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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how the HELL do you get rid of a clever mouse?!

254 replies

Squeakingmad · 29/11/2023 06:47

Not an AIBU but traffic etc.

We've got a wild mouse living under the floor in our house. Discovered about a month ago when the thing scurried across the floor.

We immediately put some traps down. No luck.

For three weeks we've had pest control in, putting poison down, laying traps. He is coming back today and I've just found fresh mouse droppings so the little fucker is still alive.

My kitchen is a mess because nothing can be in the cupboards. I'm knackered with constantly vacuuming and cleaning up. We know it's getting out and about and I'm actually full of RAGE about it this morning.

I've got two kids. I don't want a fucking mouse. If pest control can't get rid of it, what else can I do?! This is really affecting me now.

OP posts:
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7
Treaclesandwich · 29/11/2023 07:55

You could get a cat to catch the mouse. However, the downside of that is that you’d then have to get a dog to catch the cat, then get a goat to catch the dog, then get a cow to catch the goat, and then get a horse to catch the cow.

SharonEllis · 29/11/2023 07:55

Squeakingmad · 29/11/2023 07:40

Pest control is using snap traps. He says humane ones aren't humane.

Got to say, I don't know what that means. They are humane as they dont kill or harm the mouse. You do have to take them miles and mikes away or they just come back. I've always made my own humane traps and they have always worked but your mouse is smarter.

HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 29/11/2023 07:57

Does someone have a cat you could borrow?

iloveeverykindofcat · 29/11/2023 07:58

KimberleyClark · 29/11/2023 06:54

Jack Russell better than cat ime!

Show quote history

I was going to say that. One of my cats can't hunt, but every JRT I've met can

HamstersAreMyLife · 29/11/2023 07:59

LyricalGangsta · 29/11/2023 07:41

Just a thought - was/is it def a mouse and not a baby rat?
Had extensive experience of both and rats are incredibly hard to catch whereas mice seemed to go straight for the snap traps

I came to say the same. Particularly with the level of climbing. My cat used to bring baby rats in and they are a nightmare to catch. I don't like sticky traps and haven't tried them but I've had to physically catch and hit a rat myself and felt traumatised so I don't think a sticky trap is any less humane than that.

soberfabulous · 29/11/2023 08:03

I have just come on to say your username is fabulous, OP 🤪

Original poster
Squeakingmad · 29/11/2023 08:04

Got to say, I don't know what that means. They are humane as they dont kill or harm the mouse. You do have to take them miles and mikes away or they just come back. I've always made my own humane traps and they have always worked but your mouse is smarter.

I looked it up after he left. A mouse will die of stress within an hour of being left in a humane trap. The vast majority of people will not monitor a human trap every hour so it means it does kill it but takes an hour to do it. So not humane.

OP posts:
Original poster
Squeakingmad · 29/11/2023 08:05

Oh god a baby rat?! I don't think so. It was a big mouse though and we found a rats nest in the shed next to the house a few days ago. Fucking hell. It could be couldn't it

OP posts:
YellowBelly23 · 29/11/2023 08:06

We have 3 cats and have a mouse problem!

Cats are all good hunters but they hunt outside in the garden and fields.

Once one of the cats was sleeping in her bed in the utility room while 2 mice were playing on the floor right next to her.

I thought I'd got rid of them from the kitchen with snap traps and chocolate covered raisins but found evidence again yesterday. I know they're in the utility room. They'd made a nice cosy bed out of a box of newspaper. I caught 3 and spotted holes in the dry cat food bags.

I reckon one day when we take the kick boards off the utility cupboards we will find a year's supply of cat food squirrelled away.

My next tactic is to find a mouse proof container to store the dry cat food in and to it down mint oil to deter them.

I am beginning to lose the plot.

cathyandclaire · 29/11/2023 08:09

The only bait that works for us is chocolate raisins. Squish one on the pad, so they can't just nudge it off with their noses - works every time.

autumnpumpkinlattes · 29/11/2023 08:12

VerticalSausages · 29/11/2023 06:57

I know it’s cruel, but the sticky glue traps all along the kitchen kickbacks worked for us when traditional traps didn’t…

Please, please don't take this advice. Glue traps are just so horrific. No living creature deserves that, simply for just existing.

