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Mouse deterrents
On Turdsday night a rodent eating insulation foam made a pinhole in one
of the polypipes in the loft leading to the UFH. It soaked the insulation and eventually started to drip through the vapour barrier and T&G ceiling. Fixed leak, dried everything - no long term consequence, except... I am now waging war on the little furry chaps. The simple old wooden trap is proving the best mouse killer. The special expensive metal trap is too insensitive and bait is eaten without it going off. The sensitive-creatures in my household are ag'in me killing them, however, and truth be told, I'm not so keen myself. Living in the country next to a water course we inevitably will have rodent problems. I've tried 'Humane' traps in the past and found them 'Inhumane' as the trapped mouse dies in great distress unless you can service them once an hour throughout the night. I find this distressing, and can never be convinced that it is the right approach. Now I see Ultrasonic Mouse Deterrents that just plug into a nearby socket (I have several in the loft) and claim to affect a large area. E.G: http://bit.ly/v404u the question is: Do they work? £25 is a lot for a mousetrap, but if it saves the polypipe.... Any experience? Suggestions? TIA R. |
Mouse deterrents
On 13 Sep, 08:55, TheOldFellow wrote:
On Turdsday night a rodent eating insulation foam made a pinhole in one of the polypipes in the loft leading to the UFH. *It soaked the insulation and eventually started to drip through the vapour barrier and T&G ceiling. Fixed leak, dried everything - no long term consequence, except... I am now waging war on the little furry chaps. *The simple old wooden trap is proving the best mouse killer. *The special expensive metal trap is too insensitive and bait is eaten without it going off. The sensitive-creatures in my household are ag'in me killing them, however, and truth be told, I'm not so keen myself. *Living in the country next to a water course we inevitably will have rodent problems. I've tried 'Humane' traps in the past and found them 'Inhumane' as the trapped mouse dies in great distress unless you can service them once an hour throughout the night. *I find this distressing, and can never be convinced that it is the right approach. Now I see Ultrasonic Mouse Deterrents that just plug into a nearby socket (I have several in the loft) and claim to affect a large area. E.G:http://bit.ly/v404u the question is: Do they work? £25 is a lot for a mousetrap, but if it saves the polypipe.... Any experience? *Suggestions? TIA R. My experience of mouse wars is pretty much as you describe. The humane traps are a waste of time, as are the ultrasonic repellers. You can leave them plugged in to console the sensitive souls while you quietly murder the little buggers with the trusty wooden traps. Peanut butter and raisins are good baits as I recall. Since we've had a cat the mice stay away. Plan B: replumb in copper. Cheers! Martin |
Mouse deterrents
On Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:55:25 +0100, TheOldFellow wrote:
Now I see Ultrasonic Mouse Deterrents that just plug into a nearby socket (I have several in the loft) and claim to affect a large area. E.G: http://bit.ly/v404u the question is: Do they work? IMHO no. We used to get mice in every autumn when it started to get cold outside. We would live trap(*) and put them down the bottom of the paddock. For the transportation down there we put them in a small mouse cage. As an experiment I tried switching one one of these ultrasonic scarer things whilst observing the mouse. They can certainly hear the noise as they make a little start when you turn it on but other than that they behave as normal and I can't say I noticed any difference in the numbers of mice we caught with/without the device. Deportation to the bottom of the paddock didn't work, having caught the same mouse (it had a nick out of one ear) several times over several days I reckon they were getting back to the house before us. What did reduce the number of mice coming in was deportation several miles away to bit a of forested fell side, also miles (literally) from any habitation. Note release of vermin is technically illegal. We now have a cat, we don't have mice coming in and any we do see (a couple/year) are in the form of a light snack for said cat. (*) Rentokil square plastic tipping tube type baited with Nuttella worked well. -- Cheers Dave. |
Mouse deterrents
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Mouse deterrents
On Sun, 13 Sep 2009 02:15:03 -0700 (PDT),
