Not in the house, but in my shed. Instead of relaxing on Sunday, I decided to check my lawn mower for the start of spring. Pulled it out, started it with no problem, then found a dead mouse on the top of the lawnmower. I think he actually crawled between the motor and the deck above the blades.

Needles to say, I realized that there would probably be more and took my grill out of the shed. Lo and behold, a lovely mouse nest and three mice. I managed to get them out of the grill and started the process of cleaning it, but decided it was a good excuse to buy a new (better) grill.

Anyway, I've been doing some research on how to prevent mice from entering a shed and was wondering if any of you guys have some good advice. So far, I've just put out a few mouse traps with peanut butter. The advice I've seen on the internet is:

Fox urine
Mothballs
Peppermint(?)

I don't think I'm going to take the time to patch the holes in the structure, because it's a wood shed and they'll just make new holes. At some point, I'll probably replace the shed with a metal one, but that won't be for a few years.

 

Any male animal urine will help. You will also notice that they always follow the same paths as they move around so if you find where they are getting in, a trap there will be very effective, then around the perimeter from there to where you found them, it's sounds pretty but it's true. If you don't know where they are coming in start with a trap where you found them and work your way back as you catch them.

 

They seem to be exploding in poplulation around here, too. Found one living in my grill several months ago. I think we both got startled when I turned ignited the gas and he ran out.

We have these "humane" traps in our complex and I've seen them around several strip malls. I think the main reason they use these traps is so no cats or kids get caught in them or eat the poison.

 

put some plywood up with poison pellets behind them along the walls to patch up the holes to keep them out. Works well to keep them out and kill existing ones.

 

Picked up some moth balls for now. I think this weekend, I'm going to buy some 1/4 wire mesh and lay it across the floor and up the side of the structure. Hopefully that will keep them at bay.

 

how big are your holes that your are trying to close up??? i use moth balls and have used that foam filler to fill in any gaps around my shed... they were getting into my pool equipment that i have in there...

 

Well, the entire shed is made of wood, so I fear if I plug up one hole, they'll just chew another one. I'll probably get the foam filler to fill the gaps at the corners, and I've bought a metal guard for the bottom of the door.