Question We have an old farmhouse so we expect to have occasional problems with mice. When that happens, we put poison bait out in a couple of places and it does seem to knock back the mice, but then we have to deal with the odor of dead mice. We can never figure out where exactly the nauseating odor is coming from and it seems to last for days. Is there a way to get rid of the mice without having to deal with the odor? Answer Yes, there is definitely a better way to get rid of the mice and ...

I’m always amazed when people tell me they don’t mind having a few mice around. Really? Of late, it certainly seems as if there is no such thing as a few’ mice. Recently, it appears as though everyone is being inundated with mice. Some of my regular clients (going back several years) who’ve never had mouse problems now have them. Similarly, those clients who’ve had moderate cooler weather infestations in the past are now experiencing heavier populations around their properties, and I ...

Question We’ve been putting out poison bait for mice but now our whole house smells like rotting, dead mice. How can we get rid of this smell? It’s horrible! Is this something we can do ourselves or can you recommend a company that specializes in smell abatement? Do pest control companies do this kind of work? Answer The only permanent solutions to your odor problem are to find and remove the dead mouse or mice, or wait it out. When you can’t find (or can’t remove) the carcass, a ...

Insects are pretty well known for their ability to act as allergic/asthmatic triggers in sensitized individuals, but another household pest that can cause these reactions are mice. Researchers conducted studies and found that mouse allergen levels in over a third of the homes surveyed (over 800 households in total) were sufficient enough to contribute to asthma.Households with at least one asthma sufferer that had mouse allergen concentrations greater than 1.6mcg per gram of dust had rates ...

Someone asked me the other day, “How do I know if I have mice?” It’s true that mice are not often seen (at least in low numbers) because they are active at night. They do, however, leave behind evidence of their existence…if you know what to look for. Mouse droppings Mouse droppings are usually black and about 1/8 to ¼ inch long. They are thicker in the middle, narrowing at each end. A single mouse will deposit about 70 droppings a day randomly during its travels. Fresh droppings have ...

Question:Can you tell me what mouse droppings look like please? I’m afraid that’s what I’m seeing in a couple of my kitchen cabinets.Answer:Mouse droppings are usually black, about 1/8 to ¼ inch long. They are thicker in the middle, narrowing at each end, usually to a point. In comparison, brown rat droppings are much bigger, about ½ to ¾ inch long, and blunt at both ends.A single mouse will deposit about 70 droppings a day, a few ...

Question What does a mouse nest look like? I think I found one behind my stove. Answer The quick answer is that a house mouse nest is a loose mass of various collected soft materials, and is usually about the size of a grapefruit. The pregnant female mouse gathers a variety of materials, working with what she has at hand and sometimes showing great creativity in what she collects. Her goal is to make a soft, warm cushioned place for her hairless newborns to safely nurse and grow.Mom mouse ...

If you’re having a problem with rodents in or around your home, putting out traps or poison baits may temporarily get rid of your mice or rats, but to permanently eliminate them you have to correct conducive conditions. Conducive conditions are situations that invite, encourage, or feed rodents, like open garbage cans or heavy weed cover.Remove piles of lumber and debris, especially around the foundation. Store lumber, firewood, etc. on a rack one foot off of the ground and one foot away ...

In apartment and condominium complexes, mice can quickly become a problem, spreading throughout the building. Residents often contribute to the problem by failing to notify property management when they see evidence of mice. With the fast reproductive rate of mice, it doesn’t take long before an unreported mouse becomes lots of mice. If you live in an apartment or condo, and there have been mouse problems in your building, you should:1) Check for evidence of mice every week. Look for ...

You’re going to try to trap mice in your home. Should you buy snap traps or glue boards (sometimes called sticky traps)? Glue boards are convenient—the whole thing is disposed of, mouse and all. With snap traps, you’re usually disposing of the mouse and keeping the trap for re-use. Like snap traps, glue boards are nontoxic; you’re not using any poisons.Glue boards or glue traps are composed of a plastic or cardboard tray covered with a tenacious glue that holds a mouse ...