Getting rid of mice?

[polarsusd81]

So I have a friend whose apartment has a few furry friends inhabiting her space. Christmas Eve was an interesting night as I watched them walk out into the middle of the dining area, look around, and continue on about their business. I had traps set with peanut butter and cheese right in their path and they walked right by them. I am reasonably sure they are coming in through the utility room where the water heater is but don't see any holes they can get through. I placed traps in the utility room as well as in the bed room near the corners where droppings were found. I caulked up a couple radiator water lines in the bathroom so they couldn't get in there, but it doesn't seem to help. I am about a pinch away from getting the BB gun out but that will be messy and traumatizing. Any suggestions?

[irvingdog]

The Block-type" mouse bait/poison has been the most successful for me. Lots of it. Everywhere. Rodents are curious nibblers, so put it in thier faces.....

[zamboni]

Reason they are walking by the traps is they are full. They must be eating food somewhere. They will hit the traps, but they must be hungry. We had 2 mice in our garage getting into a 50 lbs bag of dog food. I laid out traps with peanut butter and within 48 hours gotten a mouse out of each trap.

[Ryan_V]

zamboni is right. they are well fed. keep the traps out, they should find them eventually. as for where they are getting in, a mouse only needs 1/4 of an inch gap to squeeze through. stuff any gap with steel wool. caulk will work temporarily, but they can still chew through it, they can't chew steel wool. it would be like you chewing on tin foil! Good luck I'd also try some block bait or bait packs.

[shizzy]

as a fellow apartment dweller my first response to anything is a call to the rental office. if there is a mouse in her unit, there are mice in others.

Part of paying rent is they need to deal with it. once or twice I have had to make 2 phone calls, but most times they are on it within 48hrs.

[Sandmannd]

And if they don't get on it call the health dept. They get it done. Another thing you can do is get those Black & Decker electonic things. You plug them into the wall and they emit some ultra high sound. Drives them out. Used them and they work. But would first get the landlord to take care of it.

[zamboni]

  Ryan_V said:

as for where they are getting in, a mouse only needs 1/4 of an inch gap to squeeze through.

Yeah, don't mice have ribs that they can squeeze to enable themselves to get into tight areas?

[BuckKiller]

id go with the BB gun. much more fun

[Caleb S]

What about surrounding the suspected point of entry with those sticky traps so they have no choice but to cross the traps to get out into the house.

[1DIRTBALL]

If you do find any hole's where you think they might be getting in, plug them with steel wool! They can't chew through that! Good luck! 1DIRBALL

[Tom7227]

Sprinkle the area you suspect is their entry point with talcum powder. In short order you'll see tracks and they will lead you directly to the access point. Steel wool can plug the holes.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Nothing gets rid of mice better than a mean ole farm cat that's never been fed. I hate cats and it pains me to say that, but it's true.

When the mice are gone you can get rid of the cat. It really doesn't take them very long to get rid of the little buggers.

[polarsusd81]

Hey Eric, you got any ferrel cats you need to get rid of? Are they still doin the you know outside your window at night? I am sure the rest of the apartment dwelling could use one too. Maybe they could pass it around after one is done.

In all seriousness, thanks for the help guys. Hope her place is rodent free in the near future.

[heat checker]

Agree with Boilerguy, although after running one (a cat, not a mouse) threw my fan taking the belt AND waterpump to an early grave, I'd like to give a few of them away. Only the smart-and-or-lucky ones are left. I'd even ship them free if I could catch em.