Bought house - MICE taking over

[justvisiting]

What is the name of your state? Ohio
A friend has asked me to try to find out what her course of action should be.

She bought house in Decemebr 2001. It passed inspection.

She said she has had a problem with mice since she moved in. Set traps, etc.

But now it's serious. Mice are getting into sofa and other new furniture chewing, ruining fabric, etc. She suspects they might also be in the walls.

Aside from calling an exterminator, what hsould sh edo? She is wondering if this should have been taken care of before the sale by previous owner.

Thanks.

 

[Souix]

What is the name of your state? Ohio
A friend has asked me to try to find out what her course of action should be.

She bought house in Decemebr 2001. It passed inspection.

She said she has had a problem with mice since she moved in. Set traps, etc.

But now it's serious. Mice are getting into sofa and other new furniture chewing, ruining fabric, etc. She suspects they might also be in the walls.

Aside from calling an exterminator, what hsould sh edo? She is wondering if this should have been taken care of before the sale by previous owner.

Thanks.

What sort of inspection did she have? Did she have a pest and dry rot inspection? Mice would be considered pests and if there was active infestation at the time of the inspection the inspector should have noted it on his report. Check the inspection report and see what was reported. Was it her inspector or the seller's. She may need to call the inspector and get some more info

Your friend definately needs to call an exterminator though. Yuck, these critters carry all kinds of diseases.

 

[justvisiting]

Thanks for reply Susie. (it creeped me out when she was telling me about it on the phone...)

She's wondering about who is liable for cost of exterminator and/or any associated repairs.

Should she call her realtor (as yes she hasn't).

 

[Souix]

Thanks for reply Susie. (it creeped me out when she was telling me about it on the phone...)

She's wondering about who is liable for cost of exterminator and/or any associated repairs.

Should she call her realtor (as yes she hasn't).

My Answer: I would first call the inspector and find out what their policy is for not catching these things. Actually if she just reads her inspection paperwork's fine print it should say what their liability is. If I were her realtor I would want to know about it, so yes, call the realtor too.

 

[HomeGuru]

While you are investigating who to call, call the exterminator first.

 

[stephenk]

why has she waited over 15 months before doing something about the mice?

 

[HomeGuru]

My guess is that at the time of purchase there were only 3 mice and they were all blind.

 

[justvisiting]

Ha! Well, I'll have to ask her about the 3 blind mice thing. Thanks...I'll print this out and give to her.

I don't know why she waited. She has been careful with poison and traps because of her dog...maybe that's reason for delay in calling exterminator too. But meanwhile the mice are multiplying and destroying furniture and carpet.

I think she is also wondering about liability for mice chewing up furniture and carpet. Any thoughts on that?

 

[HomeGuru]

Ha, she should have had a cat rather than a dog. Or a bunch of cats.

 

[Souix]

Ha! Well, I'll have to ask her about the 3 blind mice thing. Thanks...I'll print this out and give to her.

I don't know why she waited. She has been careful with poison and traps because of her dog...maybe that's reason for delay in calling exterminator too. But meanwhile the mice are multiplying and destroying furniture and carpet.

I think she is also wondering about liability for mice chewing up furniture and carpet. Any thoughts on that?

My Answer: I think she waited too long. Exterminating the mice would pose less of a threat to the dog than traps or poisons. I had a vacant house treated for rats and mice and the exterminator went under the house and spread out something white in a bucket (can you tell I'm not a licensed exterminator...lol). I asked him if animals got under the house if it would harm them (I am an animal lover) and he said no. Hope this helps and she called the exterminator yesterday.

 

[justvisiting]

Thanks for replies. I'm printing this thread and will give to her.

 

[FarmerJ]

Glue boards are wonderfull Mr & Mrs Mouse get stuck In the glue screech and make tons of fight and get stuck more and will twist an wiggle whole way to the garbage can If they are still alive when glue board is thrown out .

 

[Souix]

Glue boards are wonderfull Mr & Mrs Mouse get stuck In the glue screech and make tons of fight and get stuck more and will twist an wiggle whole way to the garbage can If they are still alive when glue board is thrown out .

Really? I have a set of those and I have never been able to catch a thing on them. This will probably gross everyone out but last night I saw a huge rat in one of our barns. It was about the size of a large kitten. So I put the glue boards out and didn't catch him. I'm gonna get the traps out tonight. But Farmer J, is there a trick to catching something in those glue traps other than dust? (I read the instructions, still doesn't work)

 

[HomeGuru]

Ok, if you use the sticky traps put a little peanut butter in the middle of the trap. Just a half teaspoon. Those traps do not work on rats, only small mice. If you use the original wooden traps, use a small piece of a dog biscuit. I have caught numerous rodents iusing these methods. For rats the size of cats, use a shotgun.
Note: the above constitutes official legal advice.

 

[justvisiting]

She has used traps AND glue boards with peanut butter bait and also D-con.

Catches some but their relatives just keep on coming...she does not have a basement and appears they are coming thru vents or some area near the dryer.