# House in the woods has mice. Are removal efforts futile? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 5, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527 "2012-01-05T18:44:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/41 "2012-01-06T02:59:29Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Can I build a sufficiently powered pneumatic mouse cannon with materials from Home Depot? [YES WE CAN!](http://people.tribe.net/tremaincalm/photos/de0596a6-08a5-4258-b7cd-e56dc41df3d0) [/Bob the Builder] ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/42 "2012-01-06T14:20:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > NO!! Do NOT use poison as you will then poison your cats! Cat’s are weird - what one cat will never touch another cat will devour. Maybe you could put the poison inside a metal mesh box. You could make the box yourself from hardware cloth, or maybe they sell such things somewhere. You could use a small tripped have-a-heart trap for this purpose (the mice would be able to go in and out of the mesh and eat the poison but the cats and large animals could not get inside). ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/43 "2012-01-06T14:31:25Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > Maybe you could put the poison inside a metal mesh box. You could make the box yourself from hardware cloth, or maybe they sell such things somewhere. You could use a small tripped have-a-heart trap for this purpose (the mice would be able to go in and out of the mesh and eat the poison but the cats and large animals could not get inside). Poison doesn’t work instantly. When the poisoned, but not yet dead mice stagger out of the enclosure, they are easy targets for predators, who might be affected by the poison, too. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/44 "2012-01-06T16:00:38Z")
Acknowledging that this is purely anecdotal, hear me out: We had a period where we were seeing a mouse every other day or so; sometimes one would scurry across the living room while I was watching TV. We set traps and caught three or four over a two-week period, so I knew it wasn’t just a single critter running amok. Then, we bought a package of ultrasonic rodent repellers identical to [these](http://www.amazon.com/Victor-PestChaser-Ultrasonic-Rodent-Repellent/dp/tags-on-product/B0015WM4QA). This was nearly two years ago and we have seen \*zero \*evidence of indoor mice since. (and hey, you can always return them if they don’t work) mmm ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/45 "2012-01-06T16:49:11Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Then, we bought a package of ultrasonic rodent repellers identical to [these](http://www.amazon.com/Victor-PestChaser-Ultrasonic-Rodent-Repellent/dp/tags-on-product/B0015WM4QA). > > This was nearly two years ago and we have seen \*zero \*evidence of indoor mice since. _[Post Hoc](http://www.skepdic.com/posthoc.html)_ rides again. > [@](#): > > A 2002 study by Genesis Laboratories Inc. does lend some credence to the ability of electronic repellent devices to repel certain pests in controlled environments. “Preliminary study of white-footed mice behavior in the test apparatus demonstrated a significant preference for the non-activated chamber among both sexes.” This study was sponsored by Global Instruments, the maker of the “Pest-a-cator” series of electronic repellent devices. > > In 2003, the Federal Trade Commission required Global Instruments, the maker of the Pest-A-Cator/Riddex series of electromagnetic pest control devices, to discontinue any claims for their efficacy until they are backed by credible scientific evidence. This ban continues to be in effect. > > Victor Pest managed to obtain positive results from independent researchers which resulted in two ultrasonic devices being granted registration by the Canadian EPA(PMRA). The results from the tests were the device “successfully repelled the rodents from the protected area in 13 of the 17 sites. This represents a 81.3% success rate…the average number of days before rodent activity was stopped was six days.” So one company, when challenged, decided not to do any tests but remove their product from the market; another was able to prove their product worked some of the time, presumably enough to satisfy the FTC; and another company presents a test without qualifying it (how much is “significant preference”?) Not a ringing endorsement. > **[Electronic pest control](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_pest_control)** > > Electronic pest control is the name given to any of several types of electrically powered devices designed to repel or eliminate pests, usually rodents or insects. Since these devices are not regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act in the United States, the EPA does not require the same kind of efficacy testing that it does for chemical pesticides. > Ultrasonic devices operate through emitting short wavelength, high frequency sound waves that are too high in pitch t... [FTC Warns Manufacturers and Retailers of Ultrasonic Pest-control