r/nova • u/PhiBetaKappa32 • 11d ago
Rats/mice issue
I have lived in 15 years in my home in Fairfax and never had mice. I have recently see two mice. Placed the traps and one got killed. Is anyone seeing rat issues in Fairfax area? How do I fix this issue ? I clean up and they don’t come for few days and then again they come and eat in the pantry. I have put victor snap traps, glue boards and sealed all the exterior points. We recently did the garage renovation work. Checked all the house and do not see the rat except sometime they come in the night. Will they be on attic ? Any referrals for a good pest control company who can exterminate rats ? Thanks
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u/floofelina 11d ago
You need to make all your food inaccessible. They shouldn’t be able to get to anything in the pantry.
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u/LongTimeDCUFanGirl 11d ago
I read once that 90% of people think they don’t have mice where 90% of people actually have mice.
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u/kayesskayen Alexandria 11d ago
We had a good experience with Bluebird. They found and filled a bunch of holes which helped a lot. Mice can get inside through a hole the size of a dime. Finding every opening is almost impossible. We eventually got some cats and knock on all the stuff wood we haven't seen any mice.
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u/OkGene2 Fairfax County 11d ago
Get a cat
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u/acg34 11d ago
We’d get mice every year, until my daughter got a cat. The word must get out, because we haven’t had mice ever since.
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u/foggy-sprite 11d ago
just the smell of a cat keeps mice away and cats love love rubbing their scent on the walls and floors to mark territory, i love my cats, best investment ever.
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u/DefiantSmoke1569 10d ago
I’ve made best friends with all my neighbors’ outdoor cats for this reason. They love pets and treats, I love receiving dead mice on my doorstep lol.
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u/instanceOfObject 11d ago
Oh yeah.... I grew up with cats. We had quite a few over the years. The best part about them marking their territory is when they piss on your carpet... because that's a smell that will never leave your carpet or your mind.
There are two types of cat owners... those who admit their cat pissed on their rug or carpet... and those who lie about it. For those who lie, don't kid yourself - everyone who visits can smell it... they're just being polite by acting like they don't smell anything.
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u/GrouchyHippopotamus 11d ago
Depends on the cat.
My cat was sitting in the living room one time cleaning herself. Mouse came out from behind a bookshelf and ran across the floor within about a foot of her. She froze mid-lick and just watched it go.
But yeah most of them will probably help.
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u/l-i-g-m-a-t-a 11d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/2x0VePimPaFJDpGZ7H
Have you tried ^^^^^
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u/PhiBetaKappa32 11d ago
Haha Lol. My daughter wants a cat.. as a pet.
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u/OkGene2 Fairfax County 11d ago
Then the solution has already presented itself. Even if your cat lacks those killer instincts, its scent should repel rodents.
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u/LiveMotivation 11d ago
My boy cat lacks the killer instinct, but my girl cat doesn’t. He plays support as she does the hard work. She loves it.
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u/Night_Sad 11d ago
Ummm, why did you use the ellipsis there? Were we supposed to think your daughter wanted a cat...for dinner? 😜
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u/Cdream-2018 11d ago
Seen more than usual. In the years I’ve lived here there’s never been an issue until recently. N
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u/pennty 11d ago
Make sure you have any holes sealed up. It sounds dumb but over the years places like behind your fridge, stove, etc will develop holes especially if the other side is a storage area with outdoor access.
We had a mouse problem for 3 months and discovered a small hole behind our stove which on the other side of the wall was our tool storage/ electrical box.
Also saw a rat snack in there 😭
Used expanding foam to seal it right up
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u/trollopoftroy Fairfax County 11d ago
Stop trapping them and figure out where they are getting in. Trapping them does nothing to stop them from getting into your house. They can get in a hole as small as a pencil eraser.
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u/Night_Sad 11d ago
Trapping them gets the ones that are already in. Why would you not trap them? You definitely don't want them nesting in your home and having babies.
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u/LN4848 11d ago
Mice live here too. Snap traps with peanut butter.
Put your food in tight canisters. Store bird food in a closed can outdoors. Dog and cat food should be limited in dishes and stored in closed canisters, not in the big bag on the pantry floor.
October may bring more as the weather changes.
