Control
Mice Without Poison
by Marilyn Pokorney
In
just six months one pair of mice can eat more than four pounds
of food and deposit about 18,000 droppings. Food contaminated
by mice is about 10 times greater than what is eaten. Also, food
wasted by mouse nibbling is much more than what is eaten.
Here
are some ways to prevent pets and children from being poisoned
by using natural mice control.
Mice
like to eat seeds, grains, and foods high in fat or sugar. These
types of food can be used for bait. Such items include bacon and
bacon fat, candies such as tootsie rolls and anise teddy bears,
butter, peanut butter, avocados, pizza crusts and nutmeats. Chocolate
covered peanut candy will kill mice. Chocolate is poisonous to
mice. Switch bait occasionally--it makes the mice more likely
to investigate the new food offering.
Place
traps along walls between mice habitat and food sources. Place
under cupboards or other furniture in the dark to help prevent
household pets from being injured by the traps.
Don't
leave pet food out at night--at least until you are sure all mice
are caught.
Take
a deep wastebasket or other container that is at least 12 inches
deep. Put a plastic garbage bag in it along with cereal such as
cornflakes, or other mouse food. Place it near a kitchen counter
where mice are known to crawl. The mice will jump down into the
container but will not be able to crawl or jump back out. Dispose
of the mice in any way you choose.
Store
bulk foods in sealed glass, metal or hard plastic containers.
Stack bagged or boxed food in neat rows on shelves or cupboards
in a way that allows for thorough inspection for evidence of mice.
In storage areas, keep stored materials away from walls. Sweep
floors frequently to detect fresh mouse droppings.
Always
clean up after eating. Do not invite mice by leaving food items
or crumbs out overnight.
Seal
all holes and openings larger than 1/4 inch across. A mouse can
crawl through a hole the size of a dime. Use steel wool or cement
to seal, screen or cover all holes into the house. Place 3 inches
of gravel around the base of homes or trailers. Enclose foundations
of permanent houses with metal roof flashing buried 6 inches deep
and rising 12 inches above the ground. Mice can jump 12 inches
onto a solid surface. Fill gaps around pipes. Fix loose fitting
doors. Close openings around chimneys, damaged house siding, broken
windows and screens.
Inside,
get rid of clutter in basements, storage rooms, sheds, carports,
and garages. Remove padded cushions from sofas and chairs, and
store them on edge or separate them from one another, off the
floor. Remove drawers in empty
cupboards or chests and place them on sides.
Outside
remove piles of trash, junk and lumber. Keep woodpiles more than
12 inches above the ground. Keep covers on trash cans and dumpsters.
Eliminate weeds and other vegetative cover as well as debris and
litter in and around homes, buildings, crops, lawns and other
cultivated areas. Lawns should be mowed regularly.
©
Marilyn Pokorney
For
more on pest control, including mice, deer, mosquitoes, snakes
and many more visit: http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/micecontrol.htm