Need help dealing with a mouse problem

[New Blue]

Been a while since I posted, but I have been having a major mouse problem this year, I’m worried because the mice might spread illness to my bunny.

Its also been years since I had a mouse problem too, Ive caught 3 mice in one glue trap one time, and about 10 total killed. and there’s still a lot more, my only guess is that its getting cold out and the mice chose my house as their home.

 Is there any way too fully eliminate them all? I cant stop thinking about it.

[Stickerbunny]

What I did when I had mice was to take a plastic lid (tupperware lid, spring mix lid, etc) and put a seed ball at the end of it on some PB. Counter balance it on the edge of the counter with a DVD. Put garbage can under lid. Did this at night and would usually catch a few mice per night. After FOURTEEN, I stopped catching them or noticing signs of them. No more mice. After catching them I chose to put them outside in a wooded area away from people (even with a small chance of survival, I prefer to give them that and if they do die, at least they are feeding a hungry predator) a few miles from my house. But, other people give them away for snake food, or humanely dispose of them after catching. It was the only trap I found that the mice didn’t figure out how to out smart. I spent about $60 on commercial mouse traps before I found that one… went from months of having mice, to gone in a week.

You HAVE to close up any holes they are coming in though. My house it was the crawl space under the house where our ducts + insulation was easy for them to access. The covering had come away a bit. It could also be cracks in the foundation, or water pipe openings, holes in the wall (there was a GIANT HOLE they had chewed behind my washing machine). Check EVERYWHERE. Even under the baseboards – if you can fit a dime through it, it’s too big and could be the way they are getting in. Stuff any and all holes with steel wool (soap pads work, if you shake out the soap), or copper mesh designed for pest control (can buy it at hardware stores, it is what professionals use).

The disease they carry is actually pretty rare to be transmitted. Most states in the U.S. only have a few cases every year, even though a lot of people have mice and never even notice it. They breed QUICKLY, so you have to catch them within a week or you’re just likely to have even more in the home. The chances of them making your bun sick are low, unless there has been an outbreak in your area, call your vet they would know if there is one (or should). The general saying is, if you see one, you probably have ten… they only like to send a few out at a time from the nest, so you have to wittle down the numbers until they all come out, unless you use poisons which then you want to be CAREFUL with the buns (don’t use the poison packs, since they will move it wherever they want, but exterminators can be done safely with supervision of a pet friendly company).

[LBJ10]

I agree with Stickerbunny on all points. Excellent trap, works great! Yes! Plug up any holes they may be getting in through. And yes, the likelihood of your bunny getting some disease from a mouse is not very good.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I agree with stickerbunny on all points, I did a lot of reading when we had rodents move in unannounced and there is like no chance your rabbits can get anything from them.
I’m super cautious about it all the same, cleaning droppings with bleach etc.

You have to hunt around for the way they are getting in. I found a professional company was a total waste of time and money, they didn’t even walk around the entire house, nor check the roof as they were supposed to. Total waste.
I did a ton of trips around the house not seeing anything, but I think I finally found their entrance-a hole cut for the gas line wasn’t sealed. I have since sealed it and *knock on wood* we haven’t found anymore.
Go around your house (and get someone on the roof too!!) and check everything -closely-how many times I missed that gap at the gas line-yikes!

In the meantime set up traps traps and more traps-until you can have traps all over that are mouse free for months you have mice. Put out lots to be sure to catch them all. And watch the bunnies (and any other pets) around traps-that can be an issue especially if you are using snap traps. Either pick the traps up for out time, or let them out in a room that is mouse trap free.

Good luck!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Oh PS spray foam insulation seals small holes. Stuff large holes with steel wool then seal with spray foam.

[Stickerbunny]

Yeah, spray foam is supposed to be great. I used caulking over steel wool personally, since it was cheaper in my stores (the foam cans were like $8 a piece, yikes)

One thing I forgot when I wrote up my details on the trap is if you use mine, make sure the garbage can is a tall 13 gallon or taller. Any shorter and they WILL jump out. My kitchen garbage can was just tall enough, they could jump up nearly to the top but not quite enough to jump out. I had no idea mice could jump so quickly or so high, first time they did it, I was about to pick the can up and I jumped away from it lol my boyfriend gave them water while they were in it, I was too scared to stick my hand in there since they would jump and try to climb his arm to get out.

