Mice problems

[Hernan B.]

I have a tenant that has been complaining about mice. Just wondering what the typical course of action is to get rid of them. The tenants are not very clean people which makes think this will be an uphill battle. Do people usually get exterminators or buy traps? Or anything other ideas?

[Stephanie Dupuis]

Yup, @Jerry W. pretty much said what needs to be done.

Before I rent properties out, I seal the properties (make sure there are no entrance holes into the properties). We have rat and mouse problems here - more problems with rats, I've lived in areas with mouse problems. It's the process. They can squeeze through the tiniest of holes. I fill holes with both steel wool and foam filler. No holes! Anywhere.

Also, clear all debri away from the house. Rodents love plants that are against the house. They'll burrow in the roots of brush, trees, junipers, etc. They will also nest and hide in groundcover. Keep the plants away from the house. Do not stack wood against the house, etc. Basically, don't give the rodents cover or housing.

Set traps up both outside and inside the house. Rodents travel along the edge of the walls (or foundation). If you find entrance holes, place traps there. Lots of traps. Line the wall if possible. If in the attack, go crazy lining the attack walk paths with traps.

If there are pets on the property, set traps inside a 4 inch plumbing pipe. The rodent will walk inside the pipe to the trap, but the pets can't get to the trap (a rodent guy taught me this).

Poison is really bad if there are pets around - it's a liability. I don't recommend it. If a rodent eats the poison, they often leave the property and may get eaten by a tenant's pet (or a neighbor's pet). The poisons used for rodents are very deadly.

Yes, peanut butter is great for the traps.

Another Trap:

Take a 5 gal bucket. Drill a hole through the top (where the handle goes) and place a 1/4 in. piece of doweling through it. The doweling is loose and spins freely. Place peanut butter on the center of the doweling as bate for the rodents (the rodents crawl up the bucket and when they try to cross the wood doweling, it spins and they fall in the bucket). In the bottom of the bucket, place water so the rodent drowns. Gross, but it works great. For larger rodents, you need to put other things in the bottom of the bucket (sticky stuff, oil/grease with the water, get creative. I haven't found the perfect solution yet). Takes a bit of work. But, it's safer on your fingers and for those around the trap.