It's War !

[The emperor has no clothes]

I've dealt with plenty of infestations in the past. I once lived in a house surrounded by woods. One winter was especially brutal for the little critters with thawing, ice, freezing, that they were in dire straits. Must have killed hundreds that year in the house and garage. Those were mostly shrews, with a few voles thrown in. One afternoon I fell asleep on the recliner watching TV only to wake up with a shrew sitting on the arm chair staring at me. I've got plenty of experience killing the little bastards. Along with squirrels. (Sorry, Pappy) But now I'm in a new war ! The kids and grandkids have been coming over swimming lately. They have heard something in our oleanders rustling around. 2 or 3 times a year I will get a dead field mouse in the pool. I figured that must be what they were hearing. Put out some mouse traps and sure enough my trapping skills are still up to par. Only this time it's a frigging 12 lb. rat ! (Maybe not quite that big) Got him barely by the snout. Must have suffocated him.
Okay, it's on ! I've never dealt with rats before, but I know I don't want those bastards in the house. The trap line was run again, and one trap is disappeared. So the war advances. I've got maybe 10" of dried oleander leaves piled in the base of the branches. This must be their Taj Mahal. Tear into that and find the missing trap with the slight remains of a mouse or rat. I'm thinking the prodigy must be getting hungry and ate their brother. So, now I'm in a Holy War with a race of canaballistic rats !


Wish me luck. The Jihad continues. 

[Wizzard]

I have killed 34 ground squirrels and chipmunks this summer so far since the first of May. I think they reproduce faster than I can kill them.

[Patrick]

So far this summer I've transplanted 67 Munks, 6 Squirrels, 4 Doves, 1 Pigeon, 1 Robin and 1 Blue Jay.

Well, the birds I just let go.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Munks ?

[DDT (12)]

Munks ?

Rob,

Talk about a 'Holy' war! Sorry for your trials... Please don't hate me, but... with my lifestyle, I have none of those issues! Mostly the only things we kill are those that run or fly into us... Frankly, I prefer it that way. Good luck and good hunting...

DDT

[Oss]

Rob I am sure you remember the story I told you about "trial by ordeal" and trappin critters



Seconds after setting rat trap I get another chipmunk or vole.   They love hiding in the stinging nettles

Damn squirrels ate most of the peaches and nectarines off the tree

[The emperor has no clothes]

Rob I am sure you remember the story I told you about "trial by ordeal" and trappin critters



Seconds after setting rat trap I get another chipmunk or vole.   They love hiding in the stinging nettles

Damn squirrels ate most of the peaches and nectarines off the tree

Dude ! I will never forget that story. And you told it with such zeal.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Munks ?

Rob,

Talk about a 'Holy' war! Sorry for your trials... Please don't hate me, but... with my lifestyle, I have none of those issues! Mostly the only things we kill are those that run or fly into us... Frankly, I prefer it that way. Good luck and good hunting...

DDT

(I'm not sure I could bring myself to trap any)

[Jess from VA]

There are numerous effective home made mouse and rat traps videos on the Youtube.  Some are pretty simple and work very well.  I especially like the drowning traps.

That pile of brush may be their hide out.  But I'd leave it alone while running multiple traps, before cleaning it all up later, since you don't want to provide a good cover place for them on your property.

The other thing that comes to mind is .... even if you scrupulously keep all possible food sources away from them, a close-by neighbor or two who don't and have caused this infestation need schooled about their bad behavior (if that's the case).

[hubcapsc]

There's some (just one or two I hope) of the little ones (mice, not field rats)
that can get into our house. They eat the p-nut butter right off the snap traps,
but get caught in these little plastic spring-loaded disposable traps where they
walk in to get the bait and the door shuts. They're stuck in there, instead of
being smashed to smithereens. Whatever works!

I've seen, over the years, different ones of my cats bring their "toys" inside
without finishing them off... cats who get fed cat food are worthless beyond
being cool little pals...

-Mike

[Rams]

I'm told that some fertilizer, a few gallons of diesel fuel, a short fuse and a blasting cap will take care of rodents.   Let us know how that works out.

Rams

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'm told that some fertilizer, a few gallons of diesel fuel, a short fuse and a blasting cap will take care of rodents.   Let us know how that works out.

Rams

I think you just made your way onto Serk's NSA watchlist. 

[Rams]

I'm told that some fertilizer, a few gallons of diesel fuel, a short fuse and a blasting cap will take care of rodents.   Let us know how that works out.

Rams

I think you just made your way onto Serk's NSA watchlist.  

If I remember correctly, Serk may have been the one to tell me about that method of rodent eradication.  (Maybe not)  

Rams

[The emperor has no clothes]

There are numerous effective home made mouse and rat traps videos on the Youtube.  Some are pretty simple and work very well.  I especially like the drowning traps.

That pile of brush may be their hide out.  But I'd leave it alone while running multiple traps, before cleaning it all up later, since you don't want to provide a good cover place for them on your property.

