Mice and Rats

You might need some information on rats, and mice, and how they are different. They are, but both are rodents, smart and intelligent problem solvers. One thing that is very different from mice, rats need people to live. Mice can live in nature, on grains and other found seeds, bugs, and other found dead proteins. They are fine in a field, and will try to keep in an area where they can stay warm and nested safely. Rats, are now completely adapted to our food production creation, and our agricultural abilities, that, if a disaster were to occur, many scientists believe much of the rat population would have a challenge adapting back to natural food harbor and hunting skills.

The rat is a very close pest to our way of life, and the Norway Rat, sometimes referred to as the brown rat, the gray rat or the sewer rat, is the species that you see most often in close quarters with humans. They can be distinguished by a shorter tail than the long body.

Another rat, the roof rat, is a household rat species, and the responsible member of the rat population that killed over 25 million people in the dark ages. Imagine the confusion and pain that this rat has caused over the years. The very fact that we are still befuddled by them, speaks to their intelligence and dedication to survival.

Do not be hasty in your pest control efforts when it comes to mice and rats. They need to be first, understood, and then a plan needs to be put together for their removal. It is a matter of health, wellness, and peace of mind.

Mice carry some pretty icky Diseases

If you have a mouse infestation, it is very important that you remove yourself from your home, if you have any respiratory, or auto-immunity illnesses. A home with more than 100 mice can be a breeding ground for bacteria, salmonella, and even the deadly Hantavirus. The mice your home are leaving fecal and urine everywhere, and the dead mice can create a plague of flies, and other bugs within your walls. There have even been causes of fire, due to the mice chewing on the wires in your home.

Do not think one mouse is not a big deal, as you need to remove the population quickly. They can grow rapidly within your walls, as long as there is adequate food and water. And, if one female mouse is breeding, her offspring can produce within 6 weeks, a litter of her own.

That is why trapping should be a process, and prevention of tightening the cracks and areas of entry into your home a priority. Keep your family safe, and remove the mice as soon as you see them!

Mixed Feelings on Mice

The mouse is often a pet, and a nuisance pest. The amazing thing, we as humans have the ability to love this little creature, and try to enjoy its many curious habits. And, when we see it as a pest, we can equally hate it with gusto, and trap and kill it as much as we can keep it in a cage.

The word mouse comes from Sanskrit, Musha, which means, to steal. It might be a good name for your next pet mouse! They are the stealer population of the world, expecting others to plant, grow, tend, and then remove the food from the ground. They have been the freeloaders, ever since they hopped aboard a sailing vessel, in china, and ended back in India. From there, on the spice trail, mice tagged along, even becoming pets of slaves and other migratory workers, until they ended up in Europe. The European migration happened not because Mice picked up their bags and moved, but because they used People to get there.

Mice are true lazy bone animals, and use their intelligence to let others do the hard work. They are our supervisors, and we are their staff. That may be why cats hate them so much!

Do Mice Like Cheese?

Mice are either sweet or salty eaters, and prefer some kind of nutty food, or a sugary food in most instances. I have had great luck with the goober grape peanut butter, as it has a grape jelly and a peanut butter together. It is what mice really like!

It is easy to cut up some cheese and stick it on a trap, but they are usually not as happy with a dried out piece of cheese. The messy peanut butter and jelly is really what they want! Try it and let me know what you think!

Mice are Smart And Enjoy a Challenge

The most annoying thing about Mice is they are so smart! You can really find some great ways to trap them, and catch some of them, but there are those who will just be smarter than you ever thought possible.

The thing to do, is be patient. The most prolific and positive mouse hunt starts with knowledge, and then runs on patience. You can learn the tricks on how to ensure a successful hunt, and capture, but often you will need patience to capture those last few smart mice. They are the ones that will make you earn your keep. So, be sure to set out your baited traps, make some interesting new ways to get to them, and do not set any traps until you have seen them eating, and then set your traps the next night.

Sometimes they need some surprise in their day, as that may be the only way you can capture a mouse like your smart mouse. They usually are waiting for you to show them some initiative, after all.

Mice and Cats

I hear it all the time, I have just found a mouse, and I will just get a cat! What a bad idea, unless you really were looking for a pet to love, and it was just a simple twist of fate that the two events were happening at once.

Cats are not just mousers, but are great companions, and often will not be able to handle the mice that you do not see or see evidence of. Often, they are nested far from you, and are in the walls and attic areas. Cats can only watch and wait for the braver mouse populations to rear their busy little faces.

It is a great idea to get a cat if you are looking for a pet, because they are so sweet and they are great at playing with mice when they do come out. But, a real pest control option is to trap, bait, and do it with a plan. Be sure to check out my page on this at Http://www.meetyourmouse.com

Mice are busy under the snow

Have you seen some underground activity under your bird feeders, around your wood piles, or near the kitchen? The rodent does not hibernate, and has a way of keeping very busy during times where they need to stay warm. The increased cold creates a food frenzy of sorts, so you can trust your mouse population is huddled warm in their nest with your peanut, bird food, or pet's dinner in their nest.

To avoid any problems with mice, keep all your food in snap top food containers, and try to toss out food as soon as you are finished with it. A pizza box left on the coffee table, can be a mouse invitation!

We had so many mice under our bird feeders until we upgraded to more squirrel proof feeders! They are not always so great at keeping the mice away perfectly, as no feeder is 100% squirrel proof, but, it does a great job of keeping the situation more under control. Our bird food is stored in metal containers in the yard, and we have our wood on the outer edges of our yard.

These are great options for keeping your birds happy and fed, and the mice less than satisfied. Keep on top of your food, and you will be more inclined to have less mice and a healthy environment.