Guest guest Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 Greetings. Does anyone know if any of those ultrasonic and/or electromagnetic pest repellers really work, and how many are needed? I live in an old, drafty, two story house (plus basement and attic) that's being overrun by mice. I've tried patching the obvious holes and cracks around the crumbling basement windows, but the house is in such bad shape that it's probably not possible to find and fill all the places where mice can get in. The only option (short of moving, which I can't afford) seems to be to persuade them to go away and stay away. (I do not consider killing them an option, or I wouldn't be here.) I do have some live traps, and when I catch mice in them I release the mice in some woods more than a mile away from my house, in the hope that those same mice will not find their way back. But that doesn't stop *new* mice from coming in to replace them. Also, my mother just found out this morning that there are rats in her garage, and she's kind of freaked out about that. I'd like to be able to offer her a reliable and effective alternative to calling an exterminator. Anybody know of something that really works? (On another, related topic, where can she get a covered compost bin? We've been told that composting will not attract rats, but she's convinced that the rats are coming because of the compost on the side of the house, and then going into the garage for shelter.) Jim Sinclair jisincla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Hi Jim; I'm glad you had an easy time with the cheese issue! :-) Were other animal products difficult for you to give up? My husband didn't care so much about dairy products, but he craved meat for a long time. About the mice... I have heard some people sware by the ultrasonic repellent. Might be worth a try for your own house. And yes, rat-proof composters ARE available. That probably would help your Mom a LOT. Deborah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 On Wed, 9 Mar 2005, Deborah Pageau wrote: > > Hi Jim; > > I'm glad you had an easy time with the cheese issue! :-) Were other > animal products difficult for you to give up? My husband didn't care so > much about dairy products, but he craved meat for a long time. Nope. I was thoroughly repulsed by meat from the time I first learned what it was, around the age of five or six. My parents wouldn't let me become a vegetarian until I was about fourteen (they didn't really " let " me become a vegetarian even then; I just got too big for them to force!), so during the years I was still eating meat, it was under duress and not something I enjoyed. I didn't become vegan until later, after I learned about the issues involved in dairy and egg production. But, even though I'd grown up eating dairy and eggs, I didn't and don't miss them. Some particular foods containing them, yes: like pizza and macaroni & cheese before I found Tofutti cheese. And I used to make whole wheat and cinammon pancakes. If I had a good recipe for eggless pancakes, I'd like to make them again. I'm also disappointed at not being able to find a recipe for really *good* eggless matzo balls. All the vegan matzo ball recipes I've tried either fell apart, or just didn't taste like matzo balls. So I've missed a few " multi-ingredient " foods that *contain* dairy or eggs. But I've never missed or felt any cravings for meat, dairy, or eggs all by themselves. (In fact, just as I never liked dairy cheese much but now like Tofutti cheese, I used to eat scrambled eggs or vegetable omelets and think they were all right, but now I make scrambled tofu and like it WAAAAY better!) > About the mice... I have heard some people sware by the ultrasonic > repellent. Might be worth a try for your own house. Any particular brands that have proven effectiveness? I've seen them ranging from plain sonic ones for about $13, to sonic + electromagnetic + " ionic " (?) for $50 or more. Do the cheap ones work? Are the expensive ones worth the cost? > And yes, rat-proof composters ARE available. That probably would help > your Mom a LOT. Where can she buy them? We've been to Home Depot, with no luck. Thanks for the information. Jim Sinclair jisincla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2005 Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Hiya Jim, I had some mice move into my last house. I got an ultrasonic sounder. I think I saw some improvement (i.e., less mouse crap...) but I moved house soon after so I don't know if they all left in time. Got no comments from the guy that bought the house though, so hopefully it did the trick. Maybe you could try one out in a pet store (look for any mice covering their ears!), but they aren't too expensive so is probably worth going for. And if I remember rightly, there's a certain smell they can't stand also - I think it's garlic so maybe it's worth trying that as well. Cheers, James - Jim Sinclair Tuesday, March 08, 2005 3:26 PM Humane mouse and rat control? Greetings. Does anyone know if any of those ultrasonic and/or electromagnetic pest repellers really work, and how many are needed? I live in an old, drafty, two story house (plus basement and attic) that's being overrun by mice. I've tried patching the obvious holes and cracks around the crumbling basement windows, but the house is in such bad shape that it's probably not possible to find and fill all the places where mice can get in. The only option (short of moving, which I can't afford) seems to be to persuade them to go away and stay away. (I do not consider killing them an option, or I