Mouse Problem

[rdidio]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Syracuse NY


I live in an apartment complex with on-site management. I discovered about a week ago that I had a mouse problem... a mouse had torn up a dish rag and I was finding mouse droppings under my kitchen sink and around the kitchen. I stopped by the office yesterday and they gave me poison I could leave out. I wasn't comfortable using that because I have 2 dogs and didn't want issues with them getting ahold of the bait or the mice. So anyway, I went and picked up some traps yesterday afternoon.

I discovered last night that my mouse problem was worse than I expected... I caught 7 mice in about 3 hours. The only reason it stopped there was because I went to bed and couldn't empty the traps. The mice are living in the walls and I know exactly where they're coming in from... a hole in the kitchen cabinet that links the dishwasher to the sink.

My question is - is there any sort of law or anything that requires management to do something about this problem?

The office is closed on Sundays so I'm going back tomorrow to tell them that the issue is worse than I expected. I just don't want to be responsible for it especially because the mice are living in the wall. There's probably an entire nest in there.

Thanks!

 

[BL]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Syracuse NY


I live in an apartment complex with on-site management. I discovered about a week ago that I had a mouse problem... a mouse had torn up a dish rag and I was finding mouse droppings under my kitchen sink and around the kitchen. I stopped by the office yesterday and they gave me poison I could leave out. I wasn't comfortable using that because I have 2 dogs and didn't want issues with them getting ahold of the bait or the mice. So anyway, I went and picked up some traps yesterday afternoon.

I discovered last night that my mouse problem was worse than I expected... I caught 7 mice in about 3 hours. The only reason it stopped there was because I went to bed and couldn't empty the traps. The mice are living in the walls and I know exactly where they're coming in from... a hole in the kitchen cabinet that links the dishwasher to the sink.

My question is - is there any sort of law or anything that requires management to do something about this problem?

The office is closed on Sundays so I'm going back tomorrow to tell them that the issue is worse than I expected. I just don't want to be responsible for it especially because the mice are living in the wall. There's probably an entire nest in there.

Thanks!

They offered you poison and you refused .It's not their problem you have pets and don't want to put the poison down.

How many units in the building though ?

Perhaps maintenance can block up the hole , but that isn't going to solve the rodent issue .

Id suggest taking the poison and putting it down and containing your pets for a while .

If your building really has a bad issue with rodents , perhaps a pro should be called in.

Give management the benefit of the doubt for the time being and take what they offer you .

 

[rdidio]

Thanks for the response!

There's 14 units in every building and about 20 buildings in the complex. I've been here since September and this is the first issue I've had with mice.

My main concern with my dogs is if they get ahold of a mouse that has eaten the poison. I work during the day and obviously cannot control whether or not the mice go anywhere near my dogs. I am going away with my dogs next week so I will definitely put the poison down then.

I'm hoping management will be able to get an exterminator or something. I'll see what they say tomorrow.

Thanks again!

 

[Gail in Georgia]

A professional exteriminator will do exactly what you have done (and management has suggested doing); place traps and poison bait for the mice.

Just a suggestion...you might find it less "smelly" to continue the mouse trap business. The problem with poison is that yes, mice will eat this, then go back into the walls and die. However, this may result in several weeks of an odor of decay that many would find offensive.

Stuffing any holes that you think might be mouse entrances with steel wool will help plug up the way they've been getting into your unit.

In addition, try storing all boxed food in "unchewable" containers (coffee cans are good for this; so is storing these food products in the refrigerator).

Gail

 

[atomizer]

Putting out bate within the walls and then sealing with steal wool is an excellent idea. You may however notice a foul smell in the next few weeks as the mice die and decay within your home. If you have enough of these critters within the walls, it will not be an easy task and might actually take weeks to resolve. In the meantime, eliminate all possible sources of water and food. That includes taking away the dog food tray, placing the dog food bag in plastic containers and not leaving any left over food in plates. You must also take out the trash EVERY night.

 

[rdidio]

Thank you!!

I didn't know about the steel wool... I'll have to try that as well.

I only caught one mouse last night, so that leads me to believe that I hopefully got them all. Still going to talk to management this afternoon and see if they want to do the exterminator route.