Mouse in the house and taking advice

Mouse in the house and taking advice

Property Manager · Blaine · Member since 2015 · 209 posts · 276 votes

So there we are on this beautiful Saturday morning enjoying some family time. I mean it’s year 2020 family fun, 2 kids playing their iPads with their headphones on lying on the kitchen floor, @karenhiggins reading what I can only guess is a romance novel, and I’m drinking water trying to shake a Friday night of beer and video games. Then all of a sudden chaos breaks out as a mouse stumbles all over the kitchen right in front of us. The kids scream, Karen runs, and I go to look for the broom, but by the time I had my weapon the mouse had hid somewhere in our master bedroom.

I threw $30 at the problem and bought 2 of everything at Menards. Used gloves to set the old school traps because I don’t want the wild animals being tipped off by the smell of my city hands. I baited all the traps with some “mouse food” gel. I had a lot of this gel so I put it all over the sticky pads that are strategically placed throughout the house and garage. I got a repellent spray and I sprayed down all the baseboards. She wouldn’t let me spray down the pantry because it would poison the kids. Seriously though, if food is accessible isn’t that the problem? But, clearly I know nothing. I got the big bag of poison where the mice are suppose to walk into the trap. Then I said “what the hell” and went rogue by just leaving some of the poison bricks laying loose in the utility room.

Just wondering if I missed a step? I passed on the sonar sound thing because I thought we had one at home, but I can’t find it. Is it necessary? Worried that if I can’t produce at least one dead mouse by tomorrow I will be moving into a rental. We do a pretty good job and have nothing available at the moment so we would have to move in to a flip. She refuses to let my crew work on “our own home” again so that would be a conflict of interest.

I thought it was a little odd that a mouse would stumble around a Kitchin during broad daylight in front of 4 people so I google

“seeing a mouse in home during daylight”

Google says

Mice are nocturnal creatures, so they are most active between dusk and dawn. They don't usually like bright lights, but a mouse may sometimes be seen during the day, especially if its nest has been disturbed or it is seeking food. Seeing mice in the day also can indicate a large infestation in a home

Jesus, thanks google........anyway any advice?

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Specialist · Riverside, CA · Member since 2015 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y

@Matt Higgins calm down it is a mouse, not a mass murderer, you have done more than enough just give it time, the mouse may have left or eaten some of the poison and died somewhere you'll never find it, or it was eaten by an owl, or cat or whatever.

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  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    6y

    @Matt Higgins  Have you seen any evidence of mice: mouse poop in corners or in cupboards? Packaging on food or paper towels/TP with holes in it?  It is winter and it was probably a mouse that thought your house was a nicer place to live.  Check your traps and wait a bit to see if a) it gets trapped or b) you see it again.

  • Specialist · Riverside, CA · Member since 2015 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    @Matt Higgins calm down it is a mouse, not a mass murderer, you have done more than enough just give it time, the mouse may have left or eaten some of the poison and died somewhere you'll never find it, or it was eaten by an owl, or cat or whatever.

  • Property Manager · Blaine · Member since 2015 · 209 posts · 276 votes
    6y

    Never seen signs of a mouse in the house, but we just moved in a year ago and the previous owner had traps in the basement. We do have a stream close to the house and get a surprising amount of wild life for being in the city.  I will give you an update tomorrow morning.  Not too optimistic as I hunted voles at our last house for 7 years with out getting one.  I did trap a few mice and paid a neighbor kid to kill a Gardner snake.   


  • Rental Property Investor · Jersey City, NJ · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 876 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Matt Higgins:

      I did trap a few mice and paid a neighbor kid to kill a Gardner snake.   


    Well that's why you have mice, you're killing the predators! Leave the poor snakes alone!  Same with geckos, spiders and house centipedes. If you have them, it means there's something else in the house they're hunting. If the snake is actually a rattler, call animal control.



  • Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Matt Higgins:

    So there we are on this beautiful Saturday morning enjoying some family time. I mean it’s year 2020 family fun, 2 kids playing their iPads with their headphones on lying on the kitchen floor, @karenhiggins reading what I can only guess is a romance novel, and I’m drinking water trying to shake a Friday night of beer and video games. Then all of a sudden chaos breaks out as a mouse stumbles all over the kitchen right in front of us. The kids scream, Karen runs, and I go to look for the broom, but by the time I had my weapon the mouse had hid somewhere in our master bedroom.

    I threw $30 at the problem and bought 2 of everything at Menards. Used gloves to set the old school traps because I don’t want the wild animals being tipped off by the smell of my city hands. I baited all the traps with some “mouse food” gel. I had a lot of this gel so I put it all over the sticky pads that are strategically placed throughout the house and garage. I got a repellent spray and I sprayed down all the baseboards. She wouldn’t let me spray down the pantry because it would poison the kids. Seriously though, if food is accessible isn’t that the problem? But, clearly I know nothing. I got the big bag of poison where the mice are suppose to walk into the trap. Then I said “what the hell” and went rogue by just leaving some of the poison bricks laying loose in the utility room.

