Vinyl Eating Mice

[Lazarus]

Bongo!

Researched, and I've figured out how they get the bait without triggering the trap

 

[Lazarus]

War has been declared.

Set two traps last night, ensuring the bait was securely spiked onto the trigger.

Used a variety of bits of grape, sultana and apricot.

All gone this morning, but neither trap triggered!

Anyone got any napalm?

 

[sonnetpete]

If they are taking the bait, have you thought about a humane mouse trap? By the time they get to the bait the trap has closed......disposing of the mouse afterwards may be a problem....we used to walk the dogs about 10km's away and release it there....

 

[Lazarus]

^^^^

I think I've figured out why the traps didn't trip.

Minor adjustment to the platters should sort it. Not enough angle of dangle when baited.

At least I know what foods the blighters like!

 

[PaulR]

If the trap doesn't snap accidentally shut 50% of the time when you place it gently on the floor then you've not set it up sensitively enough!

 

[Lazarus]

Absolutely right.

That's why I shall be adjusting the platter a little. When weighted with the bait, it's sitting right on the base, so wouldn't trip unless thwacked with the butt end of a screwdriver.

Sadly, these mice aren't equipped with screwdrivers.

The metal that the catch/platter is made of is rather flimsy, so is easy to fettle.

Tomorrow is another day .....

 

[PaulR]

The very best mousetraps in my experience are the ones branded Little Nipper. These have a trigger step which is cut, half thickness, from the full width of the trap base. Lesser ones, with which I have not had as much success, have a tongue cut, rather than a full width, and are full thickness or even have a metal trigger plate.

The Little Nipper traps also seem to have a superior method of attaching the bait to the trigger plate so the mouse has to put some effort into removing said bait.

 

[PaulR]

I'm getting this feeling of déjà vu all over again. I'm sure we've discussed mousetraps in the past. And at length.

 

[Lazarus]

We have.

I tried to find the old Thread from a few years back, but without success.

No matter. Mouse destruction technology and best practice have moved on since then.









Oh, sorry: They haven't!


On this occasion, I suspect next doors cats might be back on the job before I get the traps right

 

[PaulR]

Twice before in fact.

A mention two years ago What pets do you have please

And a fairly lengthy thread started by an infrequent poster four years ago Bye, Bye Jerry

 

[Channel Hopper]

After last year's invasion - well 2015 - where the final two mice were too clever to get caught by the simple traps, I put poison down from Poundshop. It took about two weeks after they started eating it before the noises stopped.

They have not come back as of last week.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Set two traps last night, ensuring the bait was securely spiked onto the trigger.

Used a variety of bits of grape, sultana and apricot.

All gone this morning, but neither trap triggered!

Same thing occurred here and I believe the more intelligent mice push a limb under the trigger as they make off with the bounty.

Have you got a camera you could install to check their methodology ?

 

[Channel Hopper]

Bongo!

Researched, and I've figured out how they get the bait without triggering the trap


View attachment 102929

Not from this film ?

 

[Lazarus]

Twice before in fact.

A mention two years ago What pets do you have please

And a fairly lengthy thread started by an infrequent poster four years ago Bye, Bye Jerry

Well found!

I searched on "Mice".

Should have twigged that I might have used a click-bait title!

 

[archive10]

No matter. Mouse destruction technology and best practice have moved on since then.

Oh, sorry: They haven't!

On this occasion, I suspect next doors cats might be back on the job before I get the traps right

You are so right.
The mice I encounter in my home are usually dead (unfortunately not always).
I have very little noise in the attic.
Instead, I have one of these:

 

[2cvbloke]

Now there's a "Feed me or die" look of I ever saw one...

 

[2cvbloke]

I keep seeing the title of this thread and my mind is conjuring up images of a record album devouring mice...

Still, can't be any worse than not thinking of orange penguins...

 

[sonnetpete]

Came downstairs this morning and found a dead (but not half eaten) mouse on the rug. One of our five cats must have re-discovered it's hunting instincts.....

 

[Lazarus]

Success.

SWMBO saw a mouse last night, as she was preparing for bed (SWMBO, not the mouse) and was slightly twitched about it, but this morning both traps had caught mice.

Two down, and an unknown number left, but at least I have honed my trap fettling skills.

 

[PaulR]

What is the current bait-du-jour for this success?