I have a mystery mouse in my house, I see the poop pellets around, see teeth marks in cracker boxes, etc., but I haven't seen the mouse. How do I get rid of a mouse humanely that I can't find? I have four young children and don't want sharp traps or poison laying around nor am I keen about finding the critter, I just want it back outside where it belongs!
By Christina F. from Fonthill, Ontario, Canada
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They have these little traps which are little cages and they don't kill the mouse. They are called "Have a Heart" (or something to that effect). They are not low cost however, (compared to a trap) but they can kept and used indefinitely. I wish I could name you a place to buy them, Home Depot and such may carry them, Walmart, Ace Hardware, maybe. Look on the internet for a source if you are interested.
I bought one of these traps. The mice get in but aren't supposed to be able to come out. They figured how to get out the first day I used it.
I found a way that works great. Take a few cotton balls and put at least 10 to soaking the balls in peppermint & spearmint oils. I would recommend using gloves because these oils are strong and don't place them up against cardboard containers. I have been doing it for 6 months and no mice.. we used to have a lot especially since the drought.
I suggest a cat. Who, of course, would eat the mouse. You may have more than one mouse. But maybe that's not your idea of humane.
On an empty toilet paper roll, at one end, place a good dab of peanut butter on a small cracker or piece of bread. PB oil then does not soak into cardboard. Place filled end half off a countertop. Balance so it is easy to tip when mouse goes into tp roll.
I had a couple of mice that got into my house so I bought some rat sticky boards, baited them up and then went on vacation for ten days. When I got back I had a cast of thousands. They had eaten their way through all the pasta, grains and completely took over my pantry. I fought them for a week but when I opened my oven door to see one BIG one the size of a rat that did it. I called an exterminator. It seemed I had several openings they were coming in through and had the man not plugged up the holes I never would have gotten rid of them.
So if you really want to get rid of them and not have to be bothered ever again call an exterminator - and don't sign up with a yearly contract that's baloney they can fix it in one visit & leave poison where the kids & pets can't get at them. Yes mice are cute & fuzzy but they are disease carrying rodents that once - if they get a foot hold in your house they will own it!
There is a trap I have found at Walmat. It is called Tomcat mouse trap it is about 8" long made of black plastic one side has a trip door that you set open. The other side has a pull off doorwher you put dab of peanut butter. The muse goes in the opened end and when it heads for the eanut butter the trap is trippd and rthe mouse is caught inside.
I've had several over the years, never more than one at a time. I take a big bucket or smooth trash can, put peanut butter spread on cardboard or bread in the bottom . Then put a board so that they can climb up, and a couple of game boards on top with a small opening in the middle. Place it near the wall where you've seen evidence of the mouse. This has worked every time for me.
I'm sorry, but you will have to use a snap trap. You cannot put a mouse outside, it will return, and multiply. They carry diseases, how would you feel if one if your children became ill because you didn't nip the problem in the bud?
I use the little plastic catch and release traps myself; but, they are right you cannot just take them outside and let them go - they already know how to get back in.
When I catch one in my house, I take him for a quick "drive to the country" and release him at least 1 mile from any house. That way he is truly "returned to the wild" and will not get trapped/killed trying to get into someone else's house.
I can't harm a squirrel, rabbit, ground hog or crow, even though all of them are a real nuisance sometimes but when it comes to mice, I hate it when he gets the cheese out of the trap and I don't get him. Kind of like fishing and the fish gets all your bait and does not bite. Call me ruthless but I get a thrill when I find a mouse in my mouse trap.
I saw commercials for something like "Riddex" (check it online), you plug it in and the waves or whatever keep mice away, it's the only thing that has ever worked.
The ultrasonic sound waves that they emit will upset your pets too because they can hear it. Don't use these if you have pets.
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