Mice?

[Springforward]

We're not sure, but we're finding little bits which might be mouse droppings. We're going to go looking for traps tomorrow to see if we can catch anything, but if we did have mice, shouldn't there be other signs? Would appreciate some advice from those who've dealt with this in the past!

[OodKingWenceslas]

Possibly chewed paper ?

[LilMissSunshine9]

Why don't you call a private pest control company most of them do a free survey so they will identify what is leaving behind the little bits they will then recommend u a treatment programme but you aren't obligated to take it.

[Piemistress]

Mouse poo, scratching noises at night? They can get through holes the size of the top of a pencil. Peanut butter on wooden traps works for us every winter when they come into our house

[Springforward]

Free survey - hadn't thought of that, might phone around tomorrow. Will also try peanut butter. No signs of gnawing we can see so far, but going to have a good look tomorrow. Thanks all!

[Lozislovely]

A cat

Seriously, that is how we got rid of (kept control of) mice in a Victorian house we used to live in. First experience of them was whilst sitting in the darkened lounge one night watching tv and one of the little buggers popped his head up through a gap in the floorboards!

Traps with peanut butter work very well but we opted for a cat as well as we had children and didn't fancy the thought of finding droppings in every room.

Block every single hole you can find, no matter how small, they can get through a gap the size of a biro nib.

Ours were getting in mostly through the under stairs cupboard and I kid you not, we bought 30 traps in one go and shoved them all in the cupboard hoping more traps meant less chance of them getting into the main part of the house!

[PigletJohn]

look in the cupboards where you keep the cornflakes, biscuits, pasta and flour. That will tell you.

If you have pets, they will be feasting in the bowls.

Mice are much smaller than children, so you can put small dishes of mouse bait in places where only mice can get, like underneath the kitchen cabinets, fridge and cooker. I use brightly coloured plastic saucers sold for small flowerpots. Keep topping them up until they stay full.

[nocake]

You'll know if a mouse has been in because they're destructive. Look for shredded paper or fabric. They'll chew through packets of anything they think might be food.

We use a plastic spring trap baited with peanut butter. Outside the house I have a plastic bait box that I put down when we spot mice near the house. I keep it topped up until they stop emptying it... that means they're all dead.

I know people say that there's never only one mouse but both times we've had them in the house there has been only one. The others have stayed outside. Harvest mice, which is what you're most likely to have, prefer to live outside.

[Springforward]

We moved house about a month ago, and sadly my rather aged cat has decided that she'll tolerate the garage, loves the garden but hates the house - so, we may well have a mouse-free garage (we saw one in there on the day we moved in, and removed the large open bag of bird food the same day) but no joy inside!

No shredded paper, all food boxes intact so far.

We cleaned everywhere last night - in cupboards, all floors, everywhere flat, basically - and found no further signs this morning. Traps going out just in case, though - planning to stick them in cupboard under sink (which is where we saw the ?droppings first) and under bookshelves in living and dining rooms, where my little boy hopefully won't get curious.

Thanks all.

[Piemistress]

Harvest mice is what we had. They only used to come in once the farmer had been and cut the wheat (?)

[serin]

We tried everything, spent a fortune with pest control companies and then eventually got a cat. She sorted the problem by eating them whole.

[Springforward]

Right. I'm going to try to persuade the cat to come into the house. She's a good hunter so it's time she earned her keep.

[PigletJohn]

hope the cat can't reach the traps with a questing paw (or tail)

[Springforward]

Good point, well made. Will stick to one or the other!

[Piemistress]

Good luck! We used to catch up to 15 every winter despite plugging every tiny hole with wire wool (they don't like this!) But have now moved :)

[april1st]

we had mice a few years back I just called the council. They dealt with it for us.

[Springforward]

Thanks all. Think this was a false alarm, no more black rice grain-looking stuff and empty traps. Cat has been indoors a bit so i guess it's possible she ate something!