[New Blue]

Thanks for he help on this, there are several places I should cover up. As for the humane trap you mentioned, I’m kinda bad at making these things.

Ill get those places covered up soon, But I’m still managing to catch mice with glue traps, Ill leave those out for a while longer untill I can get all holes covered up.

[LBJ10]

The trash can trap is not difficult to make at all. You just set a very tall trash can next to the counter. Place a piece of cardboard (long rectangle, shaped like a “plank”) on the counter so it is hanging over the edge of the counter directly over the trash can. Make sure you place it so the middle of the “plank” is on the edge of the counter. Put bait on the end of the “plank”. Mouse walks out onto “plank” to get the bait. His weight causes it to teeter off the edge and mouse falls into trash can. =)

[New Blue]

All right, sounds easy, but is there a video to show exactly on how to do it? I find seeing how its done will help me with the success of the trap.

[LBJ10]

There are videos on youtube. Most of them show people using a paper towel tube instead of a cardboard plank. The concept is the same though.

[Stickerbunny]

I used a lid to a tupperware long rectangle storage bowl and put it over the edge of the counter until it was tipping, then put a single blank dvd on the other (on the counter, propped against the lid) to keep it from falling over of it’s own weight. When mouse went to end of lid, lid tipped down and fell in. You can use whatever is around your house, as long as it is LONG enough to hang over the counter a bit. In this video I am linking, they use a ruler. It really doesn’t matter, as long as it’s sturdy enough for a mouse (so, nearly anything) and a piece of food. Just make sure you push it far enough over the edge of the counter so that if you touch the end of it and barely push at all, it will tip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK972WisXOc

[Danny80]

You use glue traps?
What, the most inhumane trap that makes animals break their bones and skin themselves alive trying to get off?

And what do some people do? They throw them in the bin alive in that state. Glue traps are a BAD and HORRIBLE idea.

[New Blue]

I’m sorry to offend you, but I like to deal with problems as quick as I can, especially if my bunny is at stake and protect her no matter the cost.

That being said, I have been covering up most places where the mice get in, and have been trying to use the humane trap, however they appear to ignore it in favor for the glue trap.

I’m getting less mice now. In a couple of weeks at most, they should be gone.

[Kayota]

Why not use snap traps? Respect for living creatures is important. If you must kill do it in the fastest and most painless way possible…

[New Blue]

Their just traps my father bought, I didn’t bother to question him. but ill ask and see if I can get some snap traps.

[LBJ10]

Did you try the trash can yet? It always works for me.

[Stickerbunny]

Trash can trap placement is important, since if they don’t feel comfortable going for the bait, they won’t. (so against a wall, or where droppings are seen, etc)

And yeah, snap or electrical traps are much more humane if you have to go kill method. Probably cheaper, too, since you can get a large pack of snap traps for cheap and reset them.

[Danny80]

With all due respect, the “fastest way possible” should not be at the expense of massive pain and suffering. Let me ask you, what do you do to those mice once you’ve caught them? They will still be alive on those glue traps. Unless of course, you let them expire on them (which takes some time and is beyond cruel). You are using a trap that is known to be so barbaric, it is banned in a lot of countries. They are torture traps. I don’t think there’s ANY excuse to use them over traps that kill fast, or catch them unharmed. These stupid traps should be outlawed, they are NOT a good idea.

If you want to minimise risk to your bunny as you profess, then you shouldn’t be using glue traps as they basically encourage more disease. They will pee and poop on them excessively out of fear of being trapped. Not to mention being horribly messy, because sometimes these animals can bite or pull a leg off to escape. Please throw these glue traps away, throw some sense into your father by telling him these traps are unacceptable.

[New Blue]

@LBJ10 I have been using it, and putting some food in the center of the trap, but their still not falling for it though, my only guess is that they are afraid of new things in the house.

@danny80 The life if a mouse is defiantly not a happy one. I am getting some snap traps soon, and still waiting for my humane trap to get some mice.

