The Mice must die

[Buglife]

Having never had them before, we have had mice in our understairs cupboard and possibly behind the oven the last few months. They chew things and poop everywhere, obviously, as mice do. We tried humane traps, caught 2, then they managed to chew their way out of one sadly. They don't get at the food cupboards as they can't get in but I am getting droppings on the worktops and DH has just found a tie he accidentally left in that cupboard has been chewed. They need to go, but I have a 2 year old so can only use poison in the boxes you can't get in and also I am not keen on the snappy ones in case he gets them or also don't want him seeing dead mangled mice. What's the best way of getting rid?

[ppeatfruit]

They don't affect cats, but they're not totally successful with our 'visitors' in the attic. I go for the 2 pronged attack , I use them and the sweet smelly sprays\moth balls.

[Girlwhowearsglasses]

You need a cat. We have one and the mice scarpered the moment he arrived. No dead mice now for four years.

If you see one mouse that means a colony of dozens. You will never get rid unless your Victorian house has been really extensively renovated with no holes.

Mice laugh in the face of expanding foam. In a Georgian flat I used to sit in the evening listening to them eating the bloody stuff.. If you are unlucky enough to have rats concrete with broken glass in it is all that you can seal holes with.

Sorry.

😻😼😸

[ppeatfruit]

Well I have managed to get rid of them in the attic with the sprays. Our cat did well downstairs killing the mice and I have put down the moth repellents near any holes in our utility room to stop them, it has worked, we have an ancient old stone house so there'e no way to block holes !

[Bluntness100]

I've just ordered one of those plug in units w previous poster advised. We get little field mice. I've used the poison traps from rentokil and they do work but they keep coming back, we are also rural and it drives me nuts.

The other morning I got up early and went into the living room and one was casually walking across the living room floor. Ffs. So cue more traps. Hopefully the plug in unit deters them.

[ppeatfruit]

Try the sweet smelling sprays where they've been Bluntness Poor little mice Then they won't die they just won't come to your house HONEST, it happens immediately .

The plug ins take quite a time to work though.

[Wex]

What are the sprays ppeat?

[ppeatfruit]

Well Wex you can buy room sprays, I do use those when I haven't got any essential oils left (or money for them ) . I make my own with water in old spray 100 ml. bottles and add 10 drops of mint or other strong essential oils, like lemon or orange. What you like really. It's good to change them too.

[Buglife]

Four snappy traps put out and one poor little mousy caught this morning. I got the plastic Big Cheese ones and it was non gory and I hope fast. Felt horrible looking at it with its lovely soft fur. I'm not scared of mice or dislike them really, just can't be done with the droppings everywhere anymore.

[Wex]

I don't have any oil but maybe zoflora ? Mothballs keep their smell for ages, I might try some in the roof.

[Buglife]

Oh God, Just heard one of the traps snap and then lots of noise as if the mouse was flapping around and bucking about. Only lasted about 30 seconds but I feel awful about it. I wish I could get rid of them in any other way. But I agree with a PP that in a Victorian house filling up all the possible holes is just not realistically going to work and it's been 4 months of mice now. I'm going to go in the dining room and deal with the poor mouse now... I might have to splash out on the plug thing and hope that helps because I really don't like killing them at all.

[madeleinecreek]

I heard a radio four show about humane mouse traps the other day (six months ago probably!) and basically there is no humane way to get rid of mice as even the humane ones are distressing to the mouse as they get very stressed while trapped and you can't really release them instantly every time.

You can't live with mice and young children. The snap traps are the least worst option, despite what you heard.

[PenelopeFlintstone]

That mouse was a bit unlucky. I have Big Cheese traps and it's very, very often one snap and not a single movement afterwards. Very rarely will get them by a leg though.....

[SealSong]

Try one of <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005GKCFV6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">these. Worked for me.

[ppeatfruit]

Buglife Have you read the thread? because the strong soapy smells WORK, I spray them Wex is doing it . You do have to re do them a bit but the mice hate strong sweet, soapy CLEAN smells They just go away!!! IT WORKS, HONEST !!!!!!!

[Primaryteach87]

We have CO2 traps. V child safe and humane death for mice.