MICE!!!

[137mice]

We have mice.
been in this house approx 4 years and first noticed evidence of them last winter. No sign of them over the warmer months. But they’re back.
I’ve got snappy traps in various places, poison bags hidden(I have DC so need to be careful where they are), sonic plug-in deterrent things.
occasionally, I’ll find one in a trap, but not very often now. the poison bags have never been touched. All still in tact.
last night, I saw a live one for the first time 😩 it ran down the stairs, and into where the shoes are at the bottom. I poked about with a flash mop, and it leapt about then vanished into the clutter.
here’s my issue… my house is quite cluttered. There’s plenty of places for the little critters to hide. It’s an old house, too so there are plenty of gaps for them to get in through. Gaps that simply aren’t accessible to me to be able to close up like, behind radiators etc.
I’m desperate to start decluttering, but I’m terrified of one jumping out at me!
any advice on how to start tackling this? Thanks

Get professional help, and take some time out to declutter any crap you don't need

Mice only go where there is food and shelter, so they are nesting and / or eating something. If you can poke a biro through a hole, then it is big enough for a mouse. Unlikely that they will jump out at you as they will move as long as you are making noise.

Start one end, and be systematic. Clean, decanter, and hoover as you go to remove as much trace as you can.

If you find a hole, poke wire wool into it. Cheap from screwfix, and it will prevent the little buggers returning.

I feel your pain, I've been there. You will eventually be able to trace where they are getting in, and you will likely find the nest at some point.

Good luck.

Oh dear, you'll have to tackle it. It's the only way, really.

We have cats and the fuckers have on occasion bought in a live mouse and just played with and taunted it before leaving it to escape into my boot room (where there was a huge hamper filled with shoes) We just had to get rid of it and find another way of housing the surplus shoes.

I'd perhaps consult an exterminator too if the traps aren't catching mmuch. They can find and block up the points of entry and find what's making them come in, it might be food behind a kitchen cupboard or something.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/EGOFLYYA-Reusable-Outdoors-Effective-Sensitive/dp/B09MVNLTL7/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JbMgL_iZizlwi6qLqId-bNufYoGXeFnjwCdQUssuNLBI7wHwrOYQP1Xpto6KASz_izxm_gslHxXefvEVMCfqZ5IDzs81vZkK0FyXC4iLuPloIsjspY_dzpZ0ewVsKpVrh-9zjKd2EYRroYvMUUUiR__HE0HUDmfluKDLiEayGTSVoSDE_qBq4tIn76DQgRRXD5BqjhLzQOLm3n4-TolgXw.UHbssV-XTDg5Ds0vhU8l2ggjYFIXXldLT4mHhGEuWCc&dib_tag=se&keywords=mouse+trap&qid=1737891597&sr=8-13

These are the mouse traps you need. They are very good. Spend a week or so collecting all the mice (if you are seeing them around the house you probably have quite a few). Don't bother with poison. Then, set about decluttering. Even if there are one or two left by that point, they will notice you before you notice them and make themselves scarce. They are not going to jump out at you.

Im ashamed to admit that, last night, in my panic, I ordered some sticky pad traps. Something I vowed never to do, but I’m desperate now. I’m a single mum, so no man to rescue me from this! Mind you, my ex actually stood on a chair on more than one occasion, whilst shrieking like a little girl, when we had a mouse! That was an ick moment 😂

Those sticky pad traps are horribly cruel.

What are you going to do if you find a mouse stuck to one and still alive?

We had this before Christmas. They were upstairs in a roof area which was disturbed when we had our bathroom renovated (that’s when we started noticing it anyway).

it is a bit scary but don’t worry - they won’t go on you or by you. We spent a couple of weeks catching them in two humane traps and releasing them up the top of the garden but it wasn’t enough so we had to get a specialist in who planted little boxes of poison around. That worked.

our house is a bit cluttered too. We bought wire wool when it was done and plugged any tiny hole we could find. We found a hole in the saucepan cupboard where the out door tap comes through the wall (even though the issue was upstairs they must have got in downstairs). Look for places like that & block them up.