[RabbitPam]

@Danny80
While the point you are making is valid, your tone is very strident and not in keeping with the rules of this forum. I see that you are a new member (welcome!) and that you have only replied in this post. Please read the rules for posting before continuing. I think you will find that we encourage divergent points of view, while being respectful of others’ views as well. I would appreciate it if you would review the rules linked here before posting again. I am sure you have much to contribute to our forums, and we welcome different opinions. I am not disagreeing with your point, only your manner of communicating here. Thank you.
https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/10084/Default.aspx

[Danny80]

Strident? Well, perhaps. It is a very strong opinion of mine. Words can’t describe how much I hate glue traps… so I apologise for being a little too emotional. If I share my story to you about them, you’ll understand why my tone is very harsh on these things. I find unnecessary cruelty to animals absolutely intolerable, and I won’t shy away in saying that.

[LBJ10]

Posted By Calmknight on 11/23/2013 03:19 PM


@LBJ10 I have been using it, and putting some food in the center of the trap, but their still not falling for it though, my only guess is that they are afraid of new things in the house.

The bait goes on the edge of the plank directly over the trash can. That way the mouse walks out onto the plank, over the edge of the counter, and their weight causes it to teeter off. The mouse then falls in the trash can. Hopefully that helps.

 

[LBJ10]

Danny – It’s okay to feel that way. I completely agree that those kinds of traps are cruel. RabbitPam is just concerned because we don’t want to scare away someone who is seeking help.

[New Blue]

Very good news! I haven’t caught any mice in the humane trap, but none were found on the glue trap or snap traps either, after covering up all places where a mouse can get in, I haven’t seen one yet. I’m just glad this problem is over with.

[Deleted User]

I have been reading this forum with interest since it started and wasn’t surprised that you were offered humane ways of dealing with your mouse problem. Yes, agreed – no one wants a rodent of any sort running throughout there home, and sometimes for whatever reason it’s not always practical to catch and release. If the solution has to be kill (& sadly that is the outcome in some cases) it should never be cruel. I personally can’t even stand some people who pull wings of a fly (& that is MY pet hate – flies!). To read and finally learn that the glue traps cause such terror to whatever gets stuck/caught in it’s trap caused me great distress. I’m not in any way directing this to you, and if I come across that way, my apologies. I am wondering, seeing this forum has had so many hits – how can this form of entrapment be stopped? Especially as many have noted there are so many other options that are widely available and less cruel? I know at the end of the day it’s up to the consumer not to buy it. But in your case, you did use it (regardless that it was offered to you). How do we stop these from even being sold in the first instance? I wonder???

[Stickerbunny]

Only way to stop them being made is for people to stop buying them. But, there are other popular traps that are much more cruel, or just as cruel. Even DIY traps of the cruel sort. So, as long as people don’t care about the suffering caused to mice, they will pick the harsh and slow methods even if stores don’t carry glue traps. For example, the trash can trap is used by people but they put water in it to drown the mice and complain when it has been “all day” and the mouse is still alive and struggling to stay afloat. So, education about how to at least kill with the least suffering is what will help the most. Also, the idea that animals actually can suffer would need to be accepted, for now a lot of people still think animals cannot feel.

Regardless if you go kill or trap, there are plenty of cheap methods available that won’t cause suffering.

And not bashing you OP, I know you didn’t actively choose the glue traps yourself. And you got alternatives and tried them.

[Deleted User]

Actually your right Stickerbunny – it’s not what you can buy in the shops, it’s ‘education’! Mentioning the drowning, you reminded me of a few years back we had a dry period and I found a mouse in my dogs water (poor thing), and I was horrified. That was an accident – too think someone would do that as an act of disposal is horrific! Whatever happened to the old saying I was brought up with – “Don’t do onto others that you wouldn’t have done to yourself” (including all creatures that feel – if it breathes it feels). Gee…. I’m gonna go to bed tonight thinking about that poor mouse….. Anyhow, how do you get the message/education ‘out there’ to those that don’t have an appreciation of suffering regardless of what sort of animal it is?

[tobyluv]

There have been campaigns from animal rights groups to get stores and facilities to stop selling or using the very cruel glue traps. If you go into a big box store, hardware store, etc., and you see glue traps for sale, find their contact info online and send them an email stating you will no longer shop there as long as they are selling the glue traps. Stores will pay attention when faced with loss of business and money from customers, and if they get enough comments and complaints, hopefully they will stop selling the item.