Device](http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/05/fyi0128.shtm) > [@](#): > > Staff of the Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Enforcement today announced that they have sent warning letters to more than 60 manufacturers and retailers of ultrasonic pest-control devices, stating that efficacy claims about those products must be supported by scientific evidence. > > \ > > Between 1985 and 1997, the FTC brought law enforcement actions against six companies that allegedly made false and unsubstantiated claims about the effectiveness of ultrasonic devices in controlling rodent and insect infestations. Each of those cases was resolved by consent order. In those prior actions, the FTC challenged the following types of claims: > > Eliminates rodent infestations; > > \ > > and Scientific tests prove product effectiveness > > Prior FTC complaints alleged that any reaction by rodents to ultrasound would be temporary at best because rodents become accustomed to ultrasound and will return to their nesting or feeding areas even in the presence of an ultrasonic device. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/46 "2012-01-06T17:23:36Z")
When the Daughter and the Son-in-Law discovered mice, they called in an exterminator. Hubster specifically asked the exterminator about those sonic gizmos. Mister Exterminator Person said: “They work. However, the sound waves will bounce off walls and furniture, and you won’t get complete coverage of the whole house. There will be dead spots (pun probably intended) where the sound waves either don’t reach or cancel out. The mice will find those areas and set up the DJ booth and kegs for the party.” Well, okay, he didn’t mention anything about the mouse party, but you get the idea. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/47 "2012-01-06T17:24:56Z")
What about putting one of those deer-bumper-whistley-things on a string and spinning it around over my head? This really reveals how much of a wishy-washy hypocrite I am. While I have no problem with eating steaks or wearing wearing down or leather, when faced with the question I cannot bring myself to use poison. That there are pets and small children around is a cover is helpful, but I just don’t think I could do it. I could use iocane powder (if the mice haven’t spent years building up an immunity), but the prospect of a slow death (same with glue traps) strikes some odd fiber in me as undoable. Also note that these are not zombie mice and have yet to have a direct impact on us outside freaking us out by leaving their disemboweled corpses at the foot of our bed. Went for a walk around the house and found a few places that can be patched up but that seems a bit futile. First, there’s the garage. Well, I guess the garage can be sealed off from the rest of the house. But what about the bilco doors? They don’t leak water, but there is a vast amount of space for mices to creep in. From what I’ve seen on the Net I shouldn’t seal them off or else we’ll end up with other moisture problems. The entryway to the basement is a frankendoor; I built a platform out of wood and backed it with solid foam-core insulation trimmed with flexible fiberglass (so it seals against the concrete when put up against the opening). This works great for keeping the cold air out and for maximum access when we need it. If I have any hope of conquering the mice question do I need to put in regular doors? Or could I just chain up a non-venomous snake right by the doors? So it sounds as if just because the house is _in_ the woods it doesn’t have to share its space with woodland creatures (if I take the right steps). For a while I thought that was the reality of living out of a city. In the city you need to accept cockroaches as part of the background (if you don’t have them you just don’t see them). (Oh, on a side note **j666** , that was a reference to [The Wall](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ARXKvVeVtXg#t=86s). Not sure it wasn’t too obscure for anyone to get.) ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/48 "2012-01-06T17:33:53Z")
You need to get over your squeamishness and invest in some snap traps. It’s a quick and (usually) clean death. You should put them out of reach of your cats, though - behind furniture and in other small spaces. There are even [disposable traps](http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1930379), if you can’t stomach re-using traps. A combination of removing the mice that are already there, sealing obvious holes, and even reducing your cats’ diet - you’ll be mouse-free in no time. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![fifty-six](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fifty-six](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fifty-six)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/49 "2012-01-06T17:36:54Z")
