Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Mice in trailer

I have a problem with mice getting into my trailer at the pond. I have bought the bait boxes from the feed store and placed them around the trailer with some success but it seems that a few got through this last week. The bait is called contrac. Is there anything better that I can try?

I've had really good luck with the glue boards and a tiny spot of peanut butter in the middle. It also has the added benefit of eliminating almost all of the insect problems.

Our last summer place was a highly converted mobile home. When we first purchased it, we soon found out that it came with Mickey and many friends and relatives. It burned me up to be watching TV and have a tiny guest come around the corner and stop and look at me like he wanted me to change the channel to Mouse-TV. My wife dubbed it the "mouse-house" and the battle begins. A few cans of expanding foam later, we really got it under control. Fundamental warning: Poison/bait works great until one dies in the wall, or worse...the HVAC ducts...Oyyy! The glue traps are OK, but if they only stick one foot, they drag it around like a skateboard...usually happens in the middle of the night (you gotta thumb tack 'em down). We ultimately discovered the wisdom in not trying to re-invent the mouse-trap. The dollar store got good business.

James, I've never stopped fighting them. Green pellets, traps, I've tried them all and they all work. But, they keep on coming.

One thing that works is moth balls. Dump a couple of boxes in and keep them refreshed. Of course, the trailer becomes uninhabitable.

The TomCat bait bars work real good at my hunting lease. I have also used the moth balls and peppermint oil with good success. The advantage of the peppermint oil is that it also leaves the place smelling good.

James, I'm a pest control professional in Indiana. When you say trailer I assume mobile home? You might try a multi-catch traps inside.
They can trap 10-20 mice. I prefer a bait called Final. This is a single feed bait.

The TomCat bait bars work real good, or how about a Tomcat?

I use regular traps in my workshop with peanut butter as bait. Seems to be working, becuase it's been over a week since I killed my last one and nobody is touching the bait.

A friend told me about a poison that makes them very very thirsty. They will leave the building looking for water and die outside. Even when they find water, they still die from the poison. They said it works great, but don't remember what it's called. Anybody know???

When I was stationed in Indonesia, they would catch the rats with sticky tar on a board with sardines in the middle. First time I ever heard a rat squeel. Not a pleasant sound!!!!

Thanks,
Eddie

Eddie...
D-con is supposed to be the "thirsty stuff". I have heard of recommendations to put a dish of water near it to keep em from heading back into the wall.

If you have a dog or cat I would not use the poisons:
Whenever a dog finds something stinky (dead/ poisoned mouse), the dog has a tough decision to make: roll in it or eat it. My vet told me that my golden retriever probably did both - the dog died due to liver damage.
I only use traps now.

My understanding based upon some reading I did a few years ago is that most all the poison mouse and rat baits like TomCat or D-con are a chemical that does not poison but is a blood thinner. An animal has to eat a lot of it after which their blood is so thin that they begin to bleed internally. As they lose fluids it makes them so thirsty that they may head for water. As far as a pet eating a dead rodent and then suffering I have read this is very rare since it takes relatively large quantities based on body weight to do any permanent damage. I know that if you use products with bromethalin as the poison it will not hurt pets. I don't think there would ever be enough residual chemical in a dead mouse to kill a large dog. Always a good idea though to keep pets away from this stuff. I use TomCat, D-con, or Fastrac in my garage and barn and they all work really good. I always hide the stuff behind and under things where the dog can't get into it. I have had instances where the dog and chickens have found it and eaten it. Hasn't seemed to hurt them.

Thanks for all of the comments I think at this point i'm ready to try them all.

As you insinuate, "poison" is a relative term.
Do a Google on Warfarin....

Try this. No poison, no traps. A small bucket (1-2 gal is big enough, a coat hanger, a pop can and a dab of peanut butter is all you need.

Straighten out the coat hanger and poke a hole in the bottom of the can. Slip the can on the wire lengthwise and lay it across the mouth of the bucket. Put the PB on the can and 3 inches of water in the bucket. Put it near a bench or something the mouse can crawl up on to reach the rim of the bucket. I've used a piece of wood as a ramp, too.

Mouse crawls across teh wire to the can to eat the PB, the can spins and dumps him/her into the water. They drown...keeps working.

Variations I've used...5 gallon bucket and 6 inches of water for rats. Antifreeze for winter in the barn (obviously, restrict access to pets and small kids).

Caught a possum once. He wasn't dead, but he wasn't happy, either. I let him go...and closed the door to the shop.

Matt,
I don't know....
are these methods PETA approved?
:rolleyes:

My mouse trap I got for the boat house works real well. I will have 6 to 8 more soon, she brought home more than one boyfriend, but she had fun as did they.


Crappie- The other white meat

You're right, Brettski. I think what Matt meant to say is that he RELOCATED the meeces to the nearest animal shelter.

Yep, no more anti-freeze jacuzzis with Matt...I'll take my chances at the PETA buffet...

Brettski...where in the heck do you find pic's like that????

BTW...the poor possum was just in water. He was still a might peeved. The AF is only so it don't freeze. Mostly, plain water works about as good as anything.

If I've offended and PETArds...I truly apologize. Riiiiiiight...

bz - Thanks for the explaination, it makes good sense. I also feel a bit better knowing that I probably did not indirectly poison my dog.
Matt - I like your mouse trap design. Tonight I will spend some quality time with my kids and show them how to build a better mousetrap.

Brettski,

Thats exactly the type of rig I used in high school to get dates. Maybe I'll try that on the end of a pole this summer.

Russ,
The helmet, the cheese, the mouse, or the trap?

Brettski

The whole package.......

Russ,
Lemme guess...you took your prom date out to dinner at Cracker Barrel...? Maybe a table for 2-1/2 next to the crackling fireplace? :p