    Just wondering if I missed a step? I passed on the sonar sound thing because I thought we had one at home, but I can’t find it. Is it necessary? Worried that if I can’t produce at least one dead mouse by tomorrow I will be moving into a rental. We do a pretty good job and have nothing available at the moment so we would have to move in to a flip. She refuses to let my crew work on “our own home” again so that would be a conflict of interest.

    I thought it was a little odd that a mouse would stumble around a Kitchin during broad daylight in front of 4 people so I google

    “seeing a mouse in home during daylight”

    Google says

    Mice are nocturnal creatures, so they are most active between dusk and dawn. They don't usually like bright lights, but a mouse may sometimes be seen during the day, especially if its nest has been disturbed or it is seeking food. Seeing mice in the day also can indicate a large infestation in a home

    Jesus, thanks google........anyway any advice?

     Matt,

    Your family needs a pet cat, or two, (or maybe three!).

    Good Luck!

  • Specialist · Easton, PA · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    @Matt Higgins

    Reading all that over a mouse was 2 minutes of my life that I’ll never get back.

  • Property Manager · Blaine · Member since 2015 · 209 posts · 276 votes
    6y

    @Scott Mac cat is not an option.  We like to travel and that sour cat poop smell makes me ill.  

    My father in law just let me know that I have to diligently check the traps bc a dead mouse in the house will stink.  The thing about setting 30 traps is I’ll have try and figure out where they’re at......

  • Property Manager · Blaine · Member since 2015 · 209 posts · 276 votes
    6y

    Sorry @Matt M.

    at least 2 minutes later and you’re Done:) my wife won’t sleep tonight 

  • Rental Property Investor · Malvern, PA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 937 votes
    6y

    I think you are over-reacting or just being entertaining.  I enjoyed the read.  I don't see how you can have this reaction while owning 120+ rental units and a property management business, according to your profile.  Your tenants must have complained about a mouse before.  Getting a mouse in the house is not at all unusual.  You are doing all the right things with only 1 missing.  Definitely check your traps and bait stations.  Activity there can give an indicator if you have 1 mouse or more.

    You didn't mention what you are doing to find and close the spots where the mouse got into the house.  There must be a nook or cranny in which it came in and more will eventually find it.  Finding that and closing it is your last step.  It may be hard to find right now if you have snow on the ground.  I recommend walking the perimeter of your home and looking for any small holes around the foundation.  A mouse can get in with only 1/2".  Seal the gaps.  In warmer weather, check again with a closer look for any places you couldn't closely inspect.  Watch for small holes in the dirt next to your foundation too.

    Do the same on the inside.  Walk the perimeter of your basement, garage, etc - everything on the ground level and below grade.  You can seal interior gaps with mouse foam.  Mouse foam fills gaps and contains a poison.  Also fill gaps from the basement going to the upper level, such as gaps around pipes leading to the kitchen.  Some spots might be inaccessible in finished spaces.  You are out of luck for them assuming you don't want to tear into the finishing.

    Good luck!

  • Property Manager · Blaine · Member since 2015 · 209 posts · 276 votes
    6y

    Thanks @James Mc Ree


    Ya kind of just getting my wife going a little.  I knew she would read this.  She loves the BP.  Her fear of the mouse in the house is legit though and I’m hoping this is an isolated incident.  I haven’t seen any sign of a mouse in this house.  My last house had a spot in the garage they could get through.  I would hit it with expansion foam every summer and they would eat through it every winter.  
    The best part about owning the property management is not having to deal with the small complaints like a mouse.  Bedbugs are a whole other issue.  I know far more about bed bugs than I ever wanted to.

  • Rental Property Investor · Douglas County, MO · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Matt Higgins:

    Sorry @Matt M.

    at least 2 minutes later and you’re Done:) my wife won’t sleep tonight 

     If a little mouse in the house keeps her awake, what would she do if she saw this?

    Walked into the basement from the garage to find a snakeskin over 4 feet long. Hunted everywhere but couldn't find it. The next day we found it in the garage (waiting for us to come home?) and put it back outside to do its job eating lots of mice and copperhead snakes.

  • Property Manager · Blaine · Member since 2015 · 209 posts · 276 votes
    6y

    @Sylvia B.. I think you should consider starting up a summer camp.  I would take my kids down to Douglas county for a week if we could all come back as brave as you.


    I don’t even think the neighbor kids would have went after that thing.  I could be wrong, they swam in to grab a dead squirrel out of their above ground pool.  If they did it would have been worth more that the $20 they got for that small Gardner snake 

  • Rental Property Investor · Douglas County, MO · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Matt Higgins:

    @Sylvia B.. I think you should consider starting up a summer camp.  I would take my kids down to Douglas county for a week if we could all come back as brave as you.