Glue traps work great. I put them outside as well and supplement with a bit of poison. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/50 "2012-01-06T17:38:09Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Or could I just chain up a non-venomous snake right by the doors? My snakes always manage to slip their collars. Don’t know how they do it so easily. > [@](#): > > What about putting one of those deer-bumper-whistley-things on a string and spinning it around over my head? [They don’t work. (for deer, undetermined for mice)](What about putting one of those deer-bumper-whistley-things on a string and spinning it around over my head?) > [@](#): > > Deer whistles not only don’t work as advertised, they can’t work. Why? Because the standard claim by “Save-A-Deer” and other deer whistle manufactures is that the deer whistles emit an ultrasonic or high frequency sound wave that stops deer in their tracks. “Although the theory sounds good, tests show that the whistles do not work. Information published by both Washington and Oregon State University, Cooperative Extension Services, tests by state police in Utah, Georgia, and Wisconsin, and testing in Europe all confirm the ineffectiveness of these devices.” (See “Deer Whistles” by James B. “Jim” Kea, Area Specialized Agent, Forest Resources, published by NC State University, AT&T State University, Cooperative Extension) > > In the “Animal Warning Devices”, Report EB 1677, prepared by Washington State University, written by Leonard R. Askham, an Associate Professor and Associate Research Scientist, Vertebrate Pest Management, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Professor Askham systematically addresses and disproves each claim made by the deer whistle manufactures. These include the claims that deer whistles have been tested and proven effective in two European studies. > > The response from Professor Askham is: “Not so.” They were tried in Europe 25 years ago but research did not prove them successful. Now they are being sold in the United States with European claims. The study in Finland, that all the deer whistler advertisers refer to, states that based on the experiments conducted “it was unsure that the animals not disturbed by the approach itself, so that the whistle sound was the only disturbing factor.” Also see [this excruciatingly detailed report,](http://www.bioacoustics.uconn.edu/reports/ARLOManuscript326%20FINAL.pdf) which includes everything you’d want to know about deer whistles except a conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/51 "2012-01-06T17:42:20Z")
Rhythmdvl, don’t fuss with looking for exterior holes right away. Start with an INSIDE inspection. All your water pipes need to have the steel wool crammed between the pipes and the wall. Your furnace and your ductwork need to be checked. We cheated on that one: we got a wood stove. Hubster just sealed off all the vents. Then you start looking along the baseboards of all outside walls. If you have an attic, all vents need to have fine mesh hardware cloth installed. THEN it’s time to go through EVERY SINGLE cabinet, EVERY SINGLE drawer, and pull out EVERY major appliances. You gotta look for the mouse poopies. Once you see how pervasive those little shitz are, your compassion should evaporate like an early spring fog. Upthread, kenobi\_65 mentioned that since I’m in the Four Corners area, I need to be alert for a nasty disease that mice in this area carry. The mice transmit the infection through their urine. Which means ANYPLACE that a mouse has been, there’s a potential health threat. Mice PEE nonstop. While you are cleaning up those little mouse poopies, just think, “Gee, there’s also mouse pee on every single flat surface!” We found the itsy bitsy poopers EVERYWHERE. I mentioned dresser drawers. So, in my head I’m thinking, “They RAN ACROSS MY CLOTHES, and PEED on them!” I pull out packages of paper towels. The ends have been chewed open, the paper shredded and nests have been sculpted throughout the bathroom cabinets. All the stuff under the cabinets has been PEED on. My soap. My toothpaste. My Kleenex boxes. My first aid kit. My cleaning supplies. Go in the kitchen. It’s worse. Think of the little beasties INSIDE your toaster, feasting on crumbs and getting so excited it tickles the poop and pee out of them! Think about it! Mice have PEED in your toaster! All of the silverware had to be taken out, washed in the dishwasher. The drawer dividers scrubbed and disinfected. The drawers wiped out and disinfected. There were poopies in the silverware drawer. They scampered all over MY SILVERWARE and excreted their waste on things I put in my MOUTH. You have QUALMS about KILLING these creatures? Do you swat flies? Do you smash mosquitoes? MICE go into the same category! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/52 "2012-01-06T17:48:14Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Do you swat flies? Do you smash mosquitoes? MICE go into the same category! But they’re sooo cute! Furry, whiskers, tiny paws, awww… Why do you dis Mickey’s relatives? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/53 "2012-01-06T17:52:29Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > But they’re sooo cute! Furry, whiskers, tiny paws, awww… And teeny-weeny poops, and they wee-wee-wee, all the way home! KILL 'EM ALL! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/54 "2012-01-06T17:56:43Z")
