Of Mice and Mint

[Globie64]

It's that time of year again, and the mice are out (in northern California, anyway). This year I'm trying a two-pronged approach to mice-management. Peppermint oil as a deterrent, and snap traps if they actually get in. Anyone else have experience with using mint to deter mice? I don't want to use stronger stuff because our terrier likes to eat mice, and if they were poisoned, it wouldn't be good. We also have nasty experience with poisoned mice dying inside a wall and tormenting us for months with smells and huge flies. So far, several days, the mice haven't been back with the mint in place, and the trailer smells kinda nice.

thanks

[zlee]

You can also try lavender oil -- mice tend not to like strong scents, from what I've been told.

[Globie64]

Thats good, lavender is a good alternative! I figure this is until I get to the next go-around with filling openings in the bellypan. With leaks and mice, you have to eventually eliminate all points of entry, right? I have faith the number is finite.

[Ridgerunner3]

We use Fresh Cab rodent repellent. Farmers around here have had good success with it. No sign of mice in our AS with Fresh Cab.

[Schools Out]

We're also fans of Fresh Cab. It's another smell repellent. Smells like a freshly cut pine tree. So, to my way of thinking, it smells really nice.
I don't think I would combine the smell repellent with the snap traps, though. One method keeps the mice away & one (especially if you use peanut better as bait) lures them in.

[Globie64]

Thanks dowpells, I had thought that the mint would overpower the peanut butter, its pretty strong in the trailer. I wanted to be rid of the mice if the mint didn't work, before they nested and raised a family somewhere I couldn't get to.