Mice in the yard...worry about infestation?

[NoraB]

While I was weeding in my garden (which I haven't done in quite some time), I saw a mouse come out of a burrow in the ground near our back garden wall (built out of cinderblock, I think). Should I worry about them getting into the house? We do have a cat, but I don't know what kind of hunter he is. I've heard mice can do a lot of physical damage as well as carry disease. Is it possible for the mice to peacefully live in our garden? Or could they possibly undermine the garden wall and/or be a continual risk for infesting the house?

If I can't peacefully ignore them, is there a humane way of relocating them?

TIA.

[farmgirl83]

I don't know about relocating a mouse, but I know that plants in the mint family detour them. I worked in a health food store and people came in all the time for peppermint oil to get rid of mice in the house. I have spearmint growing all around my house and have never seen a mouse inside--and I have an old farmhouse that is not in any way mouseproof! Be careful though-- mints spread! HTH

[amydawnsmommy]

Peppermint oil!!! Thank you!!!

We've had mice for eleven years now on and off.

We've set mouse traps, put mothballs in the cupboards (yuck!), filled in holes with spray foam, and moved all the baking ingredients and cutlery into sealed plastic containers.

We just (finally!!!!) pulled out the appliances in the kitchen and dh filled in all the holes with spray foam.

I will have to try peppermint oil. Perhaps I can even put it along the foundation of the house!!! I've read that using vinegar along the foundation of the house will keep ants out so maybe it would work too.

[NoraB]

Thanks for the mind advice! I could put mint along the foundations of the house in the back b/c it gets a lot of shade there. Nothing else will grow right up to the foundations, so I'd be willing to risk the mint spreading or having to keep a close eye on it.

Thanks again.

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

Originally Posted by amydawnsmommy

We just (finally!!!!) pulled out the appliances in the kitchen and dh filled in all the holes with spray foam.

They can chew through spray foam. Sorry. Sometimes it helps if you stuff steal wool into the hole before you patch it. They often can't get through the steal wool. (but sometimes they can)