The other thing that comes to mind is .... even if you scrupulously keep all possible food sources away from them, a close-by neighbor or two who don't and have caused this infestation need schooled about their bad behavior (if that's the case).

You don't go into battle against crazed, canaballistc rats with a bucket of water. This is more what I was thinking.

[scooperhsd]

"I love the smell of Napalm in the morning. It smells like... Victory !!"

[Serk]

R.O.U.S.? Rodents Of Unusual Size?

I don't think they exist.

[Willow]

R.O.U.S.? Rodents Of Unusual Size?

I don't think they exist. 

You and Westley.   

[Patrick]

I haven't figured out how those religious fellas in the orange sheets are able to crawl into those little live traps. They run like hell when you let them go though. They're pretty spry.
I let them go near a friends house, I've been wondering why he says Oommm whenever he sees me now.

[Jersey mike]

Use Tom Cat. Issue resolved.

[hubcapsc]

Use Tom Cat. Issue resolved.

See my Reply #9  above...

-Mike "pet cats are worthless..."

[Thunderbolt]

I went to see the Sheriff of our little county when our neighbor had a bunch of obnoxious dogs.  He said I can't tell you to do this but my Dad (his Dad was the Sheriff before him) would have told you to give them some "no bark" dog food.  Maybe they make some for rats.  Only problem with that is you have no idea where and when it will do it's job.

[RP#62]

Make sure you've got no trees overhanging the house.  If they can get on the roof, they can get into the house through the vents.  Usually, they don't hang around unless there's a food source nearby.  Do you or the neighbors have any fruit trees?

-RP

[Patrick]

Hmmm, I don't remember ever hearing a rat bark.

[Jersey mike]

Use Tom Cat. Issue resolved.

See my Reply #9  above...

-Mike "pet cats are worthless..."

This stuff is great.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Tomcat-4-lb-Bait-Pail-BL22244/205566244

You don't need the big pail, the small bag will work. I cut the blocks into 1/4's and put them in out of the way places or near places which can be access points.

[Rams]

Use Tom Cat. Issue resolved.

See my Reply #9  above...

-Mike "pet cats are worthless..."

Pet cats are worthless because they are fed too much.  Hungry pet cats will hunt for food.
We used to have barn cats, rule of thumb was feed them just enough to keep them coming back.   
We had a lot of grain stored for cattle, horses, hogs and chickens.   
Very rarely did we have a rodent problem, when we did, we cut back on the cat chow and the problem vanished. 

Rams

[hubcapsc]

Use Tom Cat. Issue resolved.

See my Reply #9  above...

-Mike "pet cats are worthless..."

Pet cats are worthless because they are fed too much.  Hungry pet cats will hunt for food.
We used to have barn cats, rule of thumb was feed them just enough to keep them coming back.   
We had a lot of grain stored for cattle, horses, hogs and chickens.   
Very rarely did we have a rodent problem, when we did, we cut back on the cat chow and the problem vanished. 

Rams

The difference is that my sweet kitties can't be allowed to lack
for anything. I'll kill the mouse.

-Mike

[Rams]

Use Tom Cat. Issue resolved.

See my Reply #9  above...

-Mike "pet cats are worthless..."

Pet cats are worthless because they are fed too much.  Hungry pet cats will hunt for food.
We used to have barn cats, rule of thumb was feed them just enough to keep them coming back.   
We had a lot of grain stored for cattle, horses, hogs and chickens.   
Very rarely did we have a rodent problem, when we did, we cut back on the cat chow and the problem vanished. 

Rams

The difference is that my sweet kitties can't be allowed to lack
for anything. I'll kill the mouse.

-Mike

   

[Serk]

R.O.U.S.? Rodents Of Unusual Size?

I don't think they exist. 

You and Westley.   

I'm just thankful at least one person got the reference.....

[Willow]

R.O.U.S.? Rodents Of Unusual Size?

I don't think they exist. 

You and Westley.   

I'm just thankful at least one person got the reference.....

I don't think you know what that means.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Make sure you've got no trees overhanging the house.  If they can get on the roof, they can get into the house through the vents.  Usually, they don't hang around unless there's a food source nearby.  Do you or the neighbors have any fruit trees?

-RP

I cut down our citrus trees years back because I heard they attracted rats. I'm sure there are other citrus trees not far from us though.

[JimC]

Water bucket traps !  Empty half a dozen or so a day till gone.

https://www.amazon.com/Log-Mouse-Trap-Bearings-Drilling/dp/B078718Y2Q/ref=sr_1_29?dchild=1&keywords=bucket+mouse+trap&qid=1597986498&sr=8-29

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYCqWSz6lNg

[shadowsoftime]

We have the best exterminators and they are free.

A hawk and an owl frequent our property. Squirrels, mice, rats, snakes, rabbits don't last long here.
 I have seen the hawk dive from a couple hundred feet swoop up a squirrel, awesome and Wife saw the owl fly off with a 4' or longer snake.
 For a couple years had a large roadrunner on the property, don't know, maybe the hawk got him.

