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 have a fairly new house (3 yrs old) and every fall/winter I get field mice in my attic and bedroom wall. They ususally leave when it starts to get warm, but for some reason they found a place that they like and they're still around. Above my bedroom window I have a vinyl sunburst. This is where they hangout at now. Is it unusual that they are still in the house? I thought the heat in the attic and walls was double that of the temperature outside. I found how one entry point and sealed that up, and they found another way in. This new way led them to the space above the window behind the vinyl sunburst. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Answer It is quite common for mice to be in new homes. Mice only need 3/8 inch gap to enter. I am concerned however, that you put up with them during the winter. Mice ravage insulation and can chew electrical wires causing a fire.
If you really want to resolve this problem and assuming you have correctly identified the real problem, then you need to ask yourself, how bad do you want to solve it??
Mouse control is not rocket science but it does take tedious work and diligence. Many people fail because they lose heart. THink of it like losing weight. We know what to do we just refuse to do it. There is no magic in mouse control. But there are ways to resolve it for extended periods of time. If you are willing to learn more read below.
Exclusion:
Tighten the building. As long as openings aren’t being used by insects or animals larger than mice, secure all of them ¼” or larger with caulk, ¼” sized hardware cloth or flashing. Use caution around weeping vents as they need to remain open to drain water. Use aluminum mosquito netting to stop entry but still allow air and water flow.
Additional info is found at http://icwdm.org/Prevention/Default.asp
Exclusion also includes removal of harborage (piles of stuff and long grass) as well as bird feeders. As food increases so does mouse population. See also http://www.icwdm.org/handbook/rodents/RodentExclusion.asp for more tips.
Exclusion for grills. All the principles for controlling and preventing mice from entering a structure apply to a grill. Exclusion is your best bet. If that is not possible, then you will need to control the population to prevent mice from reaching the grill. Essentially, you have to tighten the grill so they can't get inside. You will need to be sure that your actions won't interfere with the proper functioning of the grill.
In openings that need airflow, you can use 1/4 inch hardware cloth provided it won't restrict air flow too much. In areas where you don't, you can seal of the holes with stuffit or flashing. or other metal material.
Cleaning the grill thoroughly will also help as it will reduce the attraction of the food.
Repellents:
Don’t waste your time. That includes those silly ultrasonic things that are very good at repelling money from people’s wallets.
Trapping:
Trapping is an excellent for controlling mice provided you use enough traps. Think dozens for a single family ranch house. More if the house is larger. Mice need 21 days to create a new litter of mice. Failure to hammer the population means you will just have a rebound in about 2 months. More information on trapping techniques can be found at the link below. There are a variety of traps on the market. Snap traps work well if properly set. See the pdf page below for images on how to properly set and bait them. Multiple catch and glue boards also work. The key is to use enough. There is no magic here. No quick steps.
Toxicants.
Toxicants are effective in controlling mice but you must 1. follow directions to the letter. 2. understand that NO ONE can promise you where the mice will die. If they tell you the mice will die outdoors looking for water DON’T believe them. We suggest trapping and exclusion and then and only then follow up with toxicants if necessary. For most situations it isn’t necessary if the trapping and exclusion were done properly.
Relocation of mice. DON”T do it. House mice are an invasive species. Kill them. Besides, contrary to popular mythology, relocation is rarely humane. Mice moved to new areas have to 1. find food, 2. find shelter, 3. avoid predators 4. All the while trying to get the lay of the land. I haven’t even mentioned the trauma of any young that may be abandoned because “momma mouse was relocated somewhere else”. Finally, there is the problem of moving a disease into a new area or a healthy mouse into a diseased area.
House Cats
Don’t bother. There is absolutely no evidence that house cats provide an effective control for mice or other rodents. In fact free roaming house cats are a major environmental menace, killing countless desired species of song birds and other ground rodents. Join the effort to put a stop to free-roaming cats to help protect our valuable and increasingly threatened wildlife species. For more info on the dangers of house cats visit http://icwdm.org/wildlife/housecat.asp
We are always looking for images (if you can safely take them) of wildlife damage to help us in our educational mission. We prefer high resolution, (3 mg or higher). Send to svantassel2@unl.edu or if your e-mail can’t handle large files upload to http://members.icwdm.org
Username use all caps. ICWDM
Password (all lower case) guest
Please include permission to use the images and where and when the photos were taken. Month/year is fine as is county or city and state.
Disclaimer: As with any activity, remember that animal damage control comes with its own risks and problems which can include but are not limited to legalities, health threats, and personal liabilities. Be sure to follow all state laws governing wildlife and make sure you have a thorough understanding on how to resolve the animal damage complaint. My advice is only as good as your understanding of me and my understanding of your situation. If you have any questions be sure to write back.
