CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
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
After a hearty climb, Connect Abroad Italy students pose in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Photo by Angel Bhardwaj) CAES News
UGA ranks as leading doctoral institution for study abroad 12/20/24 Angel Bhardwaj
The University of Georgia remains among the top 10 U.S. universities for study abroad participation, according to the 2024 Open Doors Report released by the Institute of International Education in partnership with the U.S. Department of State. UGA boasts the highest study abroad participation to enrollment ratio of the top 7 ranked doctoral institutions, earning the No. 7 spot in overall participation and No. 3 in short-term study abroad programs.
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
From left, CAES Associate Professor Abigail Borron and Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars Mihai Suteu, Daniyar Memedemin, Alina Zaharia, Andreea Ona and Daniel Chiciudean stand in front of an image of the Romanian flag projected onto a barn at UGArden. CAES News
Fulbright Scholars unite with UGA Extension to envision ag outreach model in Romania 12/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Arriving on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia in August 2023, five Romanian scholars experienced the same anticipation, excitement and apprehension as many first-year students.  Chosen as Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars, each serves on the faculty at one of three Romanian universities, specializing in fields from economics and engineering to plant breeding and biotechnology. The five scholars comprised the first cohort of the Romanian Extension Education Development Program, an ambitious three-year pilot effort to facilitate planning and implementation of extension services in Romania. 
Janiver in sunflower field AI web CAES News
A larger-than-life legacy: CAES student’s contagious enthusiasm inspired others 12/17/24 Jordan Powers
When Miriam Edelkind-Vealey applied for a summer role at a University of Georgia pollinator biodiversity lab in 2020, the junior undergrad didn’t quite know what to expect. After being told she got the position, Edelkind-Vealy didn’t hear anything for a few weeks. It was only then that she learned a collaborator on the project, second-year master’s degree student Amy Joy Janvier, had passed away.
In developing markets where making staple foods is a daily task and warmer climates where food spoilage is common, foods that have more longevity and are easily preserved can enhance economic opportunities by reducing food preparation tasks and lower environmental impact. CAES News
CAES researchers look to reduce food waste by extending shelf life 12/16/24 Lillian Sosbee
“Use by,” “Sell by” and “Best by” dates on food packaging can be helpful indicators of how long a consumer can store a food item before eating, but often these dates lead to high quantities of wasted food. About one-fifth of food produced for human consumption is discarded before it can be eaten, equating to 1 billion meals a day and contributing to global food insecurity.
Recognizing the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates CAES News
UGA celebrates 15 years of Bulldog 100 12/13/24 Rachael Andrews
The University of Georgia Alumni Association released the 2025 Bulldog 100, a list of the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates. The program, organized by the Division of Development & Alumni Relations, celebrates 15 years of honoring alumni and their entrepreneurial endeavors. Among this year’s class, businesses are headquartered in a total of eight states, with 87 of the businesses located in Georgia. In total, 142 alumni representing over two dozen industries are being recognized as a part of this year’s list.