Mice in the basement

[Mat and Suzy]

We moved into our 1984 house last week, and today I encountered mice in the basement. One was dead already, and one was as soon as my foot landed on its head. I don't think this is a major problem with this house, as there were no signs of previous visits by rodents. They were in the laundry room, and I deduce that they must have been surfacing through the drain (just a 6" hole in the floor) into which the drain pipes for the washing machine and furnace/AC go. Those pipes don't go down too far, so my original idea of filling the hole with expanding foam might not be wise - might block the pipes.

Strange thing was, the floor was a little wet, and it was clear that some water had also surfaced (the washing machine had just been on). I wonder whether there is a slight blockage, or whether the mice could have caused a temporary blockage on their way up.

I've got Terminix coming round tomorrow, but not sure if they will be able to deal with my main concern - blocking the hole somehow so the buggers can no longer get up. If I don't deal with this tangibly, quickly, my wife will refuse to do the laundry....

Any help gratefully received.

TIA

Mat

[Michael TS]

You might want to try posting this at alt.consumers.pest-control in addition to your post here.

[Mat and Suzy]

Good thinking.....yes, there is a drier in there too. Hadn't thought of that. The ones I saw were by the drain, but I guess they could have used the drier vent. Guess I should try to determine where that vents outside and deal with it.

Thanks Mat

[B]

[Mat and Suzy]

Point taken. I will see what the Terminix guy says and report back.

[joe~V~3838]

Hey Mat, why don't you get a young cat??? they're cheap, and very efficient...... plus make a great friend if you like animals..... better than having abunch of poision/traps around..... joe

[Countdown to 55]

The mice that found their way to under my dishwasher had come in thru the dryer exhaust vent. I still had one of the old style plastic ones, not the all-metal ones. They chewed a teeny tiny hole in it.

When I went to buy the spring traps at the feed store, the guy told me that a field mouse needs no more than 1/4" to squeeze thru if there's an incentive. I have no idea whether he's right or not but the hole they chewed in the dryer exhaust vent was mighty small. I never would have even seen it if I hadn't been looking for where they got in.

Judging from the mouse droppings, a second place they appeared to have been coming in was thru a hole that had been for an old television antenna line into the basement. The line had been removed, but the hole had never been filled in.

Cindy

[Ignoramus31468]

I suggest just sitting and waiting in your basement with a 12 gauge shotgun. As soon as a mouse appears, blow him away. After a while they will get thye idea that they should move to someone else's house.

i

[Ron Hardin]

The havahart mouse trap is the best around for live trapping, by making it obvious a mouse is there in time to release him. Otherwise you tend to forget about them until it's too late. I take them about a mile away.

It's a small version of their every-other-animal trap. Get one that hasn't been bent in storage or it won't work.