wouldn't be here.) I do have some live traps, and when I catch mice in them I release the mice in some woods more than a mile away from my house, in the hope that those same mice will not find their way back. But that doesn't stop *new* mice from coming in to replace them. Also, my mother just found out this morning that there are rats in her garage, and she's kind of freaked out about that. I'd like to be able to offer her a reliable and effective alternative to calling an exterminator. Anybody know of something that really works? (On another, related topic, where can she get a covered compost bin? We've been told that composting will not attract rats, but she's convinced that the rats are coming because of the compost on the side of the house, and then going into the garage for shelter.) Jim Sinclair jisincla Post message: Subscribe: - Un: - List owner: -owner Shortcut URL to this page: /community/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 >Nope. I was thoroughly repulsed by meat from the time I first learned what >it was, around the age of five or six. My parents wouldn't let me become a >vegetarian until I was about fourteen (they didn't really " let " me become >a vegetarian even then; I just got too big for them to force!),... That's similar to what happened to me. I had the epiphany when I was about 7 (grade 2), and was " forced " to eat meat anyway. They did it by teaching me (wrongly) that meat was required to grow up strong and healthy. I believed them until I was 30 when I found out that they were wrong about that, and I quit eating meat immediately after that. I'd already given up eating dairy the year before. >Any particular brands that have proven effectiveness? I've seen them >ranging from plain sonic ones for about $13, to sonic + electromagnetic >+ " ionic " (?) for $50 or more. Do the cheap ones work? Are the expensive >ones worth the cost? I did a search on the topic, and found this article: http://www.ipmofalaska.comhousemouse.html Sounds like the perceived effectiveness of sonic devices may be more from placebo effect than anything else. There's lots of other ideas on that page though. I hope you find something that will work for you! >> rat-proof composters >Where can she buy them? We've been to Home Depot, with no luck. >Thanks for the information. This article describes the tire method of construction. Cheap and easy! :-) http://wildlifeproblems.ncf.ca/other.html This one talks about building a bin using 1/2 inch welded wire mesh. http://www.dalkeyhomepage.ie/compost.html Here's a commercial one. Pricey though! http://www.babblog.com/Jan_05/013105_JL_Babble.htm I like the tire idea personally. It would be easy to take apart for digging out the compost too! Deborah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 At the risk of some, The natural way is to find a cat that is a mouser. They'll leave. Not all cats are mousers though. Just like bacteria, and mosquitos, not all creatures are compatible with people. And, you can adopt a cat that would otherwise be killed. James Hodgskiss wrote: > Hiya Jim, > > I had some mice move into my last house. I got an ultrasonic sounder. > I think I saw some improvement (i.e., less mouse crap...) but I moved > house soon after so I don't know if they all left in time. Got no > comments from the guy that bought the house though, so hopefully it > did the trick. > > Maybe you could try one out in a pet store (look for any mice covering > their ears!), but they aren't too expensive so is probably worth going > for. > > And if I remember rightly, there's a certain smell they can't stand > also - I think it's garlic so maybe it's worth trying that as well. > > Cheers, > James > - > Jim Sinclair > > Tuesday, March 08, 2005 3:26 PM > Humane mouse and rat control? > > > > Greetings. > > Does anyone know if any of those ultrasonic and/or electromagnetic pest > repellers really work, and how many are needed? I live in an old, > drafty, > two story house (plus basement and attic) that's being overrun by mice. > I've tried patching the obvious holes and cracks around the crumbling > basement windows, but the house is in such bad shape that it's probably > not possible to find and fill all the places where mice can get in. The > only option (short of moving, which I can't afford) seems to be to > persuade them to go away and stay away. (I do not consider killing > them an > option, or I wouldn't be here.) I do have some live traps, and when I > catch mice in them I release the mice in some woods more than a mile > away > from my house, in the hope that those same mice will not find their way > back. But that doesn't stop *new* mice from coming in to replace them. > > Also, my mother just found out this morning that there are rats in her > garage, and she's kind of freaked out about that. I'd like to be able > to offer her a reliable and effective alternative to calling an > exterminator. Anybody know of something that really works? (On another, > related topic, where can she get a covered compost bin? We've been told > that composting will not attract rats, but she's convinced that the rats > are coming because of the compost on the side of the house, and then > going > into the garage for shelter.) > > Jim Sinclair jisincla > > > Post message: > Subscribe: - > Un: - > List owner: -owner > > Shortcut URL to this page: > /community/ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 There are 2 cookbooks that have vegan matzoh ball recipes out there (you may know about them), but I admit they're not great. If you follow the sephardic rules, I believe