To Kill or Not to Kill

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I have mice in the house. They are indescribably adorable, but obviously it's unhealthy to have these uninvited guests.

Let's assume I'm not going to discover or be able to afford some nifty mouse traps that work without killing them.

I'm one of those AS who hate to hurt things. I won't even kill flies in the house, but catch them and put them out.

I suppose I have to kill these mice but I'm finding it very upsetting. I have been putting this off for a while now and I think they have had a litter because there seem to be more.

I think I'm falling into that AS thing where I can't do something, so I'm putting it off. And yet each time I know I need to do something, I can't do it.

So how do I overcome my reluctance and start killing? Have a few drinks and go on a killing spree?

Should I be plotting their capture and release? How realistic is that?

Are there other can't-hurt-anything AS here? What would you do?

If you don't want to kill them there are those humane traps around. The only thing is it might take a hell of a lot of time to catch them all and take them far enough away to release them. Then again, I'm one of those people who would kill them.

Ehm, apart from that, get a cat and let nature bear any of the guilt?

As someone who worked in a mouse-infested workplace, we had non-lethal mousetraps set throughout... and they caught one of the mice once, and then they released it, and it ran back into the building! The manager is a vegetarian, you see... Since then, rats have also been spotted...

Ephemerella, i share your opening sentiments (regarding animals, that is.)
i have NO IDEA.
we have a few mice here in the compost heap - they scuttle along the paling fence in the garden....Grab a tidbit of capsicum or a string of celery...and off they go.
very sweet.
good lcuk.

You could hire an exterminator.

Or get a cat.

I have nothing against killing them in and of itself but I am a bit concerned about the possibility they might be killed in a painful way.

You definitely need to do something!

Those non-lethal mouse traps do work; but you're going to spend a decent amount of money on them if you want to buy enough to make a dent in the population. And you don't just release them right outside your door--you drive a few miles into the country and let them out at the side of a highway somewhere.

If you're looking for humane kill traps, the classic mouse trap does kill the mouse instantly most of the time; the rest of the time within a few seconds. It's not the worst thing in the world, if you have to kill the mice. I greatly prefer it over poison, which can be painful and can get to pets and kids if you're not careful. Use peanut butter, not cheese, to bait.

Have you considered a cat? I know--obviously, it will kill the mice, if it's any good at hunting--but it would be more of a natural hunter-and-prey thing and not a matter of "big intelligent human picking on puny mouse for own benefit". Obviously, only if you are a cat person and will enjoy having a cat as a companion, and don't mind it bringing you prey once in a while.

We had an infestation of mice when my young son was staying with me a lot, and as we both care about animals, I had no choice but to go the humane way. I tried a commercial humane trap which didn't work at all.

So I made my own. I inverted an old bread bin and propped up one end of it using metal rod that was about 2 inches long. Then I made a "trigger-mat" out of a couple of sheets of cardboard with some wires carefully taped between them, and put it under the bread bin, so that when the mouse walks onto the cardboard mat, the wires connect together. Next, I connected this rudimentary swich to a small electric motor and a battery, so the mouse turns on the motor when it trips the switch. I wrap a piece of thread round the shaft of the motor and fasten the other end to the metal rod that's propping up the bread bin. Put some bait at the centre of the mat.

See what happens? The mouse walks under the bread bin and triggers the switch, which turns on the motor, which winds up the thread, which pulls the metal rod out, and the bread bin closes. Next morning, carefully slide a thin sheet of wood under the bread bin, lift both together and invert so the bin is the right way up. Take the closed bin well away from the house and release the mouse.

We did that for a few days and that was the end of the trouble. There was a sad accident one time when the mouse got squashed under the wall of the bread in (the switch had tripped too early), but at least it looks like it had a quick death. Better than dying of Warfarin poisoning, that's really a bad way to go.

Figure 4 deadfall works real good. Stone age technology that ain't diminished in effectiveness.

cat.

It took me three weeks to kill one mouse with a conventional mousetrap once five or six years ago. The mouse was laughing at me. You need the right bait (peanut butter or almond butter, depending on your neighbourhood ). And traps can be finicky. Each one has its own personality. And when you find one that works for you, what happens if it starts to smell like death so other mice avoid it?

The next year, another mouse took to wandering around my apartment during the day when I was home. Bold fellow. Haven't seen any since, so I think they found where they were getting in.

You do need to take them out, and stop up the holes where they are getting in if you can. They chew wires and house fires are not pretty.

We also had raccoons nesting inside the roof at one point. Some experts came in to deal with that one.

How about saving a nice kitty from certain death in the streets?

1. Cats are Aspies
2. I love stories about people's pets and you'd have tons to tell
3. The mice will leave the house willingly
4. A lovely kitten will get a warm home and lots of cuddles
5. Ephemerella will get a warm cat and lots of cuddles

The above are all great advice. I suppose I could have a great Spring, studying the mice's behavior patterns, and plotting and constructing ingenious devices to win the war without bloodshed or only occasional casualties.

And my little blind poodle could probably use some company (cat). She doesn't get around much anymore on account of being blind, poor thing.

I wonder if there's an Army surplus store near me... and I have plenty of electronic gear down in the basement.

There are plenty of ideas on the web, from bucket falls to Lego cage traps.

It could be a fun project.
Heehee, the boardgame, 'Mousetrap' comes to mind.