MICE?!?!?!?! - Page 5

[dovey]

Why on earth are people being so rude and condescending to the OP?  She needs help figuring out how to deal with the problem.  This is not an uncommon problem.  Regardless of how "dangerous" mice seem to everybody, mice are a creature we have lived right beside for all of human history.  Why are there mice in so many fairytales?  Why are there so many children's drawings with mouse holes in the wall?  It's because mice are here beside us, whether we like them or not. 

If the OP poisons the mice as everyone seems to be suggesting, they are not going to be gone for good.  She already said that there is a neighborhood problem with them.  They will come right back into her house eventually.  She needs a deterrent such as cats or high frequency beepers in order to keep them out of a localized space.  Large scale poisoning is extremely environmentally irresponsible - it kills not only mice, but all the creatures who eat them, like birds, cats and other predators.  Additionally, it increases plague risk because fleas hop off of dead mice and rats and go and bite people. 

Being rude and telling her that she's a bad parent and trying to make her panic are extremely unhelpful tactics.  She needs support and constructive ideas.  Exterminators may put a bandaid on the problem, but mice will always be around us.     

[coffeegirl]

Dovey.....no. Just, no. You're wrong. There's been a few instances of (IMO) unnecessary hostility here, but this thread has also been FULL of constructive advice. Extermination, repeated if necessary, and spring traps are both time-tested and effective means of dealing with a rodent infestation. Some of the other suggestions the OP had are not.

Most of the people commenting are people who have dealt with rodent infestations before and are offering their advice based on their own experiences. I'm your advice is good and well-meaning, too, dovey. But to come in here and say that there hasn't been ANY constructive criticism and support for the OP is just ridiculous. 

[Imakcerka]

The OP didn't seem to understand that just cleaning the place wouldn't rid her house of the mice.  Everyone gets some sort of infestation at some point ants/mice/roaches/smurfs and you gotta do something about them.  However to lighten the mood I have found a recipe for "Enchiladas El Mouse-o EN EL HOUSE-O"  I won't paste it here but you can PM me for the link.

[DahliaRW]

Originally Posted by dovey 

If the OP poisons the mice as everyone seems to be suggesting, they are not going to be gone for good.  She already said that there is a neighborhood problem with them.  They will come right back into her house eventually.  She needs a deterrent such as cats or high frequency beepers in order to keep them out of a localized space.  Large scale poisoning is extremely environmentally irresponsible - it kills not only mice, but all the creatures who eat them, like birds, cats and other predators.  Additionally, it increases plague risk because fleas hop off of dead mice and rats and go and bite people. 

Being rude and telling her that she's a bad parent and trying to make her panic are extremely unhelpful tactics.  She needs support and constructive ideas.  Exterminators may put a bandaid on the problem, but mice will always be around us.     

Actually, sealing up any access points, which a GOOD Exterminator would do, will keep them out.  A good exterminator will seal up all access points, set traps, and monitor for new activity which would lead to searching for other access points if need be.  You can prevent them from coming back, but you need someone who knows what they are doing and what to look for.

[Maedze]

Yeah, this post is probably the most unhelpful post in the whole thread.   The last thing the OP needs is an echo chamber telling her she's just fine. 
 

Originally Posted by dovey 

Why on earth are people being so rude and condescending to the OP?  She needs help figuring out how to deal with the problem.  This is not an uncommon problem.  Regardless of how "dangerous" mice seem to everybody, mice are a creature we have lived right beside for all of human history.  Why are there mice in so many fairytales?  Why are there so many children's drawings with mouse holes in the wall?  It's because mice are here beside us, whether we like them or not. 

If the OP poisons the mice as everyone seems to be suggesting, they are not going to be gone for good.  She already said that there is a neighborhood problem with them.  They will come right back into her house eventually.  She needs a deterrent such as cats or high frequency beepers in order to keep them out of a localized space.  Large scale poisoning is extremely environmentally irresponsible - it kills not only mice, but all the creatures who eat them, like birds, cats and other predators.  Additionally, it increases plague risk because fleas hop off of dead mice and rats and go and bite people. 

Being rude and telling her that she's a bad parent and trying to make her panic are extremely unhelpful tactics.  She needs support and constructive ideas.  Exterminators may put a bandaid on the problem, but mice will always be around us.     

[dovey]

How is telling someone that they are just fine when she probably is just fine a bad thing?  I was NOT telling her to ignore the issue, or that mice were just fine, but just trying to be calm about the whole thing.  Anyway, she seems to have disappeared (not surprisingly.)  A feeling of terror or panic is never a good place to start from when making decisions, even decisions which may impact your children's lives and well being. 

Okay, maybe there are some good instances of constructive advice, but it seems that the whole thread is getting a very hostile, jump-up-on-the-table and scream about mice tone to it, most of it directed at the OP.  Just because she has mice and is having a hard time dealing with them does not equal being a bad parent. 

I have had a large amount of experience with mouse issues (unfortunately) due to where I live.  Some exterminators may be thorough, but that is not my experience.  I have lived in a house with thousands of mice which had been previously exterminated (after each tenant had left).  We finally left that house too - mostly because of the rodents.    

[rachelsmama]

Originally Posted by dovey 

This is not an uncommon problem.  Regardless of how "dangerous" mice seem to everybody, mice are a creature we have lived right beside for all of human history.  Why are there mice in so many fairytales?  Why are there so many children's drawings with mouse holes in the wall?  It's because mice are here beside us, whether we like them or not. 

This is true, but it is also the reason why domestic cats became so popular, and so very important, and why there are so many different inventions for killing or repelling mice.  It's precisely because of our history with mice that so many people go on the warpath against them, and why some people are a bit scornful of the pacifist approach to mouse control. 

[Dr.Worm]

I dont know if OP is still around.  I am not calling you a bad mom..you seem very loving.  I just want you to take care of the problem.  Things happen...mice or whatever.  I don't want to scare you but if the mice are to the point where they are visible, someone visiting your house could call CPS.  Please do what you have to do before this happens. 

[Imakcerka]

Why hasn't anyone pm'd me for my mouse recipes?