    Ha! The stories I could tell . . .  Suffice it to say, I held the title of "Snake Master" after a certain Girl Scout outing.

  • Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2016 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    6y
  • Handyman · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2018 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    6y

    @Sylvia B.

    I can't unsee it.

  • Rental Property Investor · Erie, PA · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    6y

    Geez man you oughta be wearing a dress . That’s pathetic . If you see it just stomp on it with your foot and toss it in the trash or whip it out in the yard .

    Reminds me of a true story i had . I was showing an apartment and as we are filling out the Application with the new tenant she was looking around the kitchen and noticed right by the fridge there was a small mouse and she jumped back and painted to it making a fuss over this little tit mouse . I asked “ what’s wrong ?” She said “ don’t you see it ? It’s a live mouse right there !” I then walked over a few steps and literally picked my foot up and stomped it flat right in front of her ! I grabbed what was left of it by the tail and tossed it in the trash can . Then proceeded with my conversation . She was bewildered as to what occurred to say the least lol

  • Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    6y
  • Property Manager · Blaine · Member since 2015 · 209 posts · 276 votes
    6y

    @Scott Mac that looks like a 1971 classic.  Sorry that the rat messed up willards date. 

    @Dennis M. Lululemon maybe, dress no


    still no kill.......just checked the traps 

  • WorldWide · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    get some Victor (no affiliation) traps and put some PB on it. works every time. i'd also walk round the house and see how it could've gotten in. i assume it's a simple field mouse. is your house on slab or crawl space?

  • San Jose, CA · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    Don't waste money on the sonar sound gizmos.  They don't work.

    What I found worked the best when I lived in the country was the D-Con bait boxes.  Sometimes they'll die in the house and stink, though.

    You might want to go ahead and hire a pest guy to deal with it for you.  I had a little Scottie dog that was the best mouser ever.  The cats I had would just watch the mouse run across the room while they laid there looking bored.

    There is never just one mouse and it really sucks to one morning open up a drawer to find a nest of baby mice.  Just gross.  Since your family is really low-tolerance, just hire a pest guy, is my advice.

  • Rental Property Investor · TN · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    So, since you put out the sticky paper, do you know that does not kill the mouse.  So you could have a very live mouse stuck to the paper in the morning.  Now what will you do?

  • Specialist · Paradise Valley, AZ · Member since 2018 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Matt Higgins:

    @Scott Mac that looks like a 1971 classic.  Sorry that the rat messed up willards date. 

    @Dennis M. Lululemon maybe, dress no


    still no kill.......just checked the traps 

    It was a "wind up" mouse set loose by your neighbor who is now giggling behind the door.

  • Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Lynnette E.:

    So, since you put out the sticky paper, do you know that does not kill the mouse.  So you could have a very live mouse stuck to the paper in the morning.  Now what will you do?

    Our elderly neighbor had her husband use the sticky papers to be more humane. In front of her he attempted to remove the very alive 'stuck mouse' & as he proceeded he literally tore its legs off. That was the last time he was allowed to use the 'humane sticky papers'.

    We have a somewhat rural 6-unit & mice/chipmunks are a curse BUT if you poison the mice, the chipmunks eat it as well, so we try to trap them, but we also have a large snake in one the basements doing a great job on the mice.

  • Real Estate Agent · NH · Member since 2019 · 30 posts · 6 votes
    6y

    @Matt Higgins. Peanut butter for bait. We won’t use poison, because if a bird of pray gets the mouse before it dies you could also kill the bird. We also bought a camper last year that someone put the poison blocks inside it, and as soon as we opened it up our dog found it and almost died from eating it. Scariest day ever. So I always warn against the poisons. They’re not very smart animals, pretty easy to catch with the traps. Good luck!

  • Property Manager · Blaine · Member since 2015 · 209 posts · 276 votes
    6y

    @Victor S.

    I honestly think this is an isolated incident, one lost mouse. That being said-night one, a ton of traps, and no mice :(

    We live in a walkout rambled. Two younger kids so it’s possible the garage entry door doesn’t get shut all the way all the time. There’s a foot of snow out there and 6 plus inches coming today so I don’t know if the full examination of the foundation will get done.

    I can throw away any dead mouse we get in a trap, I can put on some gloves, and man up. I’d feel bad calling an exterminator, what would the neighbors think?

    I’m throwing every type of trap they had at it. I appreciate all the advice. I used this gel substance that is suppose to be better than peanut butter, but now I’m thinking I should have set a couple with the real thing. We will give it a couple nights and if nothing is in the traps change the status of the case from missing mouse to dead mouse?

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