wrote: Now I see Ultrasonic Mouse Deterrents that just plug into a nearby socket (I have several in the loft) and claim to affect a large area. E.G:http://bit.ly/v404u the question is: Do they work? Noooooooooo. £25 is a lot for a mousetrap, but if it saves the polypipe.... Any experience? *Suggestions? TIA R. My experience of mouse wars is pretty much as you describe. The humane traps are a waste of time, as are the ultrasonic repellers. You can leave them plugged in to console the sensitive souls while you quietly murder the little buggers with the trusty wooden traps. Peanut butter and raisins are good baits as I recall. Since we've had a cat the mice stay away. We found the best solution was the pre-baited disposable ones (traps not cats) that come in a bag of a dozen from B&Q. they are small like miniature "Little Nippers" and don't have any visible bait but seemed to be soaked in orange oil. "When they see them coming the meeces all try an-hide, But they still fall for mousetraps when coa-ted with cyan-hide ! " A close second comes the standard format, standard size mousetrap baited with a piece of Cadbury's Dairy Milk chocolate. Derek |
Mouse deterrents
Now I see Ultrasonic Mouse Deterrents that just plug into a nearby socket (I have several in the loft) and claim to affect a large area. Use correctly ultrasonic repellers do work. I had a severe problem in lofts in a rural area. Rats were coming in and nesting. I could kill them with poison but then they died up there and stank. About four years ago I fitted a Lentek PR12 device in one loft and the problem ceased. I occasionally get a footfall but it soon goes and doesn't come back. I have now fitted them to all roof areas and have had no further problem. The Lenteks also send a signal through the mains wiring. I wondered if this would interfere with equipment but it doesn't. The key seems to be placement. Put them high up at one end so they flood the whole volume. Make sure there is nothing producing a shadow. They even effective through glass-fibre insulation. I have about 20 cm. Peter Scott |
Mouse deterrents
JTM wrote:
Dormouse doesn't go for the same bait as the rats and mice, but makes a mess of soft furnishings. I really hope you aren't killing dormice, and it's something you've confused with them. They are protected under the wildlife and countryside act, substantial fines for even disturbing them! Andy |
Mouse deterrents
On Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:29:55 +0100, Andy Champ wrote:
JTM wrote: Dormouse doesn't go for the same bait as the rats and mice, but makes a mess of soft furnishings. I really hope you aren't killing dormice, and it's something you've confused with them. They are protected under the wildlife and countryside act, substantial fines for even disturbing them! I read the other day that there is a DIY solution to bat infestations. Encourage lots of great tits - they eat them. -- Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org |
Mouse deterrents
Bob Eager wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:29:55 +0100, Andy Champ wrote: JTM wrote: Dormouse doesn't go for the same bait as the rats and mice, but makes a mess of soft furnishings. I really hope you aren't killing dormice, and it's something you've confused with them. They are protected under the wildlife and countryside act, substantial fines for even disturbing them! I read the other day that there is a DIY solution to bat infestations. Encourage lots of great tits - they eat them. I would always encourage great tits Bob. -- Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk |
Mouse deterrents
Andy Champ wrote:
JTM wrote: Dormouse doesn't go for the same bait as the rats and mice, but makes a mess of soft furnishings. I really hope you aren't killing dormice, and it's something you've confused with them. They are protected under the wildlife and countryside act, substantial fines for even disturbing them! Andy And are as rare as hens teeth and almost NEVER inside a property. |
Mouse deterrents
In article ,
S Viemeister wrote: Dave Liquorice wrote: Peanut butter and raisins are good baits as I recall. Peanut butter goes rancid, Nutella doesn't (it doesn't even go mouldy!...) Raisins are good for sticking on the prongs of a back breaker type trap. We've had good luck with small chunks of dark chocolate. The "trick" I found is that you've got to wire it on - especially with the cheap wooden & metal traps - otherwise they will take the bait and get away wit it ... Sweet things seem to work - rasins, dates (most dried fruit) and chocolate... I've never actualy tried cheese! But whatever works for you, wire it on. Instant death via broken neck. Very humane. What is in Nutella that it never goes off...? Glad I don't eat it!!! Gordon |
Mouse deterrents
In article ,
Andy Champ wrote: JTM wrote: Dormouse doesn't go for the same bait as the rats and mice, but makes a mess of soft furnishings. I really hope you aren't killing dormice, and it's something you've confused with them. They are protected under the wildlife and countryside act, substantial fines for even disturbing them! Andy No not the (common, usually shrub dwelling) dormouse, but its cousin the garden dormouse (Lérot) which is not protected. They sometimes wait and allow themselves to be picked up when we find them inside the house, but from experience I've found they need depositing about 1/2 a mile or more away. Also the 'fat dormice' occasionaly. Fortunately no grey squirrels here. John (in France) -- John Mulrooney NOTE Email address IS correct but might not be checked for a while. The greatest fault is to be conscious of none. |
