Norfolk County, Norfolk Rat Control Situation:
Will removing the food source remove the mice? I found a black mouse today...man, those things are fast. And every animal I've ever seen is stupid; this one tried to run by and ran face-first into a box, immediately letting out a startled squeak as it crashed. Idiot. They all go full-potato around me. Anyway, turns out I had a 20lb bag of bird seed which is now a 2lb bag of bird seed. I've now put that and the grass seed outside. As there's a mouse here now, I'm going to re-check my food storage to ensure it's all inaccessible. Will removing the food remove the mice? Nothing to eat here. If they can't find food, will they go away?
Dear David, I have to say that I have found your site very informative. We have had mice this past very cold winter and caught 3-4 of them with snap traps. The last one was probably March or April. This week I noticed a sewer smell in the stairwell of the basement; I caught all the mice in the basement. I am having a hard time determining which wall right or left it is coming from. It is about 5 steps down the 12 steps. That area would probably be height of the first floor. Do you suggest I try cutting a hole in the wall. My husband suggested using a drill hole to determine which wall, easier to patch. I am not sure if I should call someone or just start to cut the wall myself. Any advice would be welcome. Thank you!
Hi I have them now because I am remodeling I am in the process of sealing all open areas but I still feel they will be under my trailer, can you give tips in helping controlling them I am willing to do what it takes to get rid of them. Please advise what is a nuisance controller and how do I find one for a reasonable price.
The rats are in the floor (First floor ceiling) and 2nd story joist space and in the attic that has no access and are waking me up. I'm afraid they are going to short a wire a burn the house down. What about electric traps . And if they're OK where do you put them. Thanks Doug in Tacoma WA PS I'm building then out and placing snap traps too. Peanut butter on cotton balls. I feed the birds and the neighbors have chickens and don't pick up their rotting fruit. So eliminating food would be impossible. I would quit feeding the birds if thought it would help.
Norfolk Rat Control Tip of The Week
Are Mice or Rats Easier to Trap?
Intelligence:
Mice can often be much easier to trap because they are naturally curious creatures. It often takes just one or two days to capture a mouse after setting up a mousetrap. If you're having difficulty trapping a mouse you could consider moving it to a different location. Rats can be extremely intelligent and they communicate with each other meaning that any new objects will often bring about suspicion.
Reproduction:
Rats often reproduce at a much faster rate and this can make it difficult to control a rat problem if it's been going on for a long time. Most mice have around eight litters per year with around 5 to 6 pups in each litter. Rats can have between 6 to 12 pups in their litter.
Diet:
Rats can often be ravenous eaters and often require meat or a more substantial food source in order to remain satisfied. This can often make rats very difficult to trap because they can be so fussy about their food.
Size:
Rats have a definite size advantage over mice and this often means using much larger traps and some extra measures when it comes to keeping them in a trap. Because of the extra costs of these larger traps and the need to be more careful with where you set them, the requirements to trap a rat can be considerably higher than what it takes to trap the average mouse. Most rats can reach a length of between 7-10 inches and weigh up to a pound whereas the typical house mouse maxes out around 8 inches including its tail.
Tracking:
It's often easier to track rats because they leave larger footprints and they can cause a bit more destruction with their added size and strength. This can make finding rats throughout your home a bit easier.
