This is the perfect time of year for this sort of thread; as the weather turns chilly, the rodents will seek the warmth of your house or shop
About this time every year, a packrat will set up housekeeping in my tool shed, usually bringing in leaves from the yard to build a nest, and chewing on anything with wires.
It's become a perennial conflict, since I live on the edge of deep woods near a swamp, and I've become used to the drill. I rely on the huge rat traps made by Victor; just like the little ones, but 4 times larger, and seriously dangerous to your fingers should you set one off. Probably not good to use around pets and young children.
After several instances of having wounded rats drag the oversized trap off, I now attach a small screw eye to the wood base, and run a length of very light chain to an iron weight. This is a variation of the string trick mentioned earlier. Also, the suggestion about adding crumbled Pringles to the peanut butter sounds like a good idea; I'll be trying that this year.
As earlier reported, I got one mouse with peanutbutter behind the stove. Today, I looked behind there again and the new peanutbutter was gone but the trap had not gone off. I went to the basement where I have 3 more traps and the same story. All three clean, none set off.
I imagine that I now have a very well fed, (4 servings of peanutbutter) mouse (or mice) still on the loose!
This time I spread the peanutbutter so that it is both on the upperside and underside of the "pad" of the trap. Hopefully I lured them into a false sense of security in eating from the traps.
I am Mouse Hunter!
Did you use pretzels or chips in the PB?
When I get back I will re-load with "munchies" included.
I use cheese and squeeze it into the trigger so they have to try and dig it put. I also wear latex gloves when I handle the trap to keep my scent off of it. No idea if it works, but I have good luck trapping meeses.
A determined mouse can dig through Great Stuff. Scouring pad is better, but good luck finding any. No body around here carries it any more because its what crak head and meth addicts use in their glass pipes.
I've never had problems with a dead mouse or two smelling. Rats are a different story.
One more down! This time one in the basement. He did seem a little chubby, The previous four servings of peanutbutter may have caused him to bulk-up.
Peanutbutter and Tortilla Chips seems to be the deadly combination.
It's getting colder...all mamals (my cats and self included) seem to be bulking up for winter.
Clem
Bubba (Rhodesian Ridgeback) is 16 months old now and 84 lbs. The cats are fluffing up around here. I think we may have a cold winter, as cold as it has been this early. It's going to freeze again tonight.
