Mice. Mice. Mice. help!

[Mannix]

I really need some good advice about mice....in front of our house we have a giant Live Oak, so they are getting up under the hoods of our vehicles, so they can safely sit and eat acorns...THANK GOD no wiring thus far. So far, I have spread out cayenne pepper everywhere and sprayed and positioned several rags drenched with peppermint oil....they just laugh at both....I'll find spent acorns and mice poop 1/2 inch from both of these so called deterrents....any advice would be appreciated....thank you in advance!!!

 

[Tabascocat]

I would say to buy a cat but then you are stuck with a cat!

 

[Runwildboys]

The first thing that comes to mind is, if you don't mind opening your hood twice a day, set traps in the engine compartment. I think peanut butter would be more attractive to them than acorns.

Or maybe putting life size statues of cats on either side of the car would scare them away?

 

[Mannix]

Sorry....forgot to mention that I put three (3) mice traps under the hoods of both cars with peanut butter as bait...never touched a trap despite still showing up to eat acorns.....blew my mind. A guy on Nextdoor mentioned some noise gizmo off of Amazon, but I could never find the post again to see exactly which one it was....there are too many to choose from....and not that cheap either.

 

[Runwildboys]

Sorry....forgot to mention that I put three (3) mice traps under the hoods of both cars with peanut butter as bait...never touched a trap despite still showing up to eat acorns.....blew my mind. A guy on Nextdoor mentioned some noise gizmo off of Amazon, but I could never find the post again to see exactly which one it was....there are too many to choose from....and not that cheap either.

Maybe just go with whichever one has the best reviews?

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Orkin or Terminex.
We had a home out in a wooded area.
No matter how many or what kinds of traps we would put down, the micec would get into the house. Even worse as the temps dropped.

Terminix sprays something but also lays down bait boxes. We used them for a few months and had not seen or heard anymore mice.
So the wife thinks she will save some money and cancel them. Thinking the problem was eliminated.

It was not. Couple weeks later they were back. Plus, nobody like to hear or see a mouse get caught in a trap and scratching trying to get way from it.

We moved into our current house. Same issue. We got terminix service again and have not had any issues since.

I know it is money most would rather spend on other stuff. But for peace of mind sometimes it is worth it.

 

[Catpappy]

keep your hoods up on your vehicle. If it’s rats all it takes is one night. I have four fixed female cats and they are killers. They make wire cage traps that work also.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

First off the cat thing is underrated. We live outside the city limits in a small housing development along a river. We've been in the house 17 years and have had the same two cats for 15 of those years that we got as kittens. All of my neighbors complain about mice, but we've had zero. My cats are killers though, mice, squirrels, bunnies, snakes, you name it. They're both old now and rarely leave our yard but they still patrol it every night. Some people hate cats, but I love them. They're nature's pest defense.

Second, use Jolly Ranchers as bait. My wife and I own an antique store in a historic Downtown area. It's and older building on a busy street where we couldn't safely have a cat. We had some mice issues when we first got the building and I tried everything to catch them including both spring traps and sticky pads baited with peanut butter. I finally read somewhere to use Jolly Ranchers and tried sticking one in the middle of a sticky pad. Worked like a charm and it's all I use now. I use the green apple flavor since everybody hates that one.

 

[CyberB0b]

The first thing that comes to mind is, if you don't mind opening your hood twice a day, set traps in the engine compartment. I think peanut butter would be more attractive to them than acorns.

Or maybe putting life size statues of cats on either side of the car would scare them away?

This is the way. Go to the pound and get a couple of mangy looking cats. There’s ways to train them to stick around.

 

[Runwildboys]

This is the way. Go to the pound and get a couple of mangy looking cats. There’s ways to train them to stick around.

Nail gun?

 

[jsb357]

there is a very expensive product called "critter out"
you make a spray and treat the area desired.

label says no poisons or chemicals all natural ingredients...

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

Maybe get a ball python? They're super chill with people usually, not too big, and they're good at catching mice. Probably good to get one of those before something like a rattlesnake shows up.

Otherwise, I like the idea of a non-chemical product that can get them taken care of.

 

[Runwildboys]

Maybe get a ball python? They're super chill with people usually, not too big, and they're good at catching mice. Probably good to get one of those before something like a rattlesnake shows up.

Otherwise, I like the idea of a non-chemical product that can get them taken care of.

I believe this is outdoors, but I could be mistaken. Either way, a garage floor isn't good for a python.

 

[RustyBourneHorse]

I believe this is outdoors, but I could be mistaken. Either way, a garage floor isn't good for a python.

Oh, thought it was indoors

 

[Tabascocat]

Maybe get a ball python? They're super chill with people usually, not too big, and they're good at catching mice. Probably good to get one of those before something like a rattlesnake shows up.

Otherwise, I like the idea of a non-chemical product that can get them taken care of.

Rattlesnakes are in hibernation Rusty

 

[Runwildboys]

Oh, thought it was indoors

It might be, but like I said, even a garage floor is no good for a python, unless it's well heated.

 

[Hardline]

 

[Rockport]

Sorry....forgot to mention that I put three (3) mice traps under the hoods of both cars with peanut butter as bait...never touched a trap despite still showing up to eat acorns.....blew my mind. A guy on Nextdoor mentioned some noise gizmo off of Amazon, but I could never find the post again to see exactly which one it was....there are too many to choose from....and not that cheap either.

Try a piece of bacon.

 

[VaqueroTD]

I really need some good advice about mice....in front of our house we have a giant Live Oak, so they are getting up under the hoods of our vehicles, so they can safely sit and eat acorns...THANK GOD no wiring thus far. So far, I have spread out cayenne pepper everywhere and sprayed and positioned several rags drenched with peppermint oil....they just laugh at both....I'll find spent acorns and mice poop 1/2 inch from both of these so called deterrents....any advice would be appreciated....thank you in advance!!!

I had to get wires replaced in my truck because of the squirrels and mice eating them. No good ideas for you, they just stopped for some reason. I think they did it to get back at my dog who is always chasing them up trees. (Has yet to get one)

 

[CyberB0b]

Nail gun?

Knife

The method involves setting up a grate in somewhere like your garage and keeping them in the crate for a couple of days while feeding and watering them. They get used to it being their home and then stick around.