Click on the link below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: The Unwanted Houseguest
It’s the time of year when you may hear the pitter patter of small creatures about your house. This year it’s not just the kids who are distance learning, it’s another creature, MICE.
While we may not be holding traditional Thanksgiving, we still don’t want these guys as houseguests!
Oh sure, he looks cute but the destruction and, egad!, waste left behind by these little creatures is NOT something you want in your home. Here are some “fun” facts about mice you can use for trivia!
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- as cold seeps in, so do mice
- gestation period is just 19 days
- they can have 6 or more babies per litter
- they can have 13 litters a year
- that’s a minimum of 78 mice
- where you find one, there are more
- they will eat whatever you have on hand and use glue, paper, soap, anything to make nests
- they can jump, swim and run up to 8 mph
- they don’t care where they poop
In an old house, our unfinished basement had been a haven for 7 mice one year. I apologize to the squeamish but I have no problem trapping and disposing of them. It was the one that somehow got in my car and I saw while driving that put me over the edge!
The best way to catch them is with a snap trap using peanut butter, just make sure you don’t have curious pets or children that could have access to the traps!! There are a myriad of mousetraps. Here’s some information from VictorPest.
For those who want to use a live trap – sunflower seeds are the best bait. Just remember, you’re going to have to dispose of them once caught! I’m one of those who can “dispatch” them. I don’t like to but releasing them will just mean they’ll get back in or go to your neighbors…
There’s always getting a cat!
