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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I think I just saw a mouse

52 replies

Rainydaysandmondays2 · 30/01/2021 00:48

Run across my bedroom floor. WTAF.

I am terrified. I have never had a mouse before ever.

It was a blur and I saw something rubbery fast. I’m now sitting up with my glasses on keeping very still.

It was either a mouse, or a rat, or a spider or a cockroach.

These are all the things it could be right? I am terrified. I have no idea what to do.

OP posts:
RaidersoftheLostAardvark · 30/01/2021 08:19

I assume anyone in an older property or a flat had mice- they can move between flats & terraces v.easily. Could be in the shop. Just protect your food & get rid of crumbs & check your bin is not accessible.

FrostyChocolateMilkshake · 30/01/2021 08:20

If you're going to get traps please in the name of God do not get glue traps.

AStudyinPink · 30/01/2021 08:28

Get an exterminator in. It’s a horrible thing to have to do, but humane traps aren’t particularly humane.

CaptainMyCaptain · 30/01/2021 08:29

Mice urinate constantly wherever they go so the OP should clean all surfaces particularly food prep areas. As others have said, there may be other mice do keep vigilant until sure there are no more. Look carefully at the back of cupboards and in drawers for droppings - like brown grains of rice. If you can't find any then perhaps it was just the one mouse paying a visit.

Swimmingwiththebees · 30/01/2021 09:07

I feel for you OP. I had a very similar experience with mice in and old flat which made me very scared of them. I ended up chasing one mouse around the bedroom who just disappeared, and another around the living room who jumped into the sleeves of a coat hanging on the chair to hide. It was really quite traumatic and scary how small gaps they can squeeze their bodies into - it really is the size of a pencil. I put multiple traps down with peanut butter and poison and didn't catch one. I was also in a flat and think they were going between my flat and a neighbour's potentially.

As others suggested though the only thing you can really do is lay some traps, try and seel any holes bigger than a pencil with steel wool, put all food in plastic containers and wait... It doesn't mean your flat is dirty or that it's your fault. If you live above a shop, they likely live in the shop or outside and will be venturing out for food / opportunity for a new home. I hope you can resolve it

tigger001 · 30/01/2021 09:10

If the mouse was tiny, it may have been a baby. As others have said, there is never just one, so it may mean there is a fresh little litter on a nest somewhere so you have many.

Or it may just be one, but seldom does anyone have A mouse.

Get traps or boards. They are very dirty and wee constantly, they can chew through your wiring.

Put all food in containers, clean everything. They tend to run along skirting boards or walls so place them there, wear gloves to put out traps as they have such a good sense of smell, they can avoid the traps as they know a different smell on their run. My friend had some and got this advice from exterminator

shas19 · 30/01/2021 09:23

Get some wire wool and fill any holes, literally any. As small as the biro width. Put traps down with peanut butter in. Look for any droppings also. We had a massive hole under our oven and they was getting in and out through there. I caught two of them, they are horrible! You'll always hear them at night

Ileflottante · 30/01/2021 09:30

It’s a tiny mouse. They’re literally everywhere. I can’t imagine being so affected by it. But then I live in the country. Get a mouse repeller and put it in your food cupboards.

Original poster
Rainydaysandmondays2 · 30/01/2021 09:40

Thank you for all this advice. I really feel quite ill by it. I’m just so thankful it wasn’t bigger or a rat. I would seriously consider selling my flat.

I live on top of two shops - one is a beauty parlour and the other an Indian restaurant. I’m so worried I’ll have an infestation but I just recently did up my flat and the builder had sealed up everything. However the communal staircase to the street is very grubby and there is a gap under my front door.

OP posts:
CandidaAlbicans2 · 30/01/2021 09:49

What's your "AIBU" OP? ⚡⚡

LostArcher · 30/01/2021 09:53

Any small gaps fill with tin foil. Just caught the blur I saw out of the corner of my eye yesterday. They LOVE peanut butter - a bit smeared onto tiny bit of bread will do it. Found significant evidence in the spare room - shudder. Cleaned like a ninja and tin foiled. Fingers crossed.

ParlezVousWronglais · 30/01/2021 10:07

OP, it happens to most of us at some point. It is very shocking first time it happens. A rat is even worse.

Just seal up. Any holes you can stuff with steel wool (diy shop). Draught excluder on bottom of door. All food in containers. Check for any holes left by old piping round edge of rooms.

