Pests?

[Adam F]

Help please!!

A few months ago we started to hear scratching noises above our bedroom in the loft, further inspection revealed the previous owners battles as we found numerous bait trays and bait packets, plus quite a few droppings, but all old and dry - nothing new.

East we thought - a few trays of bait and traps will do the trick - no! :evil: The scratching continued... even normal food items placed around remained untouched.

Birds we thought - we'd seen the odd one entering the eaves, so we blocked up all the gaps that could be used....no luck, scratching still remains.

It is getting to the stage of obsessive and its ruining my sleep where I am kept awake. I'm convinced it's mice from the noise as I cant think of anything else that would make such a noise - it's similar to dragging and scratching your nails across a plaster ceiling.

Any ideas??

 

[Mark]

where are you?

what are the droppings like?

 

[Adam F]

Mark,

We are in North Dorset.

The droppings are about the size of a pencil tip - pretty small. I'm 99% sure they are mice?

No fresh ones though - all crumble when pressed, I havent been able to find any fresh.

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Sounds mousey.

Bait your traps with chocolate spread. We use this in live capture traps and it has never failed to deliver one of our furry friends.

 

[worms]

Mouse or mice?

Its amazing how much noise a single field mouse can make and how little evidence it leaves behind – unlike the house mouse which nibbles everything, leaving a urine trail and droppings everywhere. As mentioned above, chocolate is the answer! Either in a traditional trap or a live capture one, if you prefer (this is Ok for the field mouse which will survive happily if evicted unlike its domestic cousin).

 

[Adam F]

Thanks for the replies. I dont mind the mice, its the not knowing thats the worse - it all sounds quite sinister in the black of night!

We have fields on 3 sides and it has been pretty cold of late so it all points towards them. We dont have any choccy spread but I'll get some at the w/e.

In the meantime I have set master plan B which invloves a host of other treats, a small lamp and a camcorder!

 

[MdB]

How about bats?

Bat droppings and mouse droppings are very similar apart from the fact that bat droppings are very dry. It would also explain why the food / bait isn't being touched.

If it is bats, your roof is likely to be only used as a summer roost and its a bit early for that normally but as spring seems to occur earlier every year then that is possible.

Do the droppings occur in any relationship to roof beams where they might be hanging?

Scratching noise may be them coming in / out through the tiles.

(oh and bats are lovely, all the local houses here have them)

If it is mice then peanut butter works well here

 

[DaveBrigg]

We have scratching noises in the roof, and it's definitely birds. They must be educated, because we often hear the patter of tiny feet as the bedtime story starts. It used to just be sparrows, but on the last couple of cold mornings I've noticed starlings trying to make themselves at home too.

 

[PC]

I would suggest what you have found is bat droppings.

The droppings and the noises may be completly unrelated?

Bat droppings when rubbed between fingers will powder. The noises may be birds or mice.

PC

 

[yamin]

I suggest a large cross and contacting the local priest!! (Sorry, sure its mice, but an amiable ghost who loves 'hairy maclary' is SO much more interesting!!)

Good luck with the exorcism oops, eviction!!!!!

Yamin

 

[Adam F]

Well plan B drew a blank, the video is blank.

I left a little row of fresh apple, dried fruit and cheese across one of the joists and 2 days later they havent been touched, yet the scratching still persists! :x

I really dont mind what it is (ghosts aside! ) I'd just like to know and then prevent it.

Choccy spread on the traps tonight.

The noise just seems too loud for birds??

 

[Ian Bond]

If it's any consolation, we have mice here, and they are tricky little critters - very hard to trap. Sometimes they even manage to take the bait without springing the traps.

Choccy spread sounds ideal. All your food talk is making me hungry so I'm off for me tea.

Good hunting!

 

[Raylea]

Chocolate spread is a good idea, however doesn't it remain soft. We melt a piece and then stick it to the trap and then let it go hard. Little critters can't get it off and wham. Sorry I love animals an all but if they don't belong inside they have got to go by any means. Could you have a tall tree branch rubbing on the roof if you no seeing any new evidence of life? Hope you have success soon.
Raylea

 

[Penners]

bats are lovely, all the local houses here have them

Bats are also protected. It's illegal to disturb them. If you want to know more, see if your local authority can put you in touch with a Bat Warden. He/she will be able to explain (a) whether it is bats, and (b) what you may or may not do about them.

However, as has already been suggested, this is probably a mouse or mice. In the dead of night things sound much louder and more scarey! If you decide on another attempt to trap, I can recommend the newer type of plastic moustrap. It looks a bit like a set of grey false teeth, with a flat tongue between the two sets of choppers. The tongue is pre-baited with a chocolate-scented chemical.

I once caught 21 mice in a week with one of these. Honestly!