Out in the backyard burning yesterday and something catches my eye. There's a freaking mouse scurrying up my roofline to a soffit. (which I am sure has plenty of mouse sized gaps)

My roofline from the backyard has 22 feet of gutter downspout and then another 15+ foot climb to the top.

Really? Damn mouse is going to go through all that work everytime? It's 3.5 stories from the ground.
There is no other way up onto the roofline so I am fairly certain the mouse(s) are using the gutters to get up there.

Note: That attic on that portion of the house cannot be accessed from inside the house.

So, off to Lowes to get gutter spout guards at $15 a whack. I have 7 downspouts. The guards fit on 4 of them. I have to modify the other 3 to get a good fit tomorrow. These are the guards that are ground level. I'm not getting on an extension ladder to install the guards that drop into the top of the downspouts. And, I have leaf screening so the little bastards must have chewed through that as well!

Its almost 70 today so I waited until 3pm to install in the hopes that Mr. Mouse and friends are outside gathering food.

And yes, I thought about stuffing sharp chicken wire in each downspout to save $ but I know over time it would get forced out by mother nature.

we had them in the attic a few times years go,

got a couple or rather had, that managed to fall into a wall, heard them scratching for a bit then quiet,
guessing the croaked in the wall, or managed to climb out,

not had any in a few years,
cat did corner one in the bedroom , but as in indoor panther, she just gave it a staredown,


we did find out we have some damage to a soffit,
likely wind, but enough of a gap tha when the wife opened to door to go up in the attic, (walk up) there was a 3 foot skinny blacksnake looking at her,


I came home and caught it, relocated to a neighbors yard,

and lucky she did not burn the house down

Better check your car. Some places they like to nest in are the air filter box, the under-dash HVAC box, and under any decorative/sound-deadening engine covers, if you have them. I've seen them pack air boxes so full of pet food, "cotton candy" insulation, etc. that the engine won't run, to say nothing of the chewed-up wiring.

I think you need a little more than just ‘trying’ to block off access. When one calls the Orkin guy(or similar) for rodent issues, what do they do?

Standard rodent control protocols are to put ‘bait houses’ in strategic locations, pet proof of course. I have a dog myself, I built a strong wooden box covering my plastic bait boxes, never gets bothered.

I know some don’t like the idea of killing mice, that changes once they get in your vehicle or damage other things of value.

As to dead mice stinking up a dwelling, I think that’s way overblown. First, the plan is to get them before they enter, along the outside edge. One or 2 dead mice in the attic won’t be noticed.

I do see the occasional dead mouse along the outside of my house, near the bait box. I may just do a 6 month refresh of the poison today. In my experience, poison to kill a mouse isn’t going to harm a fox that may eat the dead mouse. The same with a raptor.

Look for sign, oval mouse poop or chewing are the main indicators. I take the gloves off when it comes to mice around the home or buildings. Another thing is to reduce habitat near buildings, long grass, wood piles, etc..

quote:

Originally posted by sourdough44:

Standard rodent control protocols are to put ‘bait houses’ in strategic locations, pet proof of course. I have a dog myself, I built a strong wooden box covering my plastic bait boxes, never gets bothered.

I know some don’t like the idea of killing mice, that changes once they get in your vehicle or damage other things of value.

I love the wildlife here, as long as it stays outside! The rodents feed all kinds of cool critters. When a herd of young ermine are looking out between the boulders in the side yard it is very fun. Hawks and eagles hunt daily in our airspace.

We need bait boxes around the perimeter of the house to control the voles. They invade the house otherwise.

The bait is a concentrated form of vitamin A according to the pest control guy. It is pet safe, and it doesn't poison scavengers that may consume the dead vole.

I run mouse traps in the garage and basement, frequently with results this time of the year. I'd be happy to see them outside, but cannot let them multiply in the house.

Just orderer some exterior bait stations and bait.

Interior traps set in garage and basement.

Going to throw a few traps in the portion of the attic I can access as well.

We use peppermint pouches for the cars.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Graniteguy,

I put Rat-X in the attic and sometimes outside.