you can use tofu. -Amy - Jim Sinclair Wednesday, March 09, 2005 3:49 PM Re: Humane mouse and rat control? On Wed, 9 Mar 2005, Deborah Pageau wrote: > > Hi Jim; > > I'm glad you had an easy time with the cheese issue! :-) Were other > animal products difficult for you to give up? My husband didn't care so > much about dairy products, but he craved meat for a long time. Nope. I was thoroughly repulsed by meat from the time I first learned what it was, around the age of five or six. My parents wouldn't let me become a vegetarian until I was about fourteen (they didn't really " let " me become a vegetarian even then; I just got too big for them to force!), so during the years I was still eating meat, it was under duress and not something I enjoyed. I didn't become vegan until later, after I learned about the issues involved in dairy and egg production. But, even though I'd grown up eating dairy and eggs, I didn't and don't miss them. Some particular foods containing them, yes: like pizza and macaroni & cheese before I found Tofutti cheese. And I used to make whole wheat and cinammon pancakes. If I had a good recipe for eggless pancakes, I'd like to make them again. I'm also disappointed at not being able to find a recipe for really *good* eggless matzo balls. All the vegan matzo ball recipes I've tried either fell apart, or just didn't taste like matzo balls. So I've missed a few " multi-ingredient " foods that *contain* dairy or eggs. But I've never missed or felt any cravings for meat, dairy, or eggs all by themselves. (In fact, just as I never liked dairy cheese much but now like Tofutti cheese, I used to eat scrambled eggs or vegetable omelets and think they were all right, but now I make scrambled tofu and like it WAAAAY better!) > About the mice... I have heard some people sware by the ultrasonic > repellent. Might be worth a try for your own house. Any particular brands that have proven effectiveness? I've seen them ranging from plain sonic ones for about $13, to sonic + electromagnetic + " ionic " (?) for $50 or more. Do the cheap ones work? Are the expensive ones worth the cost? > And yes, rat-proof composters ARE available. That probably would help > your Mom a LOT. Where can she buy them? We've been to Home Depot, with no luck. Thanks for the information. Jim Sinclair jisincla Post message: Subscribe: - Un: - List owner: -owner Shortcut URL to this page: /community/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 12, 2005 Report Share Posted March 12, 2005 That sounds like a good option. Just the smell of a cat may be enough to put the mice off - even if it's a really old cat that can't be bothered to move!.... - Bob C Thursday, March 10, 2005 12:28 PM Re: Humane mouse and rat control? At the risk of some, The natural way is to find a cat that is a mouser. They'll leave. Not all cats are mousers though. Just like bacteria, and mosquitos, not all creatures are compatible with people. And, you can adopt a cat that would otherwise be killed. James Hodgskiss wrote: > Hiya Jim, > > I had some mice move into my last house. I got an ultrasonic sounder. > I think I saw some improvement (i.e., less mouse crap...) but I moved > house soon after so I don't know if they all left in time. Got no > comments from the guy that bought the house though, so hopefully it > did the trick. > > Maybe you could try one out in a pet store (look for any mice covering > their ears!), but they aren't too expensive so is probably worth going > for. > > And if I remember rightly, there's a certain smell they can't stand > also - I think it's garlic so maybe it's worth trying that as well. > > Cheers, > James > - > Jim Sinclair > > Tuesday, March 08, 2005 3:26 PM > Humane mouse and rat control? > > > > Greetings. > > Does anyone know if any of those ultrasonic and/or electromagnetic pest > repellers really work, and how many are needed? I live in an old, > drafty, > two story house (plus basement and attic) that's being overrun by mice. > I've tried patching the obvious holes and cracks around the crumbling > basement windows, but the house is in such bad shape that it's probably > not possible to find and fill all the places where mice can get in. The > only option (short of moving, which I can't afford) seems to be to > persuade them to go away and stay away. (I do not consider killing > them an > option, or I wouldn't be here.) I do have some live traps, and when I > catch mice in them I release the mice in some woods more than a mile > away > from my house, in the hope that those same mice will not find their way > back. But that doesn't stop *new* mice from coming in to replace them. > > Also, my mother just found out this morning that there are rats in her > garage, and she's kind of freaked out about that. I'd like to be able > to offer her a reliable and effective alternative to calling an > exterminator. Anybody know of something that really works? (On another, > related topic, where can she get a covered compost bin? We've been told > that composting will not attract rats, but she's convinced that the rats > are coming because of the compost on the side of the house, and then > going > into the garage for shelter.) > > Jim Sinclair jisincla > > > > > > > > > > Post message: > Subscribe: - > Un: - > List owner: -owner > > Shortcut URL to this page: > /community/ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2005 Report Share Posted March 14, 2005 On Thu, 10 Mar 2005, Bob C wrote: > At the risk of some, > The natural way is to find a cat that is a mouser. > They'll leave. Not all cats are mousers though. Not