Landlord refusing HVAC duct cleaning after a dead mouse

[quincy]

Then they are likely wasting their time coming out.

Mice are more likely to nest in walls than in attics. They like to nest near food sources. Raccoons and squirrels like attics.

 

[LdiJ]

Mice are more likely to nest in walls than in attics. They like to nest near food sources. Raccoons and squirrels like attics.

In my experience that depends on what is in the attic. If the attic is full of good nesting choices they like the attic just as much as the squirrels and raccoons.

 

[quincy]

In my experience that depends on what is in the attic. If the attic is full of good nesting choices they like the attic just as much as the squirrels and raccoons.

Being near a food source is their primary concern, which generally means nesting close to the kitchen, but sure. They can nest anywhere.

 

[stealth2]

Our most satisfactory mouse deterrent has been having cats (although, admittedly, our cats prefer torturing the poor mice by swatting them back and forth like a toy rather than killing them).

My hounds are more effective than the cats. I admit to always rooting for the mouse, regardless. When possible, they are subject to catch & release.

 

[quincy]

My hounds are more effective than the cats. I admit to always rooting for the mouse, regardless. When possible, they are subject to catch & release.

Baby mice are really cute. It is hard to look at them and believe they are destructive little critters.

Our dogs have shown absolutely no interest in mice.

 

[stealth2]

Baby mice are really cute.

O/T, I know, but you reminded me of something my Dad used to say: "Even a baby warthog is beautiful to its mother."

 

[LdiJ]

Being near a food source is their primary concern, which generally means nesting close to the kitchen, but sure. They can nest anywhere.

The last mouse nest we found in my house was at the opposite end of the house from the kitchen, inside an old shoe. Years ago it was in the insulation in the attic. We have never found one near the kitchen. I can see, how in theory that might be the case, but in my house at least, the areas near the kitchen are just too busy.

 

[quincy]

The last mouse nest we found in my house was at the opposite end of the house from the kitchen, inside an old shoe. Years ago it was in the insulation in the attic. We have never found one near the kitchen. I can see, how in theory that might be the case, but in my house at least, the areas near the kitchen are just too busy.

Well, mice generally venture out at night to scavenge for food, so typically you will find them within close proximity to the kitchen - but, yes, they can nest pretty much anywhere.

 

[FarmerJ]

After the cat we brought up here from the cities aged to a point that she couldnt catch mice any more then she passed away our mouse population grew then we got T from a neighbor and what a good mouser not only did we stop seeing evidence in the house BUT he would go out side every day for a while and work the barn and in growing season he would work the rows of produce hiding under bigger leaves like squash and pumpkin leaves to a point where we saw less and less mouse damage to the things we grew. SO where im going is ask the LL for consent to get a cat. Keep in mind not only are all cats not equal when it comes to hunting mice but you will be responsible for any damage the cat does like peeing on the floor if the litter box isnt clean enough.

 

[AlmostThere]

Baby mice are really cute. It is hard to look at them and believe they are destructive little critters.

Our dogs have shown absolutely no interest in mice.

You should try a Jack Russell Terrier. They are incredible mousers. But then you have a Jack Russell Terrier, who can be difficult in its own right.

 

[FarmerJ]

The springer here loves to pick up mice with his mouth , and toss them around as well as beating them up with a paw the same way a cat would and of the three cats here the one which was abandoned by the grandson and the one with no front nails ( she was given to us after she had been de clawed but her owner discovered she was allergic to cats ) are the mouse hunters of the three but what counts is that we are not seeing evidence of mice.

 

[quincy]

The springer here loves to pick up mice with his mouth , and toss them around as well as beating them up with a paw the same way a cat would and of the three cats here the one which was abandoned by the grandson and the one with no front nails ( she was given to us after she had been de clawed but her owner discovered she was allergic to cats ) are the mouse hunters of the three but what counts is that we are not seeing evidence of mice.

The major problem with cats as mouse-catchers is that they often like to present you with the mouse once they’ve killed it. It is a bit disturbing to wake up in bed to find a cat dangling a dead mouse over your head.

 

[Zigner]

The major problem with cats as mouse-catchers is that they often like to present you with the mouse once they’ve killed it. It is a bit disturbing to wake up in bed to find a cat dangling a dead mouse over your head.

When I was young (~14) my cat decided that the middle of my bedroom was the right place to drop (and eat) a gopher.

 

[stealth2]

The major problem with cats as mouse-catchers is that they often like to present you with the mouse once they’ve killed it. It is a bit disturbing to wake up in bed to find a cat dangling a dead mouse over your head.

We had a cat growing up who was partial to gifting me mice and birds with relative frequency.

When I was young (~14) my cat decided that the middle of my bedroom was the right place to drop (and eat) a gopher.

Same cat as above once brought us an owl. She managed to get it into the basement (Dad had put in a cat door for her down there), but couldn't manage to get it upstairs. It was bigger than she was.

 

[AlmostThere]

Our OP is probably not as amused with our digression as we are.