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SueAnnNivens t1_iu4bncl wrote

I am qualified to answer because mice were frolicking in my apartment recently. They are trying to come in from the cold.

Find the holes! That is the only way you will win. Check around the pipes, behind appliances, and baseboards. Mickey was on the stove? If it's gas, check the pipe.

I have forced hot water heaters that run along the exterior walls. Mice were entering around around those pipes. Check the exterior of the house as well. A good exterminator will inspect & chink the holes.

If you decide to do it, push steel wool in the holes. You can put spray foam or plaster over the steel wool if necessary. If you set traps for strays peanut butter & Slim Jim slivers are an irresistible bait. If you use poison there are some really great professional-grade products for outside.

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[deleted] t1_iu4czu7 wrote

^ THIS (r/SueAnnNivens)

Also check Amazon and buy a few ultrasonic pest deterrents, they cost about $20 each.

As a last resort hire an exterminator, they will use poison, this can be bad for wildlife and birds of prey because the mice go outside when they are dying to look for water only to be grabbed by owls or hawks who will suffer and die a slow and painful death after consuming.

Whatever you do, do not ignore them. They multiply like crazy; they chew on wiring behind the insulation in the wall and can spark a fire. They are filthy and spread disease.

And best of all, homeowner insurance does not cover damage caused by rodents. Found this out when a squirrel chewed through an electrical wire to get into the attic.

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SueAnnNivens t1_iu4dyge wrote

They make poisons that are not secondary poisons, i.e. other animals will not be poisoned if they eat a poisoned mouse.

Sheesh about insurance & rodent damage! If they don't pay for floods or rodent damage what's left? LOL

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Shemsuni t1_iu7hm73 wrote

🛑 The ultrasonic products are pure scams.

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[deleted] t1_iu850hv wrote

Possibly, but so far, I have had positive results using them (over a year). You also have to block all entries (cracks in the house foundation too) with steel wool. I use them in a pantry and under my car hood and the trunk.

The noise and the blinking lights act as a deterrent.

My mechanic tells me that they do work as a deterrent in conjunction with other methods. However, after a while the mice can get used to the sounds and lights and ignore them. So, I change the location from time to time.

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