The morality of killing mice

[greenaccord02]

Regarding poison: If they're in the walls or attic they can bleed out and die there and you'll have to deal with the stink until they finally either rot or you tear out a wall to retrieve them. That being said, I use poison in my shed.

My personal preference is for traditional mouse traps checked regularly. Have a piece of 2x4 in hand to quickly dispatch the living. It's your home and you do what you have to in order to keep it sanitary and comfortable.

 

[StevieC]

None of the walls are finished in the sheds or Garage... No worries there.

Also the dog never eats the mouse... Just likes to bring it to our attention that he "found" it.

Not the sharpest knife in the drawer this dog...

 

[greenaccord02]

You've been to Drew's house, Stevie?

 

[greenaccord02]

Tell you what, Drew - If you really want to put them through their paces before death dip some pet food in used motor oil and let them gnaw on that!

 

[andyd]

snap traps or a good cat who camps out in the garage.

 

[Kruse]

Do a Google search on contagious diseases from mice. After reading it, ask yourself if killing wild mice is bad.

 

[Herz]

get a cat they will kill the mice for you.

or get your self a nice gopher snake.

or camp out in you garage and use a quality pellet rifle on them. I advise not to use a shotgun, i did that once with a gopher and it made a horrible mess.

 

[river_rat]

Don't worry about it. They are an r-selected species. They are pretty much bulk fodder for anything higher. They don't live long happy lives in nature.

 

[Shannow]

Mice inside get trapped period.

Mice outside get to deal with the cat.

The mice that I have issues with are those bred as food for people who keep snakes, grown to certain size, then snap frozen.

Shouldn't have issues with that until I become vegetarian, 'though. (and that ain't happening any time soon).

 

[river_rat]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
Shouldn't have issues with that until I become vegetarian, 'though. (and that ain't happening any time soon).

+1

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: defektes

or camp out in you garage and use a quality pellet rifle on them. I advise not to use a shotgun, i did that once with a gopher and it made a horrible mess.


One of my partners at my old job used his rifle to shoot a ground hog. Did the ground hog nice. Also pierced his heat pump refrigerant line. I think the ground hog cost him $300.

 

[greenaccord02]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
The mice that I have issues with are those bred as food for people who keep snakes, grown to certain size, then snap frozen.


I can't imagine why. Have you ever seen the blood spray from a mouse or rat's mouth and nose when a very large snake takes hold of them and they struggle to free themselves until they finally die? I've seen plenty of both and have frozen my share of baby mice in a freezer. To each his own, but don't paint one to be worse than another.
I'll tell you what's bad. I used to have to take rats by the tail - fully grown big ones - and swing their head up against a brick wall to kill them. It was bad, because sometimes they got blood on your shirt or an eye would hit you in the face. Anyway, they were dead in the blink of an eye wheras if the snake took hold of them alive the struggle and fight might last as many as ten minutes. It was humane.

 

[doitmyself]

O.K., call me a hypocrite (shouldn't make fun of these issues).

The Rodenator is what we all need. Injects gas into their burrows and then blows them up:

Watch the video here.....puts Caddyshack to shame:

http://www.rodenator.com/pests-controls-videos-rodenators

 

[Herz]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: defektes

or camp out in you garage and use a quality pellet rifle on them. I advise not to use a shotgun, i did that once with a gopher and it made a horrible mess.


One of my partners at my old job used his rifle to shoot a ground hog. Did the ground hog nice. Also pierced his heat pump refrigerant line. I think the ground hog cost him $300.


LOL !

 

[Drew99GT]

Geeze, you guys are a bunch of savages I tell ya!

 

[TurboLuver]

I have little conscience when it comes to vermin. I use the "bucket trap" in my detached garage/workshop when ever I see signs of activity, usually this time of year.

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Geeze, you guys are a bunch of savages I tell ya!


No, actually we are very sensitive. But, there is that male stereotype that we must preserve. Insert Tim Allen grunt here.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: XS650

He said that if it was a big enough problem they would hire Indians to get rid of the mosquitoes.

We just had our annual visit to Amos the Amish farmer for this year's round of mega pumpkins (he upped his rate too

). His farm sports an "automatic" (no hands/touch) diesel generator for some emergency purpose. The world famous Smucker's harness shop in Churchtown hires someone to come in and start the diesel that drives the belt driven heavy sewing machines that they use.

Philosophies are great, but commerce is commerce.

 

[Audi Junkie]

As a Vegetarin and a non-practicing Buddhist, I have to draw the line at things that can hurt me. I strive to move other life forms safely out of my place, but obvious threats have to pay the penalty.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

This type of problem must be approached with thoughts of cause and effect. I have never had a garage that mice have not made intrusions into. The reasons? Mostly food. Cornmeal(lawn food) or birdseed my wife would leave out in the open. When I wised up and removed the food source (If placed these items in the freezer) the mouse activity ceased).

First I would try to remove all the food sources and prevent entry into the house and soffits by inspecting the house for openings and sealing them with hardware cloth.

Hanta virus is a serious concern. If you find nest or droppings clean them with a mix of 1 0z bleach to a gallon of water and spray it down before cleaning it avoid inhaling untreated dust from nest or droppings.
My Shih tzu dog kills vermin.. Rabbits, Ground squirells mice and Rats have all fallen victim to the two year old furry lap dog. He has no fear and is fast and has a great pit bull like grip and head shake. The dead gopher kinda surprised me!