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We found out in our last house, which was across the street from a field with a stream, that our cat was apparently a mouser - who knew? When he died, within a week we were finding evidence of mice in our house! (Never actually saw a live one but still...) So apparently he was busy up to that point, doing his mouser thing. Sweet baby!
We caught them within a few days, setting old fashioned mouse traps like the ones the Captain showed, and UGH! We also found out they were coming in apparently via the dryer vent. After a few days, no more mice in the house but UGH.
This is a bona fide RAT living outside though. And I'm not a fool - there's probably more than one if there's one. I am FREAKING OUT!!!!!
Looks like the trap was sprung but no food was gotten. Interesting. About to try again!
Before my kitchen remodel I would sometimes find mouse CORPSES in the kitchen (once, memorably, on the table next to the coffee maker, and in my half-asleep state I DIDN'T NOTICE IT until I went to fill my coffee cup! ). A couple of times I could tell from the actions of my two youngest kitties that there was a LIVE mouse behind something (a bookcase, a bar refrigerator) that they couldn't yet get to -- I had to kill those myself.
I don't think I will EVER be good at that. At least I have seen no evidence of mice in the living area since the remodel -- I think all holes were plugged (knock wood!!).
KA, good luck with the rat(s)!! I doubt that it has anything to do with the pool? My back yard perimeter is a mini-forest but I've never seen rats out there -- just lots of OTHER wildlife (deer, foxes, wild turkeys & babies, bear tracks [although I've never actually seen our "neighborhood" bear] -- which I don't mind at all).
We found out in our last house, which was across the street from a field with a stream, that our cat was apparently a mouser - who knew? When he died, within a week we were finding evidence of mice in our house! (Never actually saw a live one but still...) So apparently he was busy up to that point, doing his mouser thing. Sweet baby!
We caught them within a few days, setting old fashioned mouse traps like the ones the Captain showed, and UGH! We also found out they were coming in apparently via the dryer vent. After a few days, no more mice in the house but UGH.
This is a bona fide RAT living outside though. And I'm not a fool - there's probably more than one if there's one. I am FREAKING OUT!!!!!
Looks like the trap was sprung but no food was gotten. Interesting. About to try again!
most people have no idea how unbelievably good at killing cats are. the estimates for the number of small animals killed by cats each year are mind blowing:
"Jan. 30, 2013 — -- Cats are responsible for the deaths of 1.4 to 3.7 billion birds and 6.9 to 20.7 billion mammals every year, according to research conducted by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service."
most people have no idea how unbelievably good at killing cats are. the estimates for the number of small animals killed by cats each year are mind blowing:
"Jan. 30, 2013 — -- Cats are responsible for the deaths of 1.4 to 3.7 billion birds and 6.9 to 20.7 billion mammals every year, according to research conducted by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service."
There's always a caveat, though: many cats have absolutely no interest in mice whatsoever. (I always cringe when people say they have a mouse problem and someone suggests that they get a cat -- not all cats are good mousers!) I have had (and actually still have) cats who wouldn't move a muscle if a mouse sauntered by, while others -- like my 2 youngest, who were both feral for a while as kittens -- are GREAT mousers (although UGH).
Where I live, the Humane Society asks that everyone who adopts cats keep them INDOORS at all times. I've abided by that not only for the sake of the birds outside my windows but also to keep my CATS safe!
There's always a caveat, though: many cats have absolutely no interest in mice whatsoever. (I always cringe when people say they have a mouse problem and someone suggests that they get a cat -- not all cats are good mousers!) I have had (and actually still have) cats who wouldn't move a muscle if a mouse sauntered by, while others -- like my 2 youngest, who were both feral for a while as kittens -- are GREAT mousers (although UGH).
Where I live, the Humane Society asks that everyone who adopts cats keep them INDOORS at all times. I've abided by that not only for the sake of the birds outside my windows but also to keep my CATS safe!
Unfortunately our cat was an indoor cat and was killing these mice INDOORS - AUGH!!!!!!!!!!
This new, errr, pest, is outside. But he or they are venturing onto my patio which is NO BUENO. They have to die. I am going to kill them. That's too close to my back door into my house!
If I EVER saw what you saw, I swear I would get an exterminator grande to solve that problem and then move. I kid you not I am totally freaked out by those things. Sorry I had to see the Capt's post it gave me the willies.
If I EVER saw what you saw, I swear I would get an exterminator grande to solve that problem and then move. I kid you not I am totally freaked out by those things. Sorry I had to see the Capt's post it gave me the willies.
I'm seriously thinking about calling an exterminator!
I don’t mind rodents that stay outside, but if you have a food source, it will attract the critters who eat rodents....like snakes.
All my life I've had bird feeders and also fed my dogs outside on the patio. Their food doesn't stay in their bowls for very long though! But I guess a rat only needs crumbs to be lured.
I haven't ever had a rat problem before and this is freaking me completely out! Not to sound snobbish, but I don't live in a trashy or overgrown house or property with a lot of trees, bushes, trash, food sources (well, so I thought) or whatever. But we do have three things going on - well, four I guess:
1) Bird feeders (which are far from the house but still...)
2) Dog bowls on the patio (but not anymore!)
3) Woods behind the property
4) An influx of rats into residential areas in my region - due at least in part to the coronavirus and fewer food sources in dumpsters!
The bird feed and dog food are both kept in the garage (as well as our trash cans). Thankfully there's no sign of any rodents in the garage or house. But this is totally freaking me out.
If I EVER saw what you saw, I swear I would get an exterminator grande to solve that problem and then move. I kid you not I am totally freaked out by those things. Sorry I had to see the Capt's post it gave me the willies.
If it's any consolation to you, in our previous house about three or four years ago, right after our cat died, we suddenly had mice. I know because I saw one of them and also found a nest (no babies...yet!) under our kitchen sink. So we did three things:
1) Set mouse traps
2) Bought a screened vent and put it on the dryer vent which was the only way inside and out that we could find
3) Put cayenne pepper around the house
We immediately caught three mice, and then we never saw any evidence of mice again.
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