Mouse deterrents
In article ,
The Natural Philosopher wrote: Andy Champ wrote: JTM wrote: Dormouse doesn't go for the same bait as the rats and mice, but makes a mess of soft furnishings. I really hope you aren't killing dormice, and it's something you've confused with them. They are protected under the wildlife and countryside act, substantial fines for even disturbing them! Andy And are as rare as hens teeth and almost NEVER inside a property. No, the garden dormouse, which IS fond inside property. Confusing eh? John (in france) -- John Mulrooney NOTE Email address IS correct but might not be checked for a while. A controlled 'plane crash is usually called a landing. |
Mouse deterrents
On Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:58:57 +0100, JTM wrote:
No not the (common, usually shrub dwelling) dormouse, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazel_Dormouse - Which is what I would recognise as a Dormouse. The big give away is the furry tails, house and field mice have bald tails, like rats. but its cousin the garden dormouse (Lérot) which is not protected. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_dormouse Hey that's quite a cute looking mouse but I still wouldn't want it wandering freely around the house. Also the 'fat dormice' occasionaly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edible_dormouse Fortunately no grey squirrels here. Looks like you don't need 'em with glis glis about. B-) -- Cheers Dave. |
Mouse deterrents
Gordon Henderson wrote:
In article , S Viemeister wrote: Dave Liquorice wrote: Peanut butter and raisins are good baits as I recall. Peanut butter goes rancid, Nutella doesn't (it doesn't even go mouldy!...) Raisins are good for sticking on the prongs of a back breaker type trap. We've had good luck with small chunks of dark chocolate. The "trick" I found is that you've got to wire it on - especially with the cheap wooden & metal traps - otherwise they will take the bait and get away wit it ... Sweet things seem to work - rasins, dates (most dried fruit) and chocolate... I've never actualy tried cheese! But whatever works for you, wire it on. Instant death via broken neck. Very humane. Not as instant as you might think. And often traps another part of te biody. Still harden your heart: its a lot better to die with a boot on the back of the neck than of old age and disease, or being ripped to shreds by and owl, polecat, weasel, fox, etc etc. Unlike other animals, we don't like to see other animals suffer. No other predator gives a damn. Nor does disease. What is in Nutella that it never goes off...? Glad I don't eat it!!! sulphur dioxide? Gordon |
Mouse deterrents
Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:58:57 +0100, JTM wrote: No not the (common, usually shrub dwelling) dormouse, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazel_Dormouse - Which is what I would recognise as a Dormouse. The big give away is the furry tails, house and field mice have bald tails, like rats. Note it is the only native pritish species, and is not a house dqweller. but its cousin the garden dormouse (Lérot) which is not protected. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_dormouse And is not found in the UK. Hey that's quite a cute looking mouse but I still wouldn't want it wandering freely around the house. Also the 'fat dormice' occasionaly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edible_dormouse which again is not native, and only found in a small area of teh home counties. Fortunately no grey squirrels here. Looks like you don't need 'em with glis glis about. B-) |
Mouse deterrents
JTM wrote:
In article , The Natural Philosopher wrote: Andy Champ wrote: JTM wrote: Dormouse doesn't go for the same bait as the rats and mice, but makes a mess of soft furnishings. I really hope you aren't killing dormice, and it's something you've confused with them. They are protected under the wildlife and countryside act, substantial fines for even disturbing them! Andy And are as rare as hens teeth and almost NEVER inside a property. No, the garden dormouse, which IS fond inside property. Confusing eh? But never in the UK, as it is neither a native nor introduced species. John (in france) |
Mouse deterrents
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message ... Gordon Henderson wrote: In article , S Viemeister wrote: Dave Liquorice wrote: Peanut butter and raisins are good baits as I recall. Peanut butter goes rancid, Nutella doesn't (it doesn't even go mouldy!...) Raisins are good for sticking on the prongs of a back breaker type trap. We've had good luck with small chunks of dark chocolate. The "trick" I found is that you've got to wire it on - especially with the cheap wooden & metal traps - otherwise they will take the bait and get away wit it ... Sweet things seem to work - rasins, dates (most dried fruit) and chocolate... I've never actualy tried cheese! But whatever works for you, wire it on. Instant death via broken neck. Very humane. Not as instant as you might think. And often traps another part of te biody. Still harden your heart: its a lot better to die with a boot on the back of the neck than of old age and disease, or being ripped to shreds by and owl, polecat, weasel, fox, etc etc. Unlike other animals, we don't like to see other animals suffer. No other predator gives a damn. Nor does disease. The Vulture prefers dead or dying animals. Adam |
