# It's war, I tells ya, war **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 26, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722 "2014-11-26T23:46:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/1 "2014-11-26T23:46:03Z")
I was rummaging around in my wreck room, looking for the fake grass mat I use with my dollhouses. Found it, tipped the tube to get the mat out, and ended up with a large pile of sunflower seeds, white and brown rice.:eek: Worse than that was finding seeds and rice inside the box that holds the pieces of wood for MY dollhouse. :mad: No mouse is going to get away with that kind of insult. Come get the yummy peanut butter my little darlings. I’m basically a kind to animals person, but I am so looking forward to the snap, crackle and pop of little mousie necks. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/2 "2014-11-27T01:28:24Z")
First mouse we had the wife was all “lets try to live trap the little thing”. And then it ate a hole through the middle of our loaf of priory bread that they only make and give out once a year. Since then she keeps glue traps on hand; just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/3 "2014-11-27T01:36:47Z")
I work in a cafe located inside a public library. The first year we were open it was war between me and the mice. See, the library built new the western end of the building we are in, and then stuffed everything in there while rebuilding the eastern end. It’s impossible to keep critters out of what is basically a construction site. Thankfully the mousies tended to travel through the pipes and came out in our utility room, where I had traps waiting. Only once did I catch one outside of that room. One time I caught two in one day! It’s been years since the new end was built and now we have no problem. But I miss killing those little suckers off. I HATE mice. ---
**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/4 "2014-11-27T03:15:29Z")
Two are licking melted peanut butter off their little mousie whiskers in Rodent Hell. The hunt continues. I really shouldn’t be enjoying this so much. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/5 "2014-11-27T04:53:57Z")
get back at it. eat the sunflower seeds. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/6 "2014-11-27T04:57:50Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > First mouse we had the wife was all “lets try to live trap the little thing”. And then it ate a hole through the middle of our loaf of priory bread that they only make and give out once a year. Since then she keeps glue traps on hand; just in case. If the mouse is still alive when you find it, hold the trap over a garbage can outdoors, and pour vegetable oil on it. DO NOT pour the oil before you are where you want the mouse to drop because the stickum dissolves almost instantly. Mickey licks himself clean then takes a ride to a nice garbage dump in the country and your wife has a clean conscience. ---
**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/7 "2014-11-27T19:13:55Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > get back at it. eat the sunflower seeds. Did one better. I gave the whole tub away. How those little beasties got inside a Rubbermaid tote, I do not know. Hehehehhe, I think I just heard a SNAP from downstairs. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/8 "2014-11-27T19:28:03Z")
When I had a mouse problem (both times, actually) the best thing I found were [electronic mouse traps](http://www.amazon.com/Victor-Electronic-Mouse-Trap-M2524/dp/B000E1RIUU). Mouse thinks happy thoughts about food right up till the end, no gore or mess; I don’t even have to see the dead mousie. Just shake it from the trap into the trash, reset the button, done. Live-trapping and relocating mice and most other critters is not actually doing them any favors. Best to go for a fast, clean and painless kill. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/9 "2014-11-27T20:39:54Z")
We have chickens and i saw a rat about a week ago. I’m sure there was more than one but so far I’ve only harvested one. Didn’t even change the peanut butter, just dropped the dead one in the trash and reset the trap. Rat traps are pretty cool these days ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/10 "2014-11-27T23:39:10Z")
When I was a teenager, our washing machine and dryer were in the garage. Mother went out to clean the lint trap and pulled out a nice, fluffy dead mouse. I don’t think she even screamed. ---
**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/11 "2014-11-28T00:07:35Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > \>snip\< > > Live-trapping and relocating mice and most other critters is not actually doing them any favors. Best to go for a fast, clean and painless kill. My dearest friend live traps. I just haven’t the heart to tell her the critter she saved is probably dead before she even gets home. I looked at the electronic traps. Much safer than snap traps when there are pets in the house. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/12 "2014-11-28T00:20:24Z")
> [@Whatever4](#): > > My dearest friend live traps. I just haven’t the heart to tell her the critter she saved is probably dead before she even gets home. > > I looked at the electronic traps. Much safer than snap traps when there are pets in the house. Thanks. Yup! You should tell her, though. Knowledge is power, etc. Live-trapping and relocating is cruel. Most people do not realise this. I love the e-traps. A brief bzzzt and the blinking light changes from green to red, meaning a mouse has just been painlessly eliminated. And over time more economical - I have killed dozens of mice with a single battery and trap, and gone from infestation to zero mice within a couple of weeks. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/13 "2014-11-28T00:20:39Z")
I once trapped a very pregnant mouse, and felt like a mass murderer - for about 5 seconds. That thing didn’t need to be reproducing in my house. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/14 "2014-11-28T02:24:38Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > If the mouse is still alive when you find it, hold the trap over a garbage can outdoors, and pour vegetable oil on it. DO NOT pour the oil before you are where you want the mouse to drop because the stickum dissolves almost instantly. Mickey licks himself clean then takes a ride to a nice garbage dump in the country and your wife has a clean conscience. I use the old coffee can full of water and head first technique. I’m a farm kid so it never bothered me at all. But I will keep that trick in mind. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/15 "2014-11-28T03:16:09Z")
Be glad it’s only mice I have mice and bats ---
**Author:** ![XRaeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f14d63/32.png) [@XRaeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XRaeth)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/16 "2014-11-28T06:30:04Z")
> [@Sahirrnee](#): > > Be glad it’s only mice > I have mice > > and bats We have bats where I live. I don’t know how the hell they get in the building and no one seems particularly interested in figuring it out and stopping it. They are so obnoxious too, they just fly around in circles and when you try and kill them they squeal so adorably. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/17 "2014-11-28T08:53:46Z")
I lived in a trailer in a forest for several years. There were field mice all over the place, of course. I put snap-traps in several places under the floor and inside, and inspected them regularly. There was one seemingly street-wise mouse that just would not take the bait. For that mouse, I finally broke down and bought a glue trap. That caught it. Glue traps seem horrendously cruel, I think. ---
**Author:** ![ryobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/18 "2014-11-28T17:00:23Z")
Snap traps and gummi bears, or gumdrops, have always been my weapons of choice. Mice love sweets, and a sticky sweet will adhere to the trap and their teeth juust long enough. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/19 "2014-11-28T17:54:52Z")
> [@Whatever4](#): > > I was rummaging around in my wreck room, looking for the fake grass mat I use with my dollhouses. Found it, tipped the tube to get the mat out, and ended up with a large pile of sunflower seeds, white and brown rice.:eek: > > Worse than that was finding seeds and rice inside the box that holds the pieces of wood for MY dollhouse. :mad: No mouse is going to get away with that kind of insult. > > Come get the yummy peanut butter my little darlings. > > I’m basically a kind to animals person, but I am so looking forward to the snap, crackle and pop of little mousie necks. [THIS.](http://www.amazon.com/Victor-Live-Mouse-Trap-M310/dp/B00004RAMU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417197207&sr=8-1&keywords=tin+cat) Seriously, it works **so much better** than snap-traps. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722/20 "2014-11-28T18:06:09Z")
I had a dead mouse in a snap trap one time the wasn’t killed immediately by the snap. From what I could tell the trap snapped juuuuust over the end of the little darling’s questing nose. It could not get free and struggled mightily, meaning it’s throat was just poised above the wooden base of the trap. It cut it’s own throat, there was blood all over. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-war-i-tells-ya-war/705722.md?page=2)