Question from petercsantoro@yahoo.com
I have a terrible mice problem. We live behind a golf course, and seem to always have mice. I find their droppings throughout our first floor (mainly the kitchen). I have a toddler and infant who is crawling so I am desperate to find a solution. I have read the section on mice here, but still am not sure if there is a solution. Of course I don’t want to use anything toxic, but my husband states an exterminator who will use poison is the best solution. We have discussed even getting a pet, a small dog to keep the mice from coming out. Of course we aren’t sure if this will work and neither of us really wants the extra work or expense of a pet. What would you recommend? Is the bait an exterminator uses still harmful if it is hidden away in walls/crevices? This I am not sure of… My husband argues that the kids cannot reach the bait/poison so it’s not harmful. If a pet is the best answer, I will get one. I can’t keep cleaning every morning and night after mice! Thanks so much!
Debra’s Answer
Here is a good summary of controlling house mice: House Mouse Prevention and Control. It lists all the standard control methods and says to use poison bait only as a last resort.
To answer your question about the safety of mouse bait, you need to find out what the exterminators are planning to use and then we can look that up.
In the MSDS for D-Con, it says to “move to fresh air” if fumes from the pellets are inhaled. I don’t feel comfortable having this poison in my house, even if it is in the walls.
But find out what they want to use, and then you will have the real data.
