AboutStephen Vantassel Expertise I can assist the public in responding to all kinds of wildlife related problems in the United States and Canada, including birds, mice, rats, skunks, raccoons, beavers, opossums, voles, moles, chipmunks, woodchucks, pocket gophers, and more. My passion is wildlife damage identification, for if you don't know what animal is causing the problem, you can't begin to resolve it responsibly.
Experience I was a full time animal damage controller for over 5 years and a part-time animal damage controller for over 10. I have been a volunteer for AllExperts.com for over 5 years under the Pest Control Category, when they graciously created a new category that better suited my experience (I don't answer bug questions). I was a licensed animal controller in both Massachusetts, Connecticut and Nebraska. I presently run the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, http://icwdm.org.
Organizations National Wildlife Control Operators Association, Community Integrated Pest Management group at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Publications I have published two books (both revised), The Wildlife Removal Handbook rev. ed. and the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook rev. ed. Additionally, I have written articles which have appeared in Wildlife Control Technology Magazine, Fur-Fish & Game, The Trapper, The Fur Taker, The Probe, and others. I have co-authored wildlife related publications for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension program and was responsible for revising the handbook designed for the Pest Controllers looking to obtain their category 14 license.
Education/Credentials I was a trapper education instructor for the state of Massachusetts, and have attended a variety of conferences and trainings.
Awards and Honors Certified Wildlife Control Operator
I've written to you a couple of times regarding my unwelcome guest. Well, they're still here driving me crazy. I'm trying to understand it's behavior. For example for approximately 30 hours it made continuous noise in the wall from 3/7/08 around 5:44am until 3/8/08 10am). Then silence until this morning around 9am. It's moving slower, it sounds heavier. It's making more of a thumping sound whereas yesterday the movement was fast, loud and annoying. I used to say to myself that this is the noise they make when they're having babies or about to die.
I'm tired of guessing what this critter is. I've made a decision to cut a whole in my wall, and cover the whole with some hardware cloth just so I can see what's lurking behind the wall. Would you like me to send photos?
I believe if it is mice they may be getting in through the weep holes in the front of my house. I understand that weep holes are the number one way critters get into a house.
These things are driving me crazy!
Sharon Herndon
ANSWER: When you say continuous do you mean regular noise with brief interruptions of silence or do you mean "literally non-stop" If the later, then I would suspect the problem is mechanical. If the former, then it would be unclear.
Unfortunately, the only way to really identify the problem is through a thorough inspection which begins on the outside of the house. Details on the requirements and risks entailed in performing a good inspection can be found at http://icwdm.org You would be surprised how the vast majority of quality inspections can I.D. the problem without cutting holes.
I rarely suggest cutting holes in walls. As for the number one way mice get into homes, that would depend on a variety of factors. Perhaps in your part of the country, weep vents is a common way.
Without more solid details it would be foolish as well as impossible to diagnose your problem. I suggest reading our literature on proper inspections and then giving me a call on Monday. Sometimes a dialogue can help reduce the options.
402-472-8961 M-F 8:30-5:00 Central Standard Time.
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QUESTION: Stephen,
I've had my home inspected by three different pest control/wildlife companies. Critter Control was the last to inspect and they did find some holes under the siding which they plugged up. They also said they didn't think my problem was field mice because Scherzinger had about 100 bait packages in the attic and a couple of glue boards, and they were untouched. They did say they saw signs of tunneling in the installation, but not enough activity in their opinion to say with certainty it was caused by mice.
When I said non-stop, I was exaggerating a bit. It was continuous throughout the day. One wildlife person told me if I really want to know what's behind the wall, to cut a hole in the wall, but to use some hardware cloth over the hole to prevent it from getting in the living space. I seem to get a lot of activity in the wall when we're experiencing bad weather. They're in the wall a lot, but it seems whenever the weather is bad, they are running around in the wall frantically. Friday the Ohio area was hit by a winter storm which piled on 10" of snow and we had some heavy winds.
I just don't know what else to do. Other than the weep holes, we can't find anymore open gaps.
Sharon
Answer certainly the presence of toxicants reduces the likelihood of mice but it depends on the size of your house. Mouse home range is 30 feet radius and it can be significantly less if there is enough food available. Do you have bird feeders? Do you have pets? Is there any chance the problem can be mechanical? Don't dismiss this option too quickly. I had a job where I cut a hole in the wall and after it was cut we all heard the noise again, it came from a broken clock on the stove.
Weep holes should be screened. Are they? As for the companies that inspected your house, we don't list service companies on our site. The reason is a service company is only as good as the person who shows up. Critter control is a fine company. But did you get the owner or a tech? If a tech, how many years of experience does he/she have? What was the quality of the inspection? http://www.icwdm.org/Inspection/Default.asp
If you are dead set on cutting a hole, I would suggest considering the purchase of fiber optic scope. One can be bought for a couple of hundred dollars. It allows you to drill a 1/4" hole and then look. Lot easier to fix a 1/4' hole.
Also you can buy a rodent tracking station. Put them outside. The rodent gets the powder on their feet, then with a black light you can trace where they are entering the house. Details on our contentdm site which can be found in our resouces area under images. jUst click our photo database.
This is why I think you really need to call me. I can't keep writing long answers like this. There are just too many variables that I need to rule out.
