I have had my boxes and some furniture items (containing batting, etc) in storage in a rented storage building where I know for a fact there have been mice. (Traps baited around the building.)

My last trip there we found mice droppings in our bldg/room and a few signs of mice chewing on things.

In a few days I will be going to get all the items from storage. It is cold enough here so that any mice "hibernating" inside the boxes, etc will remain in them. I am afraid that once I move them to my home, take them inside the house and leave them in a heated room for any length of time that these "creatures" will begin to come out and inhabit my house instead!!!

Short of unpacking every single box on the front lawn of the new house . . . . how can I insure there will be no mice in these boxes once I get them indoors??

Hoping someone can give me something to try before I have to scatter all my belongings around the yard just to prevent this from happening!!!

Thanks.

"wolfie"

-- quinn wolfe (wolfiequinn@hotmail.com), January 20, 2002

Answers

I don't think mice "hibernate" but I'm not really sure on this. Usually, they're just looking for a place to get in out of the cold and for food. If you strongly suspect that there are mice in your boxes, you're going to want to unpack them and get rid of the critters. They'll do damage to whatever you have in those boxes as they make their nests and try to see if they can eat anything in them. In my opinion, they also leave a distinct smell on things. If they're in the boxes, the best thing to do is to get the boxes where they're going and if you don't have a cat, borrow one while you unpack!

-- rose marie wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), January 20, 2002.

I'll give you a cat!

-- indiana jack (injack1@aol.com), January 20, 2002.

I'll give you a cat! I'm serious if you live within a couple hour or so drive of Indianapolis I'll deliver a cat. A house broke female, young, fixed, warm and cuddly. We have 8 and it's just to many! Love them all. We just don't have the heart to dump them at the pound.

-- indiana jack (injack1@aol.com), January 20, 2002.

I would take those folks up on their cat offers. I had same problem many years ago when I stored my old lowery organ in a garage before moving it into the house. I brought a whole family of mice in. My cat, which was just a kitten at the time, had no idea what to do with a mouse.

Get some mouse traps and lock up all the food sources, and you should have them out of there pretty quick even without a cat.

-- Gary from Mn (hpysheep@midwestinfo.com), January 20, 2002.

When you bring the boxes in, set out several mouse traps baited with peanut butter. That should clean up your mouse problem. Just keep baiting the traps and leave them out until nothing shows.

-- Darren (df1@infi.net), January 21, 2002.

There is a product called "One Bite" that is truely death on mice or rats. Us poultry people place it in lengths of PVC pipe so no pets or stock can reach it. It will take care of the mouse problem in the storage area before you bring your boxes home if you have some time. Of course as mentioned above traps will help a lot. A cat is great but don't get one just to have a cat. Be prepared to take care of it, love it and provide vaccines and good care. Also, keep in mind, don't use any poison if you do have a cat around, the mice will ingest it and the cat will be poisoned when it eats the mice. Mice don't hibernate by the way and do carry some nasty diseases, in their urine and in their coat(fleas, plague etc) which they spread with glee. so do unpack your boxes before you put them in your house, clean things up and disinfect. Good luck, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), January 21, 2002.

Little Quacker, How well do you suppose that "one bite" would work on the squirrel living in my walls(and I might add-driving me NUTS!) and where can I get it??

-- Terri in WV (mrs_swift_26547@yahoo.com), January 21, 2002.

MOTHBALLS, Mice hate em..Put lots of mothballs in the boxes and I promise you they will leave. You can buy the lavender scented ones now, that are not so bad...

-- Barbara (vozarbi@sensible-net.com), January 21, 2002.

I suggest examining each box carefully. If no mouse holes, probably OK to bring inside. If anything is a little suspicious, unpack those outside. Furniture is a different problem. You will probably need to empty out all drawers outside, then examine inside of dressers for potential mice. No suggestions for things like couches other than the above trapping methods.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), January 21, 2002.

P.S. If you live in an area with roaches, you might want to set off some roach bombs and then close the door for a couple of days.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), January 21, 2002.

The poison baits in the storage area are a good idea. The roach bombs in the storage area are also a good idea if you can do it - many of those things use inflammable gas as a propellant, and you'd need to make arrangements with the storage firm to clear it - I don't think blowing things up because you didn't consult with them would be well received - and all it would take would be a night watchman with a cigarette. Maybe they know of something with a safe propellant, or maybe you could make arrangements to set off the fumigant right on closing time.

Unpacking outside - maybe do any of it that's necessary in a hard plastic (not blow-up) child's wading pool? That way any mice that turn up won't be able to get away.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), January 21, 2002.

A simple solution might be to setup a few ultrasonic pest control units about a week before the stored items are transfered. If you do not have electrical outlets in your storage area, talk to the management about the problem and run an extenion cord.

-- ken ballard (you@surfbest.net), January 21, 2002.

What about getting hold of some dried tansy and laying it around?

-- Alison in NS (aproteau@istar.ca), January 21, 2002.

For terri, Hi! Re getting "One Bite". Ask about this product on The Poultry Connection, General Waterfowl Forum". I recieved mine from another person. There are long discussions on the forum about the product, how it is used and who makes it. Good Luck, LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), January 21, 2002.

Wow!!! Thanks for all the answers ya'll!!!

I will most likely end up doing the "inspection and unpack" route on the lawn. I have no time to use mothballs and don't relish the idea of having even one of the critters in my home that I have to bait mousetraps or lay poison for.

I have one dog and in a month or so I will be getting a puppy (Sorry all . . . . I don't "do" cats. . . lol!!!) and don't want any poisons or traps around the house (or mice for that matter!!!).

I just thought there might be some sure-fire easy (no hassle) method of ridding myself of the creatures before being forced to check each box and unpack as necessary that ya'll would know about.

Hubby is one of those "do-it-get-it-over-with-worry-about-it-when/if- it-happens" types and he won't want to slow down and let me inspect each box for mice . . . . but I will have to sit on him (or the boxes) and do it . . . that's all!!!!

Thanks again!!

-- quinn wolfe (wolfiequinn@hotmail.com), January 21, 2002.