Mouse deterrents
ARWadsworth wrote:
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message ... Gordon Henderson wrote: In article , S Viemeister wrote: Dave Liquorice wrote: Peanut butter and raisins are good baits as I recall. Peanut butter goes rancid, Nutella doesn't (it doesn't even go mouldy!...) Raisins are good for sticking on the prongs of a back breaker type trap. We've had good luck with small chunks of dark chocolate. The "trick" I found is that you've got to wire it on - especially with the cheap wooden & metal traps - otherwise they will take the bait and get away wit it ... Sweet things seem to work - rasins, dates (most dried fruit) and chocolate... I've never actualy tried cheese! But whatever works for you, wire it on. Instant death via broken neck. Very humane. Not as instant as you might think. And often traps another part of te biody. Still harden your heart: its a lot better to die with a boot on the back of the neck than of old age and disease, or being ripped to shreds by and owl, polecat, weasel, fox, etc etc. Unlike other animals, we don't like to see other animals suffer. No other predator gives a damn. Nor does disease. The Vulture prefers dead or dying animals. I prefer dead ones. Never really liked gulping down live oysters. Adam |
Mouse deterrents
"Peter Scott" wrote in message
... Now I see Ultrasonic Mouse Deterrents that just plug into a nearby socket (I have several in the loft) and claim to affect a large area. Use correctly ultrasonic repellers do work. i keep pet rats, and had a friend who swore by those ultrasonic repellers, so i got him to bring one of them round to our house one day, and he pluged it in to the socket oposite the rats cage, 2 of the rattiew were asleep, other 2 had been playing in the bottom, when the devise was turned on, the sleeping ratties stayed sleeping, the ones who were playing stopped playing and rose up on their haunches, swiveling their ears around, they pinpointed the devise and came to the cage bars to investigate, i opened the cage door, and they both climbed out and walked over to the devise to sniff at it, it in no way bothered them, they were deffinately hearing something from it, but it deffinately did not produce the result my friend was expecting, My dog came in later on whilst it was still operating, she sniffed it as she would a new thing in the house, but showed even less interest in it than the ratties, we got the bat detector out, and it does indeed produce an ultrasonic noise, but pet rats at least arent bothered by the noise it produces. |
Mouse deterrents
On Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:00:58 +0100, The Natural Philosopher
wrote: Still harden your heart: its a lot better to die with a boot on the back of the neck than of old age and disease, or being ripped to shreds by and owl, polecat, weasel, fox, etc etc. Unlike other animals, we don't like to see other animals suffer. No other predator gives a damn. Nor does disease. The Vulture prefers dead or dying animals. I prefer dead ones. Never really liked gulping down live oysters. Your house is infested with oysters ? That is some *serious* dampness. One is bound to wonder how the first breeding pair (of oysters) got there. Did they perhaps blow in on the wind? Derek |
Mouse deterrents
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Gordon Henderson wrote: In article , S Viemeister wrote: Dave Liquorice wrote: Peanut butter and raisins are good baits as I recall. Peanut butter goes rancid, Nutella doesn't (it doesn't even go mouldy!...) Raisins are good for sticking on the prongs of a back breaker type trap. We've had good luck with small chunks of dark chocolate. The "trick" I found is that you've got to wire it on - especially with the cheap wooden & metal traps - otherwise they will take the bait and get away wit it ... Sweet things seem to work - rasins, dates (most dried fruit) and chocolate... I've never actualy tried cheese! But whatever works for you, wire it on. Instant death via broken neck. Very humane. Not as instant as you might think. And often traps another part of te biody. Still harden your heart: its a lot better to die with a boot on the back of the neck than of old age and disease, or being ripped to shreds by and owl, polecat, weasel, fox, etc etc. Unlike other animals, we don't like to see other animals suffer. No other predator gives a damn. Nor does disease. Oh at last someone else who appreciates that we are at the top of the food chain. -- Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk |
Mouse deterrents
Get a cat.
