mice in shed

[WiJC]

what do you do to keep them out? i am thinking of a cat that i can house in there to keep them out. the one problem i forsee is what to do with it in the winter. there is no heat or power in my shed at this point. will a cat survive in a wisconsin winter w/o heat in there?

i have field/woods all around me and it would seem to be a losing cause to put traps in there.?.?

 

[Junkman]

The cat will survive the winter if you keep water and food for him/her. Just make sure that you give the cat plenty of attention so it doesn't become a feral cat. If you don't want to go the cat route, then consider some mouse poison. I have one mouse that has been successfully avoiding the mouse trap. I put out mouse/rat poison and every day, he keeps taking more. Where ever he is storing it, it doesn't matter since other mice will also find it. I go through this every year at this time. I know that it is working since I have found a few dead ones in the driveway and the lawn so far. This is a lot easier than a cat to torment the dogs...

 

[bczoom]

Check out this thread

 

[meledward23]

C.A.T.

Either a barn cat to eat the moust, or a big Dozer from Catepillar to run them over. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

My barn cats torment any mouse that dares to come near the barn, then kills it a few hours later. Our old pro who retired due to cancer would take out a rat as big as himself without much hassle.

I know nothing about Cats and the Northern outdoors.
And yes it will need attention....

 

[DrRod]

I've found that the bait in a trap only encourages them to come in. But if you put poison around the outside you get them before they get in. You just have to do it all the time -- especially in the fall when they are seeking a winter retreat.

Mice have chewed through my plastic gas cans and especially like the nozzles. They chew the wiring on the ATVs, gnaw on the choke pulls, and build nests in the battery compartment and trunk. They can be a real nuisance.

 

[HGM]

Be careful with the poison, if you dog eats the dead mouse, he could get poisoned.

As far as cats, personally I would rather have mice though I guess they would work.

When I moved into my new house w/shop, I had a whole family of mice move into the shop durring the winter. It was interesting to say the least,laying on the ground under a truck and a mouse runs by you r head unexpectedly /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. I looked into several options, a snake would work, but you may have to feed him when the mice stopped coming by and the wife wasnt crazy about that idea.
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Then I found a small electronic device that plugs into the 110v wall outlet and emits a sound that deters them from staying arround. Cant prove it is the reason, but I havent seen a mouse in the shop since(2yrs). If you have power out there, give it a try, it wasnt verry expensive, I think I got them at Lowes.

 

[Whiskey]

WiJC:

Rat snake, oak snake, gardner snake, black snake, bla, bla, bla.....

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Then I found a small electronic device that plugs into the 110v wall outlet and emits a sound that deters them from staying arround. Cant prove it is the reason, but I havent seen a mouse in the shop since(2yrs). If you have power out there, give it a try, it wasnt verry expensive, I think I got them at Lowes. )</font>

I have a couple of those ultrasonic thingys myself. Read this thread for success rates. Like HGM, I haven't seen a mouse but after posting in that thread (last fall), I did put out some D-Con (just to be sure). Well, after a few of the boxes of D-Con were emptied, I questioned how well the ultrasonic devices really do work. I wonder if the mice get used to them or will tolerate it as opposed to the alternatives (winter weather in particular).

Brian

 

[WiJC]

somehow i doubt a snake will do much good up here once winter starts /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PhilNH5]

I use a multi mouse trap in my camp. Each spring there are 8 to 10 dead mice in there so it does work. It has a spring loaded trap door that pushes the mouse into the "trap room". One winding will allow the trap door to work 10 times.

Phil