatInMeKitchen · 05/04/2011 20:59

it's mice.
i caught mickey, but saw minnie running around.
oh dear.

OP posts:

Punkatheart · 05/04/2011 21:09

Wow - well done that was quick. We have just caught a baby rat outside in the garden. It must be something in the air! If you have caught one - take it and release it. Reuse the trap - mice have a great sense of smell - it will relate to the other mouse...

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