Twp part mouse problem question?
Question:I moved into a new home two years ago,,obviously is was checked for rodents, but that first summer I caught about 10 mice in snap and glue traps, then the problem stopped until last night where I caught one out of the corner of my eye, I layed a few snap traps and all the peanut butter I used was gone and even one of the snap traps, Where did the trap go, I have never seen a mouse get snapped and walk away with the trap, also I can't seem to figure out why the other traps didn't pop-this also happened the first year, how can I get rid of these pests. I have a small chighuahua and don't want to use chemicals, I would like to leave the exterminator away since the last time we used one he killed our guiny pig from sraying some chemical. please any suggestions.
Answers:
We've been there, and I know how frustruating it is. Start by checking the perimeter of your house. Look for small cracks at the base of the foundation. Caulk them well. Inside, look under your sinks. Often, the plumbing has small gaps around it where the holes where cut in either the foundation or the dry wall. Get some steel wool at a hardware store and squeeze it in around the pipes so that there is no way for a mouse to get inside. Caulk the area, as well. Mice can get through spaces smaller than one might imagine, but this has worked for us. As far as traps vanishing, we've had that happen, though mostly it was outside when we had mice going under the house. Someone told us to get some rubber toy snakes and leave them around as they may scare the mice. Good luck!
There are lots of reasons rodents enter the home. Does your dog's food stay out all of the time? IF so, you need to feed meals and keep the food sealed up when not using it. Same for your food. Mice ( and bugs too) will travel with scent trails, so finding the source ( dark cabinet corners, say for example) and packing the hole with steel wool then scrubbing the trails with a pine cleaner or odiferous organic cleanser will help. Citrus or mint seems to help repel them. Secondly, your surrounding environment has a lot to do with them as well. Woods, plantings close to the house, anything they can hide in will enhance their chances. I lived on a farm for 20 years, and was always working to keep them in the barn and away from the house!
One of the first things I did was to put steel wool around every plumbing fixture in the walls. The hole is nearly always big enough for mice to get in and for some reason, they don't like steel wool. You might also check to make sure the bottom shelves of your cupboards are tight against the walls. I've caulked the space to help keep them out. If you can follow a trail, or have a spot that consistantly has droppings, keep some kind of trap in that location; whether or not you have seen any mice. For example, I always keep a sticky trap under my laundry tub.
We've had mice that were smart enough to snap the traps without getting caught on a regular basis. It just takes persistence.
I had the same problem after buying my home. I found they were getting in through the small space where my plumbing comes through the floor into the house. I bought some steel wool (very inexpensive) and plugged any and all gaps or holes with it because mice and rats cannot chew through the steel fibers. I have been mouse free for seven years! If all else fails, buy a cat. You mentioned having a Chihuahua so I understand your concern over having a cat. But you could invest in a Munchkin cat (It's a real breed, I own one). They stay relatively small like a kitten and have unique personalities as well. Mine acts more like a dog than he does a cat. Good luck!
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