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Words: 540
Copyright: 2005 Marilyn Pokorney
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In just six months one pair of mice can eat more than four
pounds of food and deposit about 18,000 droppings. Food
contaminated by mice is about 10 times greater than what is
eaten. Also, food wasted by mouse nibbling is much more
than what is eaten.
Here are some ways to prevent pets and children from being
poisoned by using natural mice control.
Mice like to eat seeds, grains, and foods high in fat or
sugar. These types of food can be used for bait. Such
items include bacon and bacon fat, candies such as tootsie
rolls and anise teddy bears, butter, peanut butter,
avocados, pizza crusts and nutmeats. Chocolate covered
peanut candy will kill mice. Chocolate is poisonous to
mice. Switch bait occasionally--it makes the mice more
likely to investigate the new food offering.
Place traps along walls between mice habitat and food
sources. Place under cupboards or other furniture in the
dark to help prevent household pets from being injured by
the traps.
Don't leave pet food out at night--at least until you are
sure all mice are caught.
Take a deep wastebasket or other container that is at least
12 inches deep. Put a plastic garbage bag in it along with
cereal such as cornflakes, or other mouse food. Place it
near a kitchen counter where mice are known to crawl. The
mice will jump down into the container but will not be able
to crawl or jump back out. Dispose of the mice in any way
you choose.
Store bulk foods in sealed glass, metal or hard plastic
containers. Stack bagged or boxed food in neat rows on
shelves or cupboards in a way that allows for thorough
inspection for evidence of mice. In storage areas, keep
stored materials away from walls. Sweep floors frequently
to detect fresh mouse droppings.
Always clean up after eating. Do not invite mice by leaving
food items or crumbs out overnight.
Seal all holes and openings larger than 1/4 inch across. A
mouse can crawl through a hole the size of a dime. Use
steel wool or cement to seal, screen or cover all holes into
the house. Place 3 inches of gravel around the base of
homes or trailers. Enclose foundations of permanent houses
with metal roof flashing buried 6 inches deep and rising 12
inches above the ground. Mice can jump 12 inches onto a
solid surface. Fill gaps around pipes. Fix loose fitting
doors. Close openings around chimneys, damaged house
siding, broken windows and screens.
Inside, get rid of clutter in basements, storage rooms,
sheds, carports, and garages. Remove padded cushions from
sofas and chairs, and store them on edge or separate them
from one another, off the floor. Remove drawers in empty
cupboards or chests and place them on sides.
Outside remove piles of trash, junk and lumber. Keep
woodpiles more than 12 inches above the ground. Keep covers
on trash cans and dumpsters. Eliminate weeds and other
vegetative cover as well as debris and litter in and around
homes, buildings, crops, lawns and other cultivated areas.
Lawns should be mowed regularly.
For more on pest control, including mice, deer, mosquitoes,
snakes and many more visit:
http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/micecontrol.htm
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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
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