Where have all the mice gone? Long time passing

Left coast problem.

I'm skeptical of humans 'controlling' critters, but Oregon's not my patch.
When I lived in the county, I kept the lawn close cut around the house and to the best of my ability I kept the ladies in my orbit from eliminating non-venomous snakes.
We also had (and still have) a smallish parliament of big horny owls.
We also kept outdoor cats, which in the country is as necessary as it is horrible in the city.
In the nearly 30 years of living there I can count the number of mieces that made it into the house or into one of the cars on one hand while making a gesture at Auburn in a couple of weeks.
Fortunately (or otherwise)
I live in town now.
No horny owls - but I live amongst a lot more humans who own cats and contrary to decency, allow them to roam freely in the neighborhood...AND the wiring in my cars isn't sheathed in rodent-attracting insulation.

 

no cats around here, or owls, bald headed eagles or other mouse predators. maybe it was the poison...

 

What's most important is we all need to stop using this Rodenticide!!! Especially the newest stronger Rodenticides. You're massacring the top of the food chain with these anti-coagulants! Here's one of hundreds of examples of proof I have: Newhouse Wildlife Rescue - Instagram

 

Concur that rodenticides are a terrible rodent control method.

 

I think you meant to say:

• Massacring the lower levels of the food chain, like rodents.
• Leads to upper layer losses too.
• Even if it keeps your terrified partner happy.

Sad to say, rodents terrify the women in my life and do damage to the house and some vehicle wiring. Although I prefer a good mouser, cat or canine, they tend to plateau rodents. Snakes too but they tend to be a warm weather solution.

Bob Wilson

 

Cats die all the time from rodenticide poisoning too! You can't justify mass murder of cats and raptors and coyotes because you want the women in your life happy. They'll know something feels off and resent you for taking their happiness needs too far in a way that causes too much suffering to the life around you!

 

Legally, you cannot "murder" an animal, because murder is defined in law as the unlawful killing of a human being. Animal 'murder' is also contrary to "nature's way" - given how most animals get their calories or provide them to other animals.

 

we need more animal on animal crime laws

 

could start with duck rape

 

Cow tipping?

 

cows are notoriously bad tippers, but should that be a crime?

 

amazing how the mice lick the peanut butter of the snap trap trigger without setting it off

 

Use glue traps.

 

I live far enough out of town to smell the cow shyte, but close enough to still go to McDonalds. That said...I 've only had rodent infestation twice. First time I successfully used poison, second time I successfully used the glue strips. Glue strips worked faster and I didn't have to deal with the smell of rotting rodents in the walls a week or two later.

 

Glue traps are banned in some cities and state, I believe. Certainly banned in some countries like England. Not in my state, but I would not use it. Just like the snare trap, it is one of most cruel way to kill animal. I only use the live traps. I don't mind they live happily in the woods at their natural habitat, I just don't want them to come inside our house or car. This fall, so far I caught 37 mice 3 rats. They were all released in the woods far enough away from my home and others.

 

How in the world can you ban glue and paper???
I concur that glue traps 'don't kill mieces nicely' but I monitor my traps when I have to use them - which is rarely.
The 'live traps' aren't exactly 'nice' either since the mouse in question is trapped in small space until it is released.
A friend of mine who likes to fish uses them because the mieces are a little more animated when they are released and make for a better bass lure.

 

The same way some states and locality ban snare traps, I guess. How to enforce such regulation is totally different story though.

 

Inquiring minds may want to know.
Did you mean Horned Owls?
Or how do you determine of they are horny??

 

I once tried to free a mouse from a glue trap, employing Google suggestion (cooking oil).

I felt for the poor little feller by the end, mighta broken one of his legs in the process, and he gave me this why have you forsaken me look, oil drenched and crawling away.

yeah, I know…, but glue traps are out for me.

had another that affected me almost as bad: we were a’bed, half asleep, heard a repeated cry, thought it might be our dog having a dream. In the morning discovered a Victor trap with a mouse, on the kitchen linoleum, with bloody claw marks in little arcs.

best thing I ever did was finding the exterior wall egress point and sealing it, no inside the house problems since, knock on wood.