When they tore up 40 acres of woods behind my house to build a new subdivision, all the rats came to my house. Cat-less at the time, I put out poison. Bad idea. Dead rats smell worse than live ones. The only choice was to run a trap line. I felt like a Canadian fur trapper. I’d get home every day, head for the basement, and pull about 9-15 critters A DAY! Things subsided, of course, but we have traps down to this day. I haven’t caught anyone in months, but I never want to be behind the curve again. Our cat does her part, and the Doxies try. There are some alternatives. You can get a prarie dog [vacuum](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLQ70JJpa0M)& suck them out of their hole… If you have no small pets, I think a [Corn Snake](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_Snake)loose in the kitchen would be a cool idea, and it will keep your MIL away! We actually have a couple of [electric](http://www.amazon.com/Agri-Zap-RZU001-Zapper-Ultra/dp/B000BWFESU/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1325872221&sr=1-4)traps that do nicely. They’re probably your easiest solution. ---
**Author:** ![ecoaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/85e7bf/32.png) [@ecoaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecoaster)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/55 "2012-01-06T18:07:19Z")
Bounce dryer sheet!!! They work wonders. Put a few of them in drawers or areas with droppings, I guarantee it will make a noticeable difference. I am a certified “city-folk” who has had this issue. Try Bounce before resorting to anything else. Then update us. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/56 "2012-01-06T18:31:43Z")
> [@ecoaster](#): > > Bounce dryer sheet!!! > They work wonders. Put a few of them in drawers or areas with droppings, I guarantee it will make a noticeable difference. How? Making it smell better, repelling rodents, covering up droppings, or all of the above? ---
**Author:** ![loshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce73a5/32.png) [@loshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loshan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/57 "2012-01-06T18:33:45Z")
Living in the woods, our house came with a pretty bad infestation. I have managed to get rid of the bulk of them in the house with a combination of snap traps, sticky traps, poison, steel wool and expanding foam. As mentioned upthread, I too have had issues with the damn things moving into our vehicle air filters and into my car interior when it is parked for the winter. In winters past, I had learned to remove all paper from the car and then filled the trunk and glove box with glue traps. This past winter I found a solution that also keeps my car minty fresh: Cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil placed in with the air filters keep them out and only need to be replaced every few months. I have also put them in the glove boxes and consoles (and placed a few in the trunk and under the seats of my car for winter storage). ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/58 "2012-01-06T19:28:50Z")
places like cars might be bad to use traps, unless you check them frequently, the trap no longer functions when it has been triggered; during above freezing weather you have mouse rot. better might be poison baits anchored (put on a piece of wood, in a bait station) placed in the auto. the mice seek water due to the effects of the poison before dying and will venture out where they die. ---
**Author:** ![loshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce73a5/32.png) [@loshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/loshan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/59 "2012-01-06T20:08:43Z")
I checked the sticky traps regularly after the Rotting Mouse Carcass Debacle of O-Eight. Steam cleaning, two cans of febreeze and I still had to drive with the windows down for a month to get rid of that smell. Made me want to take up smoking again. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527/60 "2012-01-06T21:29:18Z")
I’ll be another voice calling for you to put aside your civilzed city ways and embrace your inner savage. You need to kill those suckers. I am also a city slicker who doesn’t enjoy handling dead bodies so I went with these [quick set mouse traps](http://www.amazon.com/Victor-M130-Quick-Mouse-Trap/dp/B00004RAN0/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1325884972&sr=8-6). You put some peanut butter on the underside of the top jaw and the next day you have a dead mouse. The best part is you grab the trap at the back, pop open the jaws over the garbage and dump the body. Then you get some fresh peanut butter and put in on the trap and replace it. No fuss. No muss. Got about 10 mice last fall. I would also recommend using steel wool inside of any crack repair using foam. I’ve had a few holes re-opened through the foam. Not so when I put some steel wool in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-in-the-woods-has-mice-are-removal-efforts-futile/608527.md?page=4)