Dead Mouse

[supersurgilator]

Today I went out to my grandparents garage and as soon as I opened the door there was a dead mouse on the floor covered in ants. I immediately freaked out and wondered how it got in there in the first place, and second if there are more.
They have lived there for a year and a half now and there are no droppings or anything, so I'm thinking it was just a stray but want to make sure. Anything I can do determine this besides baiting traps?

 

[launderess]

Normally If You See One

There are others as mice aren't solitary creatures. Although as you say it may very well be the odd stray looking for food and or new diggings.

First and foremost give the garage a good cleaning and disenfecting. Wear a mask in case there are rodent droppings. They spread disease and recently a man in Long Island died from an illness brought on by cleaning the basement of his home after an invasion of mice

When cleaning using a bright light look for signs of mice. Droppings (they look like small shiny black grains of rice), gnaw/nibble marks and so forth.

It is very important to clean and throw away any clutter including paper. Rodents seek out areas that remain undistirubed for nesting areas. Garages often are chuck full of "stuff" that hasn't seen the light of day in ages.

After the place is cleaned up the best way to see if your dearly departed friend had any friends is to set a few traps. If they aren't bothered after a few days then you *may* be in the clear. However if you see/hear signs of mice the traps should be moved about until such things stop.

Oh and you must find whatever entry point the mouse/mice used and seal tightly.

 

[whirlaway]

Dead mouse

They make nice party favors on Triscuits,and if your wondering about calories,try Wheat thins!

 

[tolivac]

A mouse must have tried to "inspect" the generator portion of our Cat genset at work-last time it was tested--the generator sure made a powerful mousetrap(2700Hp)His foot was blown and stuck gruesomely on the generator fan guard!Other parts of him are on the grill,too-last gen test-that mouse was cooked and chopped!

 

[goatfarmer]

I was cleaning the condenser of an old Frigidaire Gemini side by side refrigerator yesterday. Using compressed air, I launched a dead mouse out of one end. A little stiff, but preserved well by the heat of the condenser.

 

[supersurgilator]

Thanks for your reply. I went out there and inspected today and everything appeared fine. I gave the place a good inspection, I did find one bag that was nawwed into a little bit and it had paper in it. So I got rid of that, everything else appeared fine, but I think it might be a good idea to get a couple of traps just in case.

 

[stan]

Your grandparents

could always get a outside cat! A good mouser will earn its keep!

 

[supersurgilator]

They have a cat, but she stays indoors. The garage is detached from the house. They live in the city so I can't imagine there are a lot of them roaming around. Hopefully this is the end of the problem.

 

[launderess]

City Living ='s No Mice?

Sorry but no, that isn't quite true.

Here in NYC as elsewhere the world round you have mice in urban areas just as in the country. They only vary as to type (field, house, etc...).

What is true is that normally in a home with ratsthere aren't mice. The former prey upon the latter so the two rarely inhabit the same space.

Not to cause you worry but the case of one lone mouse in an area is highly rare. Will grant sometimes there is the odd "one" that some how got into one's home and is loose in the building, but generally as far as territory goes if you have seen one there most certainly are others somewhere.

 

[stan]

"she stays indoors"

For God's sake let out! she'l get em *LOL

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Ooooh, Dead Things!!!!

The office that I used to work at when it moved to another location had all sorts of mouse & rat problems!

I remember seeing them dead after chewing into bags of rat poison & them having coats of fur similar to my cats!

I think he had a few mousetraps, too, that I saw a few of 'em in as well!

The guy had to take all his ceiling tiles out of the basement of the place ("There was so much rat $#*! on'em,--", he said...) and after he finally had the place exterminated was able to replace 'em...

-- Dave