Proactive baiting or traps in loft and garage

n30_mkii

n30_mkii

n30_mkii

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31 May 2005
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Alfreton,Derbyshire
So I've just sorted the loft in a property ee purchased last year. The insulation was awful and everything covered in mouse droppings, so seems they had an infestation up there at some point. I didn't spot any while removing the old insulation but there also weren't any traps or bait stations which was a little concerning. I've now made the loft all good with insulation and boarding ready for some storage of items. I want to ensure however that any mice remaining if present are killed off, but even if they're not present ensure I've got a proactive measure in place. Just wondering if a couple of bait boxes or traps would be best? Is there any risk of encouraging rodents in if bait is put up there? i.e. creating a problem that might not exist or will it be fine? Lastly I might want to do the same in the internal garage as there is a gap under the garage door and above a side window which needs to be sorted. It's an obvious ingress point to the property, so again thinking of being proactive here, does that make sense?

Thanks as always
 
I have a real issue with Glis Glis and mice, real pain in the ass and destructive. The expert that came round says that traps are best to kill and remove - if they are already there, same with mice, they are quite territorial and you dont need to remove any bait as soon as you have taken the current residents out but will need to proof the loft. He said it was unlikely that more would return due to the bait he uses as it doesnt 'advertise' it presence outside (chocolate and banana although I found mints more effective for mice), they are more looking for the warmth - I know this likely true as mice got to my larder, and not the loft, due to the amount of unprotected food - I trapped them and kept getting more until I put everything in plastic boxes - the amount they ate was amazing!! Once I had taken out the ones that knew where to get the free lunch I left the traps baited in there and nothing for a couple of months.
 
It's my understanding that they will only nest where there is a food source. You've done the insulation and boarding up there, so if it was me I'd focus on plugging any points of ingress asap, such as garage door, gap by window etc. even little holes where aerial/cable TV wires might have been removed need filling.

Also I'd make sure anything edible in the garage is in sealed containers.

After that I'd just monitor the loft space, maybe go up once per month and sweep a torch over it looking for fresh droppings.
 
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firstborn said:
I did this in the loft a couple of years ago. Caught one big rat and no signs of anything since.
Click to expand...

its amazing how much damage only one can do though, I had a pair of expensive high end ear defenders like the military use in my garage and one little mouse chewed through the padding
 
We had them in our car engine bay last year. Buggers have eaten the foam insulation. And they were in the garage.
I set humane traps. Caught 2 mice one was alive the other had died by the time I got to it.
You have to check the traps quite frequently as they don't survive in them very long.
 
Snap traps with peanut butter. I caught 12 in our loft that way.

Sealed off all the entry points as well, so no further issues.
 
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Thanks, I've decided to monitor it on a regular basis and will introduce traps if I hear any noises or find droppings at all
 
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