It Is That Time Of Year Again - What Is It About Rodents And Ranges?

[launderess]

Thankfully not us, but am hearing so many complaints about mice. So many friends and others say the spy the buggers coming up in or in their ranges/stove tops.

Can understand *why* a rodent would want to hang out in a range, I mean it is warm, probably lots of food bits in or around, but surely range design has taken this into account by now? I mean it cannot be a recent occurance?

Thankfully our new range has sealed burners and hardly use the broiler or oven these days.

 

[bajaespuma]

It's the insulation

The bits of food and grease that fall between the cracks invites them into the cabinet but, especially in the older stoves, all that cushy fiberglass insulation wool keeps them coming back. Apparently it's good nesting material for them. This was one of the reasons my clueless parents decided to give the 1956 Stratoliner the heave-ho in favor of a shiny new WCI electric stove.

 

[lordkenmore]

Well, I guess it's like many people--mice just dream of a Home on the Range.

 

[launderess]

Everybody Wants To Get In On The Act!

Right off the top of his head too, gotta love that LordKenmore!

 

[tolivac]

Mice and warm places--One morning-during the winter-was fixing my breakfast after coming home from my mid shift at work-Started the toaster-warm toast is always good on a cold morning-the toaster was making a strange noise-Than a MOUSE hurridly climbed from one of the slots-his back was smoking--I was so startled -shut off the toaster and watched where he went-that smoking mouse ran along the back of the counter top--to the FRIDGE!After that set my mousetraps.I DIDN'T eat the toast I made that morning-and check my toaster-no crumbs in it-wonder why-guess that mouse loved the crumbs inside.

 

[lordkenmore]

"Right off the top of his head too, gotta love that LordKenmore!"

Thank you, Launderess. [Lord Kenmore bows.] For the next act:

You need to be careful removing mice you find on the stove. Why? Because when you remove them, they become deranged mice!

 

[whirlcool]

After that last one about "deranged" mice, that was beyond bad!

 

[kenmore58]

Maybe someone told them the stove was a "Restinghouse"

Ron

 

[kqkenmore]

Well I have had this issue before and I just fix them some Peanut Butter surprises. They just are too die for.

 

[toggleswitch]

One much prefers a modern gas cooker/stove/range with sealed burners and a (pyrolytic) self-cleaning oven, when residing in New York City apartment buildings. No broiler/grill near the floor and a relatively sealed oven.

In a self-cleaning oven the oxygen must be restricted during the pyrolysis. So Mickey an Minney can't get in through the tiny air slits!

Oh did you hear Mickey Mouse is divorcing Minnie Mouse? Oh yes she was f---ing Goofy /goofy.

 

[autowasherfreak]

At the old house in Bettendorf mice were always popping up around the burners, and the vent in the back. My youngest cat would sit patiently in the middle of the stove or on the counter just waiting for one to pop up.

 

[toggleswitch]

When I went to light two top-burners of my gas stove in a new (to me apartment) the gas and flames came out of the knob area and went right for my belt-buckle. Had I not stood back quickly, I would have been flaming (more flaming? LOL) or would have gotten a quick Brazilian by way of singe-ing! I quickly dumped the burners (after turning off the gas right quick) into a sink full of water. You would not believe the number of roaches in the Venturi (gas) tube that came out. Hundreds of carcasses. I had to whip out my....wire hanger and ream it well! Not sure if they were dead or alive before the water.

Well I declared war on the critters and eventually won! Yah the food and warmth of a stove makes for a great shelter for beasties.

I was always sure to preheat the oven and broiler before putting any food in it. UGH!

[this post was last edited: 11/1/2010-13:15]

 

[tolivac]

Peanut butter for mousetraps-tried it-the mice that winter in my house turn their noses up at it.Instead-they love CHEERIOS!Bait the traps with Cheerios and it gets em everytime.

 

[launderess]

Problem With Peanut Butter

Is most persons slather it on the trap like it was a Ritz cracker. Not *you* of course Tolivac!

You want only to give a bit of the scent of the bait when using things such as peanut butter (vanilla extract works as well, at least according to our exterminator). It also has to go dead in center and towards the back, this way the varmits have to reach up and get on the bait lever tray and thus spring the trap. You front load too much bait and the little buggers will simply lick it off without tripping the trap.

A Cheerio or piece of Recesse's peanut butter cup tied or somehow well secured to the trap is almost sure to lure mice.

Used to swear by Victor snap traps, but those rodent "zapper" devices work a treat! It is just as the box and reviews state, you get a kill almost at once, and they keep on coming back.

 

[tolivac]

Last winter a mouse "guest" got into a bag of flour in the pantry-baited the trap with FLOUR and put it beside the flour bag he hust opened-next day--NAILED him!Otherwise use Cheerios-the traps I have have small cup shaped baitholder-and triggers the trap.Just put the Cheerios in the baitholder and set-next morning-Mousy is gone smacked in the trap-one time one of my traps caught the mouse by its foot-he gave me that look-"Would you PLEASE let me out of this!"-so I released mouse outside-with a stern warning to "Watch for cats!"My front yard is a meeting place for the neighbors and other cats.Oh boy--mouse season is coming!Will have to clean up and get my traps ready-use new plastic-metal Victor ones-not the wood ones-the electronic traps sound interesting.