humane, and not even effective. I currently have *seven* cats, all rescues (two of whom would be much better off in homes without dogs--anybody want to adopt a cat who's already happily adapted to a vegan diet??). They're all staying with my mother right now, and I'd like to get the mice out of my house before I bring the cats back. The mice have been here for years. It was a year an a half ago that I tried patching the holes around the basement windows and live-trapping the mice in hopes of getting them all out before winter. Then my father died, and I packed up all the dogs and cats and went to Michigan to take care of things, and the cats have mostly been there (at my mom's house) ever since. Before that, when the cats were here, the mice did not leave. They did mostly learn to stay out of the cats' way, except every time a new litter of baby mice got big enough to start exploring, there would be a new rash of catches before the surviving young mice learned to avoid the cats, and then started breeding the next generation. And I kept having to drop whatever I was doing (including sleeping) to jump up at all hours of the day and night, whenever I heard the panicked squeak of a caught mouse or the characteristic rush of a cat making a catch, and race to find out which cat it was, and where it was, and try to get the mouse away from it alive. And when I wasn't home or didn't hear it or slept through it, I'd find torn-up dead mice in the bathtub or on my bed. This is not something I want to live with. I don't want killing to go on in my house. :-( > Just like bacteria, and mosquitos, not all creatures are compatible with > people. True. This is why I want to get the mice OUT of my house. But I don't want to kill them. I don't mind killing dangerous bacteria. They're not sentient. I'm not sure whether or not mosquitoes have consciousness, but just in case they do, I prefer using screens and repellents rather than killing them. But mice are definitely conscious and aware. And while they are annoying me a lot and damaging some property, they are not threatening my life. So I don't find it acceptable for me to take their lives. > And, you can adopt a cat that would otherwise be killed. That's why I already have seven cats (not to mention three dogs)! I don't need to aopt any more cats. I need to find people to adopt a couple of cats from me! Jim Sinclair jisincla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2005 Report Share Posted March 14, 2005 Jim Sinclair wrote: > > On Thu, 10 Mar 2005, Bob C wrote: > > > At the risk of some, > > The natural way is to find a cat that is a mouser. > > They'll leave. Not all cats are mousers though. > > Not humane, and not even effective. Some cats are mouses, other's are not. I had a terrible mouse problem in South Dakota, and nothing worked except the right cat. They left. I don't share my home with every organism. Rodents can and will make you sick. > I currently have *seven* cats, all > rescues (two of whom would be much better off in homes without > dogs--anybody want to adopt a cat who's already happily adapted to a vegan > diet??). They're all staying with my mother right now, and I'd like to get > the mice out of my house before I bring the cats back. > > The mice have been here for years. It was a year an a half ago that I > tried patching the holes around the basement windows and live-trapping the > mice in hopes of getting them all out before winter. Then my father died, > and I packed up all the dogs and cats and went to Michigan to take care of > things, and the cats have mostly been there (at my mom's house) ever > since. Before that, when the cats were here, the mice did not leave. They > did mostly learn to stay out of the cats' way, except every time a new > litter of baby mice got big enough to start exploring, there would be a > new rash of catches before the surviving young mice learned to avoid the > cats, and then started breeding the next generation. And I kept having to > drop whatever I was doing (including sleeping) to jump up at all hours of > the day and night, whenever I heard the panicked squeak of a caught mouse > or the characteristic rush of a cat making a catch, and race to find out > which cat it was, and where it was, and try to get the mouse away from it > alive. And when I wasn't home or didn't hear it or slept through it, I'd > find torn-up dead mice in the bathtub or on my bed. This is not something > I want to live with. I don't want killing to go on in my house. :-( > > > Just like bacteria, and mosquitos, not all creatures are compatible with > > people. > > True. This is why I want to get the mice OUT of my house. But I don't want > to kill them. I don't mind killing dangerous bacteria. They're not > sentient. I'm not sure whether or not mosquitoes have consciousness, but > just in case they do, I prefer using screens and repellents rather than > killing them. But mice are definitely conscious and aware. And while they > are annoying me a lot and damaging some property, they are not threatening > my life. So I don't find it acceptable for me to take their lives. > > > And, you can adopt a cat that would otherwise be killed. > > That's why I already have seven cats (not to mention three dogs)! I don't > need to aopt any more cats. I need to find people to adopt a couple of > cats from me! > > Jim Sinclair jisincla > > > > > > > Post message: > Subscribe: - > Un: - > List owner: -owner > > Shortcut URL to this page: > /community/ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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