We found a mouse just before Christmas

[Sleepingtimes]

Posting for traffic.

Let’s start saying that I hate pests. 10 years ago we paid quite a bit of money for someone to close all wholes and we have been mice free since then. Yesterday one came out at midnight of DD2 room; now he is in DD1 room. She took a video, seems quite fat.

What do we do? We are not getting anyone this time of the year.

Love the "get a cat" responses. The only reason I've ever had live mice in the house was because the cat brought them in and got bored with it! I've also had rabbits, birds and a mole. So yeah, maybe just get some traps instead!

we use snap traps.

typically they’ve come inside for warmth and a bit of scran, but had one years ago that had been poisoned and the dog ate it and nearly expired.

so now it’s snap traps and in the compost I’m afraid.

I'm assuming your dds' bedrooms are upstairs? We had some come in from the attic once. They were clever and came down for food, then went back up for safety. Managed to trap and get rid before they made it down stairs. You can try humane traps but tbh we resorted to instant death ones with peanut butter as it sticks. Check your attic for droppings/nests etc and lay traps up there and in every room upstairs. Some ideally as close to the top of the stairs too if you can safely. We had to ban food upstairs as they only come in where there is a food source.

Thank you all. We are off the B&Q to get some traps. One more thing to worry about, my anxiety is quite high at the moment with SAD and menopause so finding a mouse just before the holidays is not good. Just wanted to relax as we are now off work until early January

yes, all bedrooms upstairs but it is a bungalow so no attic

Yes it's horrid knowing they're on the loose. Soon eased when you catch a few, which you will!

Cats are fucking useless. Mine is the only reason I've ever had mice in the house! They're either brought in as play things or if he does bring a dead one in its so he can sit and crunch through it's bones at 3am, usually under my bed where I can't reach so have I no choice but to listen.

Don't get a humane trap and relocate it. That actually isn't a humane solution at all, the mouse will die because you are taking it away from known food and water sources and where it nests.

A snap trap is the most humane way. A quick death as opposed to a prolonged starvation.

If we kill him. Where do we dispose it?

Yes agree with this. Plus if you're urban its not like there's a field or natural habitat you can release them into.

I cannot kill mice or anything else (including rats). I always think of karma. I just catch the mice and put them outside. Ditto for rats and anything else the cats bring in.

We also had a cat that would bring live mice in. Just get some traps. What’s going on in their rooms though? I would remove all bins/rubbish if they have them and food if they have any. All eating should be done at the table and wiping, sweeping, washing up done straight afterwards to minimise food sources. All food in the kitchen should be in some sort of containers/fridge/freezer. We got rid of the fruit bowl for this reason. I sympathise though. Mice are a nuisance.

Just bag it and chuck it in the bin.

I usually just chuck them over my fence into the back field or chuck it for the chickens to eat but I live very rurally and realise this isn't a solution for everyone.

T'was the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mou-

Oh wait 🐭

😁

I told them a million times not to eat in their rooms but you know what teens are like; hopefully they will listen now. Now I have to worry about all the food in the kitchen and where to put things. It is no ideal

And don't stop laying traps when you get one - there may well be more. Keep them baited for a few days. We had 3!

One of the local parks which has rats as people feed the ducks, but will hum instead

Hopefully they'll have learnt their lesson this time!

How is this your first mouse in ten years! I just learned to live with them sauntering through occasionally. Put any Lindt reindeer in a cupboard.

If there is one there are probably more.

1. Make ALL food inaccessible. Store cereal in sealed containers etc, put anything like sugar/flour bags in old tins with tight lids
2. Clear all bin areas inside & out. Make sure there are no loose bags around the bins and put a brick on the top of each to secure lids.
3. Put traps down. If you get a uv light you can see where they have been running (they leave urine trails that glow) and position them. If you find any holes doing this, you can block them but prepare for a bad smell if any mice die in your walls.
4. Talk to your neighbours. Its no good you tackling it if neighbours either side are overrun. You will just get more coming in.
5. Get pest controller in straightaway after christmas. I would even try and get one today - not everyone celebrates christmas, there are Muslims and Hindus etc who have their big holiday celebrations at other times.

Yes, def worth a few calls today to pest control!

Humane traps (b&q) plus Nutella (fake) or apple sauce. Release at least half a mile away or they will come back! Keep trapping, I caught loads this way. After Christmas you need to look for the hole, mine was beside the tumble dryer vent, they were simply walking in!

Thank you. I will try to get someone today.

It is. It seems the last person did a good job. I can’t live with pest.

https://www.rspca.org.uk/documents/1494939/7712578/Living+with+Rats+and+Mice+%2813.06.2017%29.pdf/aee9490c-669d-9053-d248-77ac5c38d32a?t=1553271443232&download=true#:~:text=of%20the%20outcome%20of%20catching,likely%20to%20adversely%20affect%20them.