Humanswarm · 29/11/2023 08:12

No advice OP but following with interest! A couple of weeks ago I heard something running, clearly between the floorboards above the living room. Since then, lots of scratching and 'running' noises. Some droppings found etc. So..set traps, blocked every conceivable place one/they could get in to the house. Not once have I caught one. Tried different baits. Different places. It's literally like they're taunting me. Appreciate tansy extreme but that's how it feels! How loud are mice? It's sounds sometimes like there's a dog between the floorboards? And how the actual hell do they climb so well? I have limited funds approaching Xmas so cando without pest control, having spoken to one company they basically suggested all they would do, is all I have already done therefore is it worth that expense? Arghh, I feel your pain OP

Schoolrefusa · 29/11/2023 08:13

Nutella in a trap works for us . For years I made the mistake of trying cheese which didn't work for us .

Original poster
Squeakingmad · 29/11/2023 08:13

I have just come on to say your username is fabulous, OP 🤪

Haha thanks, I'm currently sat in my car with the kids waiting for it to defrost and having a cry about the whole thing but this actually made me smile!

OP posts:
Missingthegore · 29/11/2023 08:14

This is a vague half remembered tip that I can't be bothered googling sorry!

A large glass or stainless steel bowl lightly oiled with some food in the bottom. The mouse will get in but the oiled sides will mean they can't get back out.

My last infestation (lived next to a school so every holiday the whole street would get infested if you didn't bait) the pest control guy was very firm on drying the sink out and removing any source of water as that is what they are looking for before food. It did the trick with regular refilling of bait stations.

Original poster
Squeakingmad · 29/11/2023 08:15

It's literally like they're taunting me. Appreciate tansy extreme but that's how it feels! How loud are mice? It's sounds sometimes like there's a dog between the floorboards? And how the actual hell do they climb so well?

I honestly feel like I'm being taunted too. We've never ever heard our mouse. Didn't even notice the droppings. Only reason we knew about it was because it wandered across the living room floor one night! Then all hell broke loose.

I would say if you can hear something then it's possible a rat? The rat droppings we found in our shed were enormous - the size of a Guinea pig. So I think they would make a fair noise!

OP posts:
Freeasabird76 · 29/11/2023 08:16

Not possible at the moment as winter,but in the end I resorted to leaving the back door open constantly,he removed himself within 3 days,I also live in a low crime village.

MyopicBunny · 29/11/2023 08:17

Cat - no. Don't want one and both my family members with cats have to put traps out because the bloody cats bring mice in.

Yes, my cat brought a mouse in and he was living under our sofa for a week(!) it was a nightmare trying to catch him. It took an hour of running around with a glass and moving furniture etc.

NoCloudsAllowed · 29/11/2023 08:17

Block up holes.

Wine gums or similar on traps. Something they have to tug at rather than snatch and beat the trap.

Get some fresh used cat litter off your family, the scent might scare them off.

We used an electric trap too - quick and no mess.

HesAWankerOp · 29/11/2023 08:18

Our stupid (usually very lazy) cat brought a wood mouse into our home once to the surprise or the cat, the mouse and myself. Spent days trying to get him in a humane trap. Rather oddly it was a bit of wet cat food that finally got him in there. Might be worth a try if you haven’t used that already.

NovemberRainy · 29/11/2023 08:18

We caught 2 mice first night with humane traps with raisins on for bait (they’d been eating the raisins in the pantry so knew they liked them!) they were definitely in there for a few hours and ran off quite happy when they were released, so it’s not true they die within an hour, that’s complete rubbish.
What isn’t rubbish is that using glue traps is so, so cruel. Shame on you if you use them OP… I really hope you rethink

NoCloudsAllowed · 29/11/2023 08:19

I also saw a thing the other day - bucket with food in. Plank or stick to fork a ramp up. Clear plastic over the top with long V cut in it to form a little door. They get in bucket and can't get back out.

Original poster
Squeakingmad · 29/11/2023 08:20

Did pest control say you only have one? Because the saying goes, you haven’t got a mouse, you’ve got mice.

Yes. He said one.

For those who can't get excited about one mouse - lovely. Have a Star. It isn't a minuscule amount of poo and wee unless you clean every day in the wardrobes and behind everything. It builds up. It's disgusting.

OP posts:
Benibidibici · 29/11/2023 08:20

Cat.

Mine is ruthless. I know immediately if a mouse gets in because a) its often her who brings the fucker in and she comes to show it off or b) she goes nuts showing me where it is. Even if she can't catch it under cupboards etc she cam show me where to put traps.

If yummy stuff in traps isn't working, its accessing food somewhere and isnt hungry enough.

Mademetoxic · 29/11/2023 08:20

I say this again..please do not use glue traps.

Shame on you if you do. They're horrific and barbaric.

They're living creatures. They don't deserve a cruel and painful death just for living.