Changi · 30/01/2021 10:11

I really feel quite ill by it

It was just a mouse.

lidoshuffle · 30/01/2021 10:16

You've seen where it's getting in, so mouse-proof the bottom of your front door. I got a rubberstrip all around the bottom of my garage doors to block the gap.

You can also buy aerosol rodent deterent spray, spray that round the bottom of the door too.

Twixmas · 30/01/2021 10:18

Agree with pp who says they wee as they go so defo need to get rid. I hate it when the cats bring them in so I understand your fright OP. If they're teeny and grey they're mice but bigger than a chipolata you might be looking at a rat. Have a clear up and check your skirting boards, we were getting them squeezing from outside shed into conservatory but a bit of mastic sorted that out. Cats not so easy to sort!

JemimaTiggywinkle · 30/01/2021 10:19

@Rainydaysandmondays2

You can get a mice repelling device that plays a high pitched noise that they hate, it will keep them away.

Given where you live, there will always be mice around in the area, so this might be more effective than trying to seal up holes etc.

AwkwardAsAllGetout · 30/01/2021 10:23

We had a mouse that DID turn out to be msg one thank god. It was when I was incredibly sleep deprived and kept seeing something out of the corner of my eye and I was convinced I was going mad. Little bugger had made a lovely home for itself right in a drawer in the living room cabinet where I had paper, pencils and the leftover chocolate from our wedding favours, all chewed up nicely by the time I found it. Best advice is to get proper snap traps baited with chocolate spread and once it’s caught, dab peppermint oil on cotton wool and leave it around the edges of the room, apparently they can’t stand it. We caught the mouse quickly and never had another. It made me feel icky for ages though, I scrubbed every area of my house just in case.

smoothchange · 30/01/2021 10:33

I really feel quite ill by it. I’m just so thankful it wasn’t bigger or a rat. I would seriously consider selling my flat.

It would have stressed me out too. There is no 'just a mouse' in my mind 😨

That said, you know there is a gap under the door which gave it access so it's a pretty easy fix.

FredaFox · 30/01/2021 10:40

I live in a flat in a city, last year I had a mouse, it was just one thankfully
First time I thought I saw him I wasn’t sure if I saw anything
Next time I was in the shower and he came creeping in the bathroom.That made me jump!
I got obsessed with wiping surfaces constantly and to this day have 2 traps behind my tv. Pest man told me chocolate or peanut better is best for traps
Roll on a year I’m doing lockdown at my mums in the countryside and she’s just had a bloody rat in the roof. He was scrabbling about the lift above my room giving me sleepless night. Thankfully he is no more and again was one on its own.

GooodMythicalMorning · 30/01/2021 10:42

They spread germs but aren't scary. Just set traps. set them after you've caught 1 as there is always more than 1.

littlemissdirectional · 30/01/2021 17:57

Mice hate peppermint oil. Get some cotton wool balls, pop some oil on them and leave at likely entry points. Your mice will pack up and leave.

998Elli · 06/09/2021 11:32

Hi everyone! I know this is an older thread but I’d love some help/advice regarding a similar problem! We had an issue with mice in our flat, entry points have been filled and we have humane traps down! This morning I’ve seen a small puddle (perfectly circular) behind my tv, I cleaned it and it transferred yellow onto the wipe! I’m worried they’re back in the flat and so I’m wondering whether this could be mice wee? Any help/reassurance would be much appreciated! (I hope the OP got the issue sorted, it can definitely be stressful) x

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 06/09/2021 11:44

What you need to do is to get someone in to close up all the holes in your flat. Then nothing can get in.

998Elli · 06/09/2021 11:58

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing hi :) we’ve recently had them filled so I’m hoping the liquid isn’t mice urine and something else! I was just wondering anyone had any idea on what it could be

Cryalot2 · 06/09/2021 12:29

You would sell because of a mouse! Many homes get them in autumn and winter.
Just be thankfuĺ it is not a rat.
You are very privileged to have seen one now for the first time.
As it has been said they get through the tinest spaces.
You can set traps if you want
You rarely get one, but if you are careful it will only be a short affair . You deal with it and close gaps especially round radiators. They are tend to follow the hot water pipeline and merge up through radiator pipes.
But you can and will get through this.
You can phone pest control for the best advice. But for now catching and disposing of what you have and block any places of entry. Get devices that you put in plug sockets.
There are no guarantees that any other home you may move into will be mouse free, and that includes hotels.