Is this mouse poop??!!

[dearmama22]

We just moved into a new house. I'm freaking out. i think I see mouse poop on my baby's new diaper/clothes/dresser!!!

If you have experience with what mouse poop looks like will you PLEASE look at my pictures on my personal blog and tell me If Im hallucinating or if it really is mouse poop?!

THANK YOU!!!

[mommabear207]

unfortunately i have much experience with mouse poop and your pictures definitely look like your not hallucinating. i've been battling these creatures for ever but i recommend setting up traps and try putting peppermint oil on cotton balls to deter them from your babys clothes. it seems to have helped me although you have to refresh the cotton balls about every 2 weeks. good luck!

[dearmama22]

noooooooooo!!!! I am so disgusted and freaked out!! In my new babys room!!!!

[jjawm]

Um, yeah, it sure looks like it to me. I'm sorry!!

[dearmama22]

I am practically in tears over here. I am so discgusted and grossed out.

Seriously, I can't stand this!

[Abarat]

Oh, yeah. I sympathize. I'm currently at war with one that keeps hiding under my washing machine and stealing the food off the mouse traps without actually setting the traps off! Urgh!

If you have an indoor cat I'd reccomend giving it free reign of the house, maybe you'll get lucky. Ours actually killed one a couple weeks ago, I was amazed she was that motivated to do that, she's so ancient. LOL

Oh, and find areas they may be getting in....we think ours may be space left where the washer/dryer are...where hoses come in and out. We're getting spray foam this weekend to take care of that....it's wonderful stuff.

Also, keep any food put up. We're not keeping a bowl of dog food out anymore because of this....I actually saw the little thief stealing a piece the other day.

[beanma]

If that's all you see you may just have one mousie seeking shelter from the cold. That doesn't mean you shouldn't catch it, though! We get a single mouse occasionally (like once every 2 years or so). We use a Hav-A-Heart live trap to get them and then release them in the park on the other side of the creek from our house. Then disinfect. What you don't want is more than one mousie 'cause then you go from 2 to 20 faster than you wanna think about. Get thee down to the hardware store and get some traps (hav-a-heart have worked well for us). They like peanut butter a lot!

[dearmama22]

I'm getting my cat in here!!!!

[dearmama22]

Originally Posted by beanma

If that's all you see you may just have one mousie seeking shelter from the cold. That doesn't mean you shouldn't catch it, though! We get a single mouse occasionally (like once every 2 years or so). We use a Hav-A-Heart live trap to get them and then release them in the park on the other side of the creek from our house. Then disinfect. What you don't want is more than one mousie 'cause then you go from 2 to 20 faster than you wanna think about. Get thee down to the hardware store and get some traps (hav-a-heart have worked well for us). They like peanut butter a lot!

2 to 20.. SICK!!

[Dabble]

Originally Posted by beanma

If that's all you see you may just have one mousie seeking shelter from the cold. That doesn't mean you shouldn't catch it, though! We get a single mouse occasionally (like once every 2 years or so). We use a Hav-A-Heart live trap to get them and then release them in the park on the other side of the creek from our house. Then disinfect. What you don't want is more than one mousie 'cause then you go from 2 to 20 faster than you wanna think about. Get thee down to the hardware store and get some traps (hav-a-heart have worked well for us). They like peanut butter a lot!

I agree with all of this!

It is definitely mousie poo, unfortunately, but it shouldn't be too hard to remedy the problem with some traps and a watchful eye. I agree that it looks like just one mouse (for now) but that can rapidly change if he starts getting too comfortable.

Can you borrow a cat from someone if you don't have one of your own? I know that sounds nutty, but we've loaned our cats out on occasion because they are such good mousers. When mice see a cat lurking around they will often pack their bags and go elsewhere.

Also, while you haven't see active evidence of the little thing anywhere else, you should still be vigilant about putting food up and away, clearing up crumbs, and storing your food in pest-resistant containers (glass or metal canisters work great). If they can't find anything to eat, they usually won't stay long.

Good luck!

[dearmama22]

thank you ladies! I brought our cat inside.. he is very good about killing mice and bringing them to our doorstep so hopefully he'll do the same INSIDE the house!!! I'm counting on him!

[luv-my-boys]

We actually had a pest control guy come out one time to our house to tell us how to keep mice out of ours (the house next door was vacant and undergoing remodeling and was infested with mice) We didnt want to chance anything getting into our home. He suggested we buy that spray foam. Its sold in a spray paint type can and you spray it and the foam expands and hardens ($4 a can at lowes) and use it around any holes in the wall and our house like under the sink, around the dryer vent hose and such. We made sure all the screens on the exterior of the house were secured and in place correctly. We were told they only need a hole the size of a nickel to get in. our trash cans were secured and stored away from the house in case and we washed our recyclable out well because if they smell food they'll come right over. We kept our vegetation around our house trimmed and not thick to discourage nesting spots. We also helped to seal up the cracks under the doors with those flexible rubber draft guards. We were also told to visibly inspect the roof and outside of the house periodically to keep up with things or holes that might come up.