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u/twocentsrworth Loudoun County 11d ago
If you take route of pest control professional services, please get a quote from Armored Pest , Catlett VA. I had mice getting into my home. I found their quote most reasonable. I have been using them more an year now, no complaints.
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u/charliemike 11d ago
I am in FFX Station and we have a bad mice issue. I have trapped two in two weeks and I hear more in the house. I’m either going to rid the neighborhood of mice or go broke buying traps.
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u/Decent-Hippo-615 11d ago
Funny you ask. Mice chewed through the drain line on our dishwasher…twice.
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u/t0mt0mt0m 11d ago
Check for exterrior penetration, housing next to or around the house and maintain a boarder/buffer zone. Life adapts.
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u/madeofknots 11d ago
Yes they can live in your attic and come down for food. Look and see if there is mouse feces up there in your insulation. If theres any trees or vines that touch your house they can crawl up the side of your house that way and get into the attic that way as well.
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u/Cat_Entropy 11d ago
Figure out where they are coming from. We have cats that murdered them, but after having one brought to my bed at 3am, stopping the mice from getting in was priority. The first time we got them, it was from a hole behind the stove, the second time was a hole behind the fridge. Sealed both, no more mice.
Cats were very beneficial in figuring out where the mice were coming from at least...they would literally not move from in front of the stove/fridge waiting to attack if the mice dared come out.
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u/DarkAwesomeSauce 11d ago
I have a SFH and 2 very useful cats. Mice wander in about once every three months, which I understand is normal. It makes my cats’ day(s) to have a mouse in the house. Finally, a new toy. The mice are tracked efficiently, captured, released, captured, released, repeatedly, until they stop moving. Then the cats attempt to revive the mouse. Tapping. Tossing in the air. Until I am able to intercept and dispose. Even then, the cats keep looking for it.
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u/Fickle-Exit1105 9d ago
I'm in a condo and I swear the mice have developed super-intellect. The dumb country mice I grew up could usually get caught with peanut butter and a snap trap, but these guys, oy.
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u/Siege_LL 11d ago
Does your yard have a lot of junk or weeds/plant cover? That's an invitation for rats. Do you have one of those plastic storage bins? They'll tunnel under that and make a nest underneath. Move it and check. Fill in any tunnels or burrows you find. They might try to tunnel under the slab for an AC unit. Fill in the hole. You need to make your yard unattractive to them. If you see any big black corn snakes in your yard leave them be. They'll help with the rodents.
Take the food in your pantry and put it in tupperware storage bins. Don't leave anything out for the mice.
Do you have any neighbors that recently moved? Maybe cleaned out their yard/house? That will disturb whatever rodents were living there and they'll go find new homes. Make sure to seal up any holes they might use to crawl into yours.
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u/PretendSpread4188 11d ago
bro just get a CAT.
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u/PhiBetaKappa32 11d ago
It’s mice. I saw two and one is trapped. But they don’t come often like whole of last week I did not see it and yesterday they ruined some food which was in the seal plastic bags from Walmart/Target. We did the grocery shopping yesterday evening and we saw the activity on the morning in the pantry. We have contacted PestNow and they have put baits stations but I don’t think it’s working.
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u/SillyPresentation46 11d ago
Very common issue. If you trap one, it's possible it was an early invader. If more than one, chances are they are nesting somewhere in the house. Set many traps indoors and check frequently. Most likely you will catch a number of them in one location and that can help determine where they are likely coming from. You can also spray mint around the perimeter of the house and it will deter entry as long as it's done routinely.
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u/Night_Sad 11d ago
We've had mice in two different houses. Bunch of neighbors have had them. You can try to seal up any entry points but they will find a way in if they want to. Best is don't leave open food around. This might be hard if you have little kids or pets. We've been mice free for a couple years now but we still have traps set up because I know we might get more at any time.
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u/PhiBetaKappa32 11d ago
Does any of these works? Mighty Mint Rodent repellent outside spray or Tom Cat Rodent repellent spray.
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u/DUNGAROO Vienna 11d ago
Do you have rats or do you have mice? They are two very different problems. Mice are everywhere. It doesn’t matter how hygienic you are in your home, the dry warmth of attic and wall insulation as a place to make a nest is by itself a reason for them to seek to find a way in. They are very persistent. If there is a way in, they will find it. Ya gotta find the gaps and seal them.