[Jess from VA]

The difference is that my sweet kitties can't be allowed to lack
for anything. I'll kill the mouse.

-Mike

When 6 mice got into my house (crack in basement wall), I went on the Youtube and followed the advice to get a bunch of different traps and spread them out along the walls.  I had old fashioned snap traps and modern snap traps, and 2 spendy electronic (electric chair) traps, and glue traps.  I found out where they got in and where they were staying.  I did not disturb the entry point or the food (pantry).

I got them all in one night, and except for one in an electronic trap, I got all the rest in the glue traps, which are about the cheapest ones (that won't get your fingers by accident).  I got none in any snap trap.

The only downside is that when caught in the glue traps, they are not deceased, just caught.  I put the caught ones (trap and all) in coffee cans, and them running around in circles in the can (trap and all) attracted all the others to the cans.  

I put the Dcon outside (not inside), as you don't want them deceased in the house or walls or back of the fridge.  The Dcon is not attractive to cats, and is genetically engineered to kill only rodents anyway.

But don't know how you keep a cat from stepping in a glue trap.  

Afterward, I closed up the entry point, and the pantry mess.

I might have tried to save a cute little field mouse, but the gray house mice are disgusting and don't warrant saving.  

[0leman]

A couple years after moving in to our present home, we started having issues with mice.   I was catching several a month during winter.   Using normal mouse traps.  Couldn't see where they were getting in, till I finally crawled under our home (hate crawl spaces).   Took some heavy steel wool, pop cans, and a good light. We have our floors insulated with lots of fiberglass stuff so took a bit to find their entry point.  Found that the holes where the plumbing for the kitchen was were the critter were sneaking in.  Stuffed the steel wool into the holes, plus screwed the cut up pop cans around the holes.  Two years free of them critters. 

We do live about 100 yards from open sage brush flats.  That is where those pest came from.  Invaded us in late fall seeking a warmer home.

[Valkorado]

Depending on the severity of your mouse (or rat) problem, sending them walking the plank is the way to go.  I've read accounts of folks bringing in north of 30 of 'em in a single night with a single trap!  

A video, warning it has some salty language.  

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=7VqxAnO3KGg

Like the man says, use water!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CyCIA78FDSM

Pretty opportunistic possum!

They do make a larger version of "the plank" designed specifically for rats.

Another variation, the rolling log!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6SIlYiiCGLI

The Rinne traps are great and come with the ramp.  You can have one for about eight bucks on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RinneTraps-Walk-The-Plank-Mouse-Trap-WITH-RAMP-Multi-Catch-Whole-Sale/222800660297?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item33dff44749:g:A6YAAOSwEVZaX~p8&enc=AQAFAAACcBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%2Fn%2BzU5L90Z278x5ickkgCVySCgrNFPU8Iu85TabMEodf919RSNRJ1cd9gstdHc5gca7%2BaZ03LEHK0toE9PgHZ%2FU61ATcMsq5ugZh5gjxKufwWVzno%2FPNpFHvzHj0hRDDaAtoeR9OMvZKhafBoXMH6mWRJwlyqVSHZ5IZFirKYDeU5AterJrGDJ6UQaxMwTiNjXg0wbLlXPdoJ36z2BHvitWpTaUewKf8%2BDlXWso0%2BeNCjEts4ep3o%2BpgCEafe1SNV6iV7WLxA9OExNiApjiCBuGsBYpzfe8YfzAtDFutzio8WfsR8UIkcIiijUe3yYVkUY%2BGDK41XlVscBT4YsIRVzHuT2NtF1XfBI0O%2FiisNMnO%2FgrrXuYlqnnrti7%2FtiOxluXlePVrSsm1bx82PEqXd43hBTn3GwhdK%2BFyJ6AxdJ0H5uvMtIXh9Ujb19WVjcH6rw%2BKV3mKIJEjwlqwhDYp8gD6rk9nnsEbqNTgUS7Eclom9yqkvk0Zunej1l2YcdWaYN4b3hkNjtkDDGisOklhE6ntVaxLrryAmhXLKga9IQNjiCYC8XJilkiVISXqukoi0BJ5oSkMtJUwn%2FoUIg9ZyjoCxWIP8d1exTFhUID9V%2FueNKQ97FN4QP%2BedzBc8ES8%2Bcv%2FlE0nHFTRcOteu%2FlHiUTUnX%2Fm%2FV6IPkqCH%2FVLRO12oimLaLQ0RCTG3uQMBalK2Jce%2BUOa9dyl0mOifjgcCQwk7uuSy6R3hpXqeJdsqrkhBVeWKC595P0U77HpgUaAytVm8YmuNRFrPloTwpo3uTPqbmzDMbs2cM8PrWmBA%3D%3D&checksum=22280066029758b2a438a5b94361b13d88d755a1a27b

[J.Mencalice]

"Let me see your war face!!!"
Take your pick....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHN3E264Coc&list=RDkkDoaqGsO14&index=4