Mouse control methods
There are two main ways in which to control mice; thru the use of rodenticides or mouse traps, of which there are two forms, live mouse traps and break back mouse traps.
We at Vale Pest Control tend to use break back mouse traps as our preferred method, along with empty bait stations, rather than to just throw down rodenticide.
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By using break back mouse traps we are able to physically prove that we are getting on with the job.
A break back mouse trap will kill the mouse instantly unlike the use of a rodenticide which takes its time and allows the mice to run of and die in difficult to reach locations.
We are able to easily locate any of the dead mice when caught in a break-back mouse trap and dispose of the body, where as if one uses rodenticide the only real way of locating the mice is thru the use of your nose and sniffing out the offensive dead odour.
Break-back traps instantly kill the mouse once they have been in contact with the mouse trap, mice consuming rodenticide on the other hand will be free to roam for some time; if they decide to leave the property and are caught by an owl, hawk, falcon, buzzard or some other small predator, not only is the mouse consumed but so is the rodenticide, if the predator has had a sufficient quantity already then that’s the end of it, on the other hand if its taking the food back to its young, then times up for them.
When disposing of mice caught in a break back trap they can be thrown out into the compost heap, or in the bin without a second thought, but if killed thru the use of rodenticide then a lot more thought needs to be put into it, with bodies either being cremated or deeply buried to prevent any secondary poisoning taking place.
We rarely live trap mice but if necessary can live trap them. Having caught them the only question then is how they are to be dealt with. They can be released into your garden, whether this is fair on them is questionable.
The field mice sort harbourage in your property because of the conditions outside. Even if the conditions outside have improved they may have adapted to living within your warm home by reducing the thickness of their fur coat making them unsuitably prepared for the harsher conditions outside.
Mice are very territorial so if you release them outside into another mouses territory it would be equivalent to signing a slow painful death warrant.
When live trapping we need to attend site at least once a day and often twice dependent upon the scenario, as a result this becomes a far more expensive mouse control treatment method.
Mouse infestation
Dependent upon the scenario, we may use a mouse poison (rodenticide specifically designed for mouse treatments) and if we do it would generally be one that drops the mice in very close proximity to the bait. This would reduce the numbers fast and we would then follow this up with a break back mouse trapping session.
Usually though if someone has seen a mouse in the kitchen it is as a result of a single field mouse taking a visit.
Whether it’s just one mouse or a few mice an indication of how long there has been a problem can easily be established.
If it’s a few mice that have been present for a long time it’s worth looking in additional locations to establish the extent to which they have established themselves.
If mice have been found in the attic or roof space then often we will find that they have established a small colony.
In these cases if we are trapping mice then it may be necessary to extend the treatment beyond three visits.
It doesn’t take long for an infestation to establish itself bearing in mind that under ideal conditions two mature mice could theoretically produce 2500 in a 12 month period under perfect conditions.
If there is evidence of only one or two mice we invariably sort the mouse problem out overnight (two visits). If the mouse infestation is larger it will take longer, usually 3 visits over a week.
If there is evidence that there is still a problem we will then carry out a further three visits. At the end of this period the problem should be completely resolved.
For FAST, Friendly Service, Call 02920 552243
speak to a local professional pest controller NOT a National call centre
For further information on the House Mouse (Mus domesticus)