Yes evil. I hope you don't catch any with it. Use them live traps that catch them alive then you release them. Poor things. They are only mice they won't hurt you

So it's an ick for him to be scared but you're scared of them yourself?!

Please don't use them

Glue traps should be banned! At least a snap trap won't involve an awful, excruciating, tortured death. Humane trap would be even better!

We use the snap traps with peanut butter in them as bait. Not nice but kills them quickly. Humane traps are waste of time, there are lots more mice than you might think, and you'd have to drive somewhere to release each one or they find their way back.

Got professionals round to a flat I own but they weren't that much use, they pointed out holes that we then had to block up but we probably could have worked it out ourselves, thought they would do more. Mice never touched the poison they put down.

Wire wool in every teeny little hole and lots of traps worked in the end. And being very careful about no food sitting out or crumbs in the kitchen, if there's nothing to eat they'll eventually go somewhere else. Good luck!

Humane traps are a waste of time unless you're planning on letting them go a few miles away from your home.

With glue traps you check them frequently and when you see it caught a mouse you bash it on the head or stomp and kill them, you dont just leave the glue traps for hours and days without checking. Mice squeak loudly you will hear if it was caught.

They're more likely to come inside in the winter. It's worth paying a professional who will put a mouse/rat proof cover over drains and air bricks, search for the entry points and block them up. Don't keep lose paper around the house (e.g. old present wrapping paper, paper bags etc), as they use it for nests. They'll also tear up things like washing up sponges, so keep these sort of things in a plastic/metal container. If you have a second toilet (like in a loft) that you never use, you need to flush it at least once a week, to stop critters crawling up the pipes. It's also worth trying to sort out the clutter, so there are fewer places for them to hide.

You need to work your way round de-cluttering, cleaning (mice pee constantly 🤮) and stopping all holes with wire wool.
Set snappy traps in the edges of rooms where you have found evidence- don't put them in the open but behind furniture. Check them every day.

I've found the strong plastic traps better than the flat wooden and wire ones. They look brutal, but kill instantly.
The glue traps are horrible and the mice die slowly and painfully sometimes they chew their own feet off to escape.
The live traps may catch them- but unless you drive them miles away they just come back home.
Poison - if they eat it (and they don't always) they will die under the floor, in the walls or behind cupboards where you can't reach them and the smell is absolutely vile.

Definitely worth to get in a pest controller. They will help you identify and block anywhere they might get in.
You also need to talk to any adjoining neighbours - don't let embarrassment stop you doing that as none or you will resolve the issue by staying quiet - they'll just bounce back and force. It's a common problem.
I agree with previous posters about glue traps, no need to be cruel to do the necessary. Poison can be issue to prey animals so I'd avoid that too if possible but a professional might tell you it's the only way.
Those advocating catch and release, it's a good natured sentiment but you really have to take them miles from your home and then you are literally just handing the problem to another home. House mice (grey mice) seek out houses - they won't go off and live happily ever after in the wild, they'll just go and create a nuisance for someone else. Snap traps, checked regularly and be ready to puy any suffering mice out of their misery promptly.

Fill any small holes with wire wool. Mice hate it.
Put all food in sealed containers and vacuum up any crumbs. Make sure your kitchen bin is kept shut.

I’ve decided to return the glue traps to Amazon.
me and the DC have been toying with the idea of getting a pet(they’re old enough now for the responsibility and to be sensible) so we’ve decided to get a cat. Kills two birds(mice!) with one stone, really.
hopefully no mouse murders will occur and just having a cat around, will deter them!

Try to block up any holes from the outside to stop them getting in. We fitted special grills over the air holes at our house and it has been very effective.

Don’t leave any food around for them. Keep biscuits in tins etc.

The humane traps worked brilliantly but you are not meant to let them out further than something like 100 metres away because if you dump them miles away they’ll likely die anyway (picked off by predators whilst vulnerable in new surroundings). Which then makes them cruel just in a different way.

Someone said ‘they can’t hurt you’ but they do pee and poo everywhere so you do want to get rid.