[Roberta]

With 4 cats mice are a very rare occurrence in my place. Every now and then the cats will bring one in usually a native hopping mouse. I generally just scoop them up, check them for injuries and take them outside to find a safe place to let them free.
You could always ask Bullrider to borrow Blue… If I remember rightly Blue is the Flemish scourge of rodents… He binkied one to death.

[Eepster]

We once found a drowned mouse in a jar in our sink. It was an accident, and I’d never deliberately drown a mouse. However, I don’t think that poor mouse suffered nearly as much as one caught in a glue trap does.

[Stickerbunny]

Posted By Eepster on 11/27/2013 07:55 AM

We once found a drowned mouse in a jar in our sink. It was an accident, and I’d never deliberately drown a mouse. However, I don’t think that poor mouse suffered nearly as much as one caught in a glue trap does.

 

Some mice can survive days in the water traps. When I was researching trapping methods for mice, I was looking at a DIY mouse trap site and the water trap had a “my experiences” section for people who had used it and loved it. It made me sick to read. One person finally let their mouse free outside because “I dunked it three times over two days and it still was alive, this mouse deserves to live if it’s that impossible to kill!” They’re I would say at least equal to the glue traps, since they survive so long struggling in fear until their bodies just give out through exhaustion, starvation and the cold and they just can’t do it anymore. A jar is too small to allow them the room to survive long, so you’re right, that one probably didn’t suffer for long. Many of them that are purposefully put into a bucket of water or something though aren’t that lucky.

 And there are other methods which are cruel – including basically cooking the mouse alive. People view them as pests and equal to flies or cockroaches. We experiment on them, we kill them all the time, so society as a whole has become a bit numb to their suffering. They are also viewed as this disease carrying risk, which yeah they have a few diseases they can spread, but they are pretty rare to get (a few cases every year in most places). So, changing the attitude from “Who cares, just kill it!” to “How can we get rid of them without them suffering” is going to take time. A lot of people push humane live traps only and then push one product (such as PETA with their house trap) and that product doesn’t even work well half the time, so people revert back to the method they know. So, when trying to get someone off glue traps or other crueler methods, it’s important to give them kill options which are quick as well as humane live trap options, instead of just ONE method.

A lot of commercial customers have stopped using glue traps due to animal rights pressure. So, education about it is spreading. But, how to spread it yourself? Through discussion, word of mouth whenever someone mentions a mouse issue recommend a good trap to them. You can post flyers that show how painful and cruel glue traps can be on them at places that will let you. Talk to the managers/owners of small stores and ask them to carry snap/electric traps instead of glue traps. Try to get articles on humane pest control published in local magazines/newspapers, when doing that it’s best to spin it as “Best pest control methods” instead of an animal rights focus, but explain the issues with glue traps in the article itself. A lot of places won’t touch an animal rights piece, but will love a helpful homeowner story. Start up petitions to send to huge companies asking them to stop carrying glue traps – though the bigger the store, the bigger the petition you’d need for them to even read it. Chain stores throw most of those away.

 The key is when talking to PEOPLE, try not to be aggressive, or condescending. It’s important to educate without alienating the person you are talking to.

[Annabel93]

Posted By Stickerbunny on 11/27/2013 02:32 PM

Posted By Eepster on 11/27/2013 07:55 AM

We once found a drowned mouse in a jar in our sink. It was an accident, and I’d never deliberately drown a mouse. However, I don’t think that poor mouse suffered nearly as much as one caught in a glue trap does.

 

Some mice can survive days in the water traps. When I was researching trapping methods for mice, I was looking at a DIY mouse trap site and the water trap had a “my experiences” section for people who had used it and loved it. It made me sick to read. One person finally let their mouse free outside because “I dunked it three times over two days and it still was alive, this mouse deserves to live if it’s that impossible to kill!” They’re I would say at least equal to the glue traps, since they survive so long struggling in fear until their bodies just give out through exhaustion, starvation and the cold and they just can’t do it anymore. A jar is too small to allow them the room to survive long, so you’re right, that one probably didn’t suffer for long. Many of them that are purposefully put into a bucket of water or something though aren’t that lucky.

