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Published on 01/23/03

Tight spaces, little critters and traps

By Mike Isbell
University of Georgia

The only way into the old mine behind my friend Tommy's house in the north Georgia town of Belmont was to climb down an old tree that had fallen into the main shaft. From there, several tunnels led out like the spokes of a wagon wheel.

With flashlights to light our way, Tommy, another friend Billy and I crawled, one after the other, as far as our bravery would allow.

Sometimes we'd squeeze through passages so narrow we'd scrape our backs if we weren't careful. Sometimes we'd crawl into passages with no room to turn around. But even now, tight places don't bother me.

The other day I was poking around the crawl space underneath the house. No, I wasn't trying to relive those old boyhood memories. I was checking the foundation of the house.

Rats!

And I discovered in one corner, on top of the sill plate, a nicely constructed wad of insulation about the size of an orange. Darn! I've got a mouse nesting under here.

I'll bet you do, too. You just don't know it.

So what can you do to get rid of a mouse? Well, when you first see signs of mice, act immediately to kill the first immigrants. Don't give them time to reproduce.

What's the best poison to use? I'd suggest you use traps instead. When you trap a mouse, you know you've got him. With poisons, often you never know for sure. Besides, you won't have mice dying and stinking in out-of-the-way places if you use traps.

How to use traps

Poisons have their place, but not in your home. Traps can work much better. Here's how to use them:

  • First, use plenty of traps. Put them along the wall where mice like to run. Make it so a mouse can't travel more than 5 or 10 feet before it finds the trap, because mice don't travel very far.
  • Make it easy for the mouse to find the bait -- put the end of the trap with the bait treadle on it, next to the wall. Bait the trap with cheese, peanut butter, bacon -- anything tasty with a strong odor is good.
Once you've gotten rid of the little critters, can you relax and forget them? No. Keep looking. New little critters will find those tight spaces they love so well.

Mike Isbell is the Heard County extension coordinator with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Mike Isbell
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