|
Mouse deterrents
The message
from TheOldFellow contains these words: On Turdsday night a rodent eating insulation foam made a pinhole in one of the polypipes in the loft leading to the UFH. It soaked the insulation and eventually started to drip through the vapour barrier and T&G ceiling. Fixed leak, dried everything - no long term consequence, except... I am now waging war on the little furry chaps. The simple old wooden trap is proving the best mouse killer. The special expensive metal trap is too insensitive and bait is eaten without it going off. The sensitive-creatures in my household are ag'in me killing them, however, and truth be told, I'm not so keen myself. Living in the country next to a water course we inevitably will have rodent problems. I've tried 'Humane' traps in the past and found them 'Inhumane' as the trapped mouse dies in great distress unless you can service them once an hour throughout the night. I find this distressing, and can never be convinced that it is the right approach. Now I see Ultrasonic Mouse Deterrents that just plug into a nearby socket (I have several in the loft) and claim to affect a large area. E.G: http://bit.ly/v404u the question is: Do they work? £25 is a lot for a mousetrap, but if it saves the polypipe.... Any experience? Suggestions? In descending order of usefulness 1. Cat. Rodents detect the smell of the cat and stay away 2. Traps. Some of the modern plastic ones are brilliant. Work reliably and no danger of trapping fingers. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-New-T-REX-...d=p3286.c0.m14 3. Cheap ultrasonic scarers are useless. Very expensive professional models do work in open spaces |
Mouse deterrents
JTM wrote:
No not the (common, usually shrub dwelling) dormouse, but its cousin the garden dormouse (Lérot) which is not protected. They sometimes wait and allow themselves to be picked up when we find them inside the house, but from experience I've found they need depositing about 1/2 a mile or more away. I'd never heard of the Lérot. A little digging tells me that protected or not it's a red book species... Andy |
Mouse deterrents
"Owain" wrote in message ... On 14 Sep, 00:35, "The Medway Handyman" wrote: Oh at last someone else who appreciates that we are at the top of the food chain. Medwayhandyman, meet grizzlybear. Grizzlybear, meet Medwayhandyman. Chomp, chomp, burp. Full grizzlybear. Owain Bears do not have guns and BBQs Mind you the quote below "The expedition failed when his sleds fell through weak ice and Fiennes was forced to pull them out by hand. He sustained severe frostbite to the tips of all the fingers on his left hand, forcing him to abandon the attempt. On returning home, his surgeon insisted the necrotic fingertips be retained for several months (to allow regrowth of the remaining healthy tissue) before amputation. Impatient at the pain the dying fingertips caused, Fiennes removed them himself (in his garden shed) with a fretsaw which didn't work so he picked up a Black & Decker in the "village" with a micro blade and cut them off just above where the blood & the soreness was" from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranulph_Fiennes made me smile. Adam |
Mouse deterrents
Owain wrote:
On 14 Sep, 00:35, "The Medway Handyman" wrote: Oh at last someone else who appreciates that we are at the top of the food chain. Medwayhandyman, meet grizzlybear. Grizzlybear, meet Medwayhandyman. Chomp, chomp, burp. Full grizzlybear. Medwayhandyman, meet grizzlybear. Grizzlybear, meet Medwayhandyman - with AK47. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang - in 3 seconds. Dead grizzlybear. -- Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk |
Mouse deterrents
In message , gazz
writes "Peter Scott" wrote in message ... we got the bat detector out, and it does indeed produce an ultrasonic noise, but pet rats at least arent bothered by the noise it produces. The other thing to be aware of with these devices is that just because they are out of your hearing range does not mean the sound pressure isn't capable of damaging your hearing. -- Clint Sharp |
Mouse deterrents
In article , Peter Scott
writes The key seems to be placement. Agreed. They are very directional, so I found fitting them at right angles to each other worked well. And don't buy cheapo crap. -- Fred Bloggs |
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