 That is just awful I’m surprised to see anyone on this site condoning or being accepting of glue traps. I know OP wants to protect their bunny but it should still be done in the most humane way possible. If it were me I’d use the homemade trap suggested and then drive them far away from my house, as I know they’re good at finding their way back.

It’s also up to people to properly protect their homes from allowing mice in. It bugs me when people kill things because they’ve got on their property, like people killing foxes because they got to their chickens, or killing mice for getting in their house. Foxes will always kill chickens and mice will also go through small holes into warm places, so don’t punish it for doing only what it knows, it’s the person’s responsibilty to prevent it in the first instance, IMO.

[New Blue]

I understand the concerns you people are making, I haven’t caught a mouse in days, everything in my house is clean and all places a mouse could get though is covered up.

The reason why I don’t condemn glue traps is because they do their job well, a snap trap might go off without catching a mouse, or a no-kill trap will cause the mouse to come back, or go to someone Else’s house. then they got to deal with it.

I really don’t got too much time on my hands generally, A problem should be dealt with, not cutting corners to make it seem like its dealt with.

Sorry if I offended some people.

[Danny80]

Posted By AndHenry on 11/27/2013 02:50 AM

I am wondering, seeing this forum has had so many hits – how can this form of entrapment be stopped? Especially as many have noted there are so many other options that are widely available and less cruel? I know at the end of the day it’s up to the consumer not to buy it. But in your case, you did use it (regardless that it was offered to you). How do we stop these from even being sold in the first instance? I wonder???

Many countries have actually made them illegal for sale and use. I hope this trend continues to the US, though I do believe that over there many stores have stopped stocking them. Glue traps are no better than gin traps or snare traps for rabbits and foxes, snaring the animal and causing it to sever its own limb to escape. I believe these traps should be outlawed, because the average person is either too squeamish or not emotionally strong enough to humanely dispatch an animal. These kinds of traps have the potential of great abuse, and when the manufacturer instructions say just to “discard” the animal with no mention of how to humanely deal to the animal, then inherently it is inhumane.

Stickerbunny; what on earth do you mean by cooking them alive? If you mean people put them in a microwave, that would break a few animal cruelty laws (depending on where they live). I know that if someone did this here, they would be sent to court and convicted of an animal cruelty offence. That’s the thing though, the US animal welfare laws are inconsistent and poorly maintained. The more progressive countries in the world with regards to animal welfare, such as Germany and the Netherlands, have outlawed glue traps and have made it a crime to cause unnecessary suffering to a a trapped creature.

[Deleted User]

Hey Danny80 and everyone else reading this forum – I’m sure 99.9% (shame about the .01%) of BBer’s are just as passionate about humane ways of dealing with what we call pests. Pests can even be inclusive of an unwelcome cat or dog & the stories I have heard are just as horrific as the disposal of mice. (& I can’t talk – a cat poo’d at the front door and when my daughter aged 5 at the time stood in it – I wanted to kill the “owner”, not the cat, though if the cat had of been there at that moment???? So I do get the frustration.) I know we can boycott stores to stop them from selling these cruel traps – but as Stickerbunny said, some take advantage of the humane option and still turn it into capture causing a slow suffering death. I do believe education is the key? I always stop to think, how would I like my pets to be treated, my loved ones, myself? It stops me in my tracks! Why do some people find being cruel not a problem – too busy as the op stated? When I was raised I was taught not to be cruel. Is this no longer taught??? Again, I wonder….

[NewBunnyOwner123]

I feel as though this topic has drifted…

Anyhoo, yesterday I saw a mouse in my house, a mouse!!! I know where it came from too there’s a tiny little hole by my outlet and I saw him fairly close to that. But I jumped, and screamed and he even jumped too! And darted off so fast. So I’m going to take the trash can advice and I sure hope I can catch him! That’s why I stopped by here was for some tips. They seem to be making their ways inside where its nice and cozy!

[Deleted User]

Sorry NewBunnyOwner123 – ‘my fault’!

[BB Administrator]

This thread is now locked. Calmknight – you have received several good suggestions and advice on how to deal with mice.

Even if someone doesn’t take the humane route this go round, the suggestions of humane alternatives will be helpful for someone in the future who may find this thread in our forum or via a google search.

Helloworld!!

[Author]

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