[Shop-talk] NOT Covid-related

[Bill Rabel]

Another place to check for rodent entry is drain pipes. I found that rats were entering a rental unit of mine through the drain pipe where there was no washing machine installed. 

Big snap traps with PB did them in, and I put a wad of copper wool in the pipe.

- Bill Rabel
  Anacortes

“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as a cause for withdrawing from a friend.” - Thomas Jefferson

> On Mar 20, 2020, at 4:43 PM, Brian Kemp via Shop-talk <shop-talk at autox.team.net> wrote:
> 
> 
> I'm dealing with a similar problem.  Had an actual rat in my air duct in my brand new system.  Saw it through the register.  Put traps with peanut butter in the ducts.  Attached a length of electrical wire that came out and was secured between the register and the wall.  Only problem is that the heat is on and the peanut butter dried out right away.  I put a bunch of baits under the house and in the attic near where I found droppings.  Thought they were gone, but heard them in the wall again.
> 
> Make sure you block any openings where they might be getting in from outside.  I put new screen on my crawlspace vents and that got rid of them until the new furnace install.  Discovered a new hole they made in the siding after the install.  Blocked it and still at war with the rats.
> 
> Brian
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Scott Hall via Shop-talk 
> Sent: Mar 20, 2020 3:48 PM 
> To: "shop-talk at autox.team.net" 
> Subject: [Shop-talk] NOT Covid-related 
> 
> Well, except that I can spend more time at home, I guess.
> 
> Overall question: how smart can a mouse actually be?
> 
> So I noticed some mouse activity in the garage and the house. Put out glue traps and snap traps. Caught maybe five or six.  Haven't caught any in months.
> 
> But a few days ago I smelled...mouse. At least I think that's the smell. Sort of sickly sweet, like Simple Green. I didn't see any droppings. I was under a heat register when it kicked on, and the smell was very noticeable. Then, last night while I was in bed...I heard them. Scurrying in the vents.
> 
> There are mice in the vents.
> 
> Option 1) Burn the house down, claim insurance, rebuild.
> 
> Option 2) get them out of there, clean the vents.
> 
> Here's my dilemma: I must have a dozen traps around the house. Most in the kitchen, pantry, and garage, where I saw them last. I haven't caught anything in them forever. And I put traps near all the registers, nothing there either.
> 
> When I initially saw mice I put all the food in the pantry in glass or metal containers and I don't see any evidence in the pantry either. I don't think they're eating any of my food. If it weren't for the smell and the noise I wouldn't even know they're there. I have no idea what they are eating, but I assume they're not starving because they're still there. They're not touching ANY of the traps. It's like they've...learned. Can mice do that? That's disconcerting.
> 
> I pulled off the registers. I figure I can drop glue traps down there, and snap traps if I'm really careful, but it's not like I'm just looking down at the sheetmetal of the duct--the registers seem to be attached to a piece of 3-inch tubing to the main duct. So while I can probably get traps in, I'm not sure I could get them out. To say nothing of cleaning the ducts themselves.
> 
> The ducts are all behind finished drywall. So before I just demolish the drywall and disassemble my HVAC system, I thought I'd ask you guys for advice.
> 
> The garage I can do the paint bucket with water and a log-roll type PVC tube. And poison.
> 
> I don't have pets or small children at home so I'm not worried about collateral damage and I'm so filled with hatred that I'm not worried about being humane. I just want these little bastards gone.
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