[JesiLynne]

Yeppers. s I am so so so so sorry.

[rere]

Originally Posted by dearmama22

thank you ladies! I brought our cat inside.. he is very good about killing mice and bringing them to our doorstep so hopefully he'll do the same INSIDE the house!!! I'm counting on him!

I don't want to freak you out more but if you don't sleep with your door closed already you might want to.I had a cat who was so kind and liked to bring me little dead presents.One morning I woke up nose to nose with one.And if your cat is bringing them to your door when it's outside,I imagine it will want to bring them to you when it's inside.

Sorry if I'm grossing you out.I just didn't want you to have the same experience that I did.

[dearmama22]

Originally Posted by rere

I don't want to freak you out more but if you don't sleep with your door closed already you might want to.I had a cat who was so kind and liked to bring me little dead presents.One morning I woke up nose to nose with one.And if your cat is bringing them to your door when it's outside,I imagine it will want to bring them to you when it's inside.

Sorry if I'm grossing you out.I just didn't want you to have the same experience that I did.

oh my gosh.. I did NOT want to hear that!!

I might not be sleeping tonight!

[dearmama22]

Update: Here is what I have done

cat is in the house, although he is hiding under the bed- this house is still very new to him.

I closed the door that I think the mouse is/was in, although there is still a gap at the bottom so he can get in or out easily but there is a mouse trap in the room that is sticky. Apparently it smells and they get stuck on it?? I don't know if it will work though.. I hope so!

[Sheal]

Originally Posted by luv-my-boys

We actually had a pest control guy come out one time to our house to tell us how to keep mice out of ours (the house next door was vacant and undergoing remodeling and was infested with mice) We didnt want to chance anything getting into our home. He suggested we buy that spray foam. Its sold in a spray paint type can and you spray it and the foam expands and hardens ($4 a can at lowes) and use it around any holes in the wall and our house like under the sink, around the dryer vent hose and such. We made sure all the screens on the exterior of the house were secured and in place correctly. We were told they only need a hole the size of a nickel to get in. our trash cans were secured and stored away from the house in case and we washed our recyclable out well because if they smell food they'll come right over. We kept our vegetation around our house trimmed and not thick to discourage nesting spots. We also helped to seal up the cracks under the doors with those flexible rubber draft guards. We were also told to visibly inspect the roof and outside of the house periodically to keep up with things or holes that might come up.

Right Stuff - great product but keep the littles and animals away until it sets. Stuff is a pain to wash off too but it works.

[dearmama22]

do you think I should leave the door to the room open where I saw the mouse poop so my cat can go in there tonight and maybe find him OR should I leave the door shut with the traps in there?

I am going to close my bedroom door tonight like someone said, but what if the mouse is in there??!

I think there might be a tiny hole that a mouse is getting into the garage through the garage door. I REALLY dont want mice EVEN if they're in my garage

[WeasleyMum]

Originally Posted by luv-my-boys

We actually had a pest control guy come out one time to our house to tell us how to keep mice out of ours (the house next door was vacant and undergoing remodeling and was infested with mice) We didnt want to chance anything getting into our home. He suggested we buy that spray foam. Its sold in a spray paint type can and you spray it and the foam expands and hardens ($4 a can at lowes) and use it around any holes in the wall and our house like under the sink, around the dryer vent hose and such. We made sure all the screens on the exterior of the house were secured and in place correctly. We were told they only need a hole the size of a nickel to get in. our trash cans were secured and stored away from the house in case and we washed our recyclable out well because if they smell food they'll come right over. We kept our vegetation around our house trimmed and not thick to discourage nesting spots. We also helped to seal up the cracks under the doors with those flexible rubber draft guards. We were also told to visibly inspect the roof and outside of the house periodically to keep up with things or holes that might come up.

Couldn't agree more. We had an icky mouse problem last year. I couldn't find the pictures on your blog, but will take everyone else's word that you have mouse poop-- it is usually pretty obvious, like, "hey, what are these tiny little turds on top of my fridge?!" Getting rid of your current mouse or mice is the first step, of course, but if you don't seal up your house as much as possible, more will come in. Prevention is the most important bit: think of the outside world as a constant, steady supply of mice waiting to enter if they can, and you'll realize that traps and things only go so far. People talk about not leaving food out, etc, i.e. not making your house appealing to the mice. Of course that helps, but IMO in the winter time, just keeping your house warmer than the outdoors will make mice want to come inside, even if you are very clean and don't have any food for them. In our house, we ended up ripping through the bottom of the (ancient) kitchen cabinets and finding large holes around where the pipes came through the floor-- we sealed those up with a combination of steel wool (mice supposedly hate the stuff) and that insulating spray foam. Our cat killed several of what appeared to be baby mice (or possibly small mutant mice) and my DH got a big one with a trap, and we haven't had any since. I continually check the old mouse-turd spots just to make sure, though... Once you have had to deal with them, you never really go back to your old, innocent self.

Good luck!