Curious if anyone knew of a good repellent for mice.

My mom runs a dog kennel.. We can't use any poisons in the event one of the dogs eats the dead mouse...

These mice appeared 3 years ago when we got donated dog food that was ripped bags. The mice showed up and never left. They're very fat and healthy. But they're starting to challenge the dogs for their food lol. Not even kidding!

My mom read on the internet that instant mashed potatoes is a good poison for them. I feel so bad that we are making their insides explode... Maybe a different type of repellent?

We so far have used Irish Soap bars. We have purchased the ultrasonic wall mount to scare mice away.. Even a snake ventured through the yard! Mice are still as happy as ever.

Just recently started to put out the instant mashed pototoes... Haven't seen results yet.

I think we honestly have super mice! Nothing kills them. They dodge traps.. They overload the live traps so they pop open. The terminex guy is too dumb to get his schedule right and can never make it out here.

Its getting out of control!

I hadn't heard of instant mashed potatoes before. I assume that's to make them swell up in the gut. Please let me know how that works out. The one about instant grits for ants does not work, but that's because worker ants don't eat.

If your mom can afford a big national company, has she looked into smaller pest companies? Often you can get better service for your money when you don't have to pay corporate salaries.

Has your exterminator done anything but trapping? A lot can be accomplished with mechanical exclusion (sealing up holes, blocking pipe wells with steel wool around the pipes, that sort of thing) in addition to trapping.

As I sit here, I begin to think that you've already discovered the source of the problem: the exterminator's schedule. It sounds like you would get better results from more frequent trips to service the traps.

We tried to contact the pest control people several times and they just never seemed to make out here. My mom gave up after the 8th try.

We bought a big metal trap, but it chopped their heads off or chopped them in half. So we through the entire trap out!

They get in through the garage door. It doesn't seal tightly anymore. I don't think anymore come in, but the ones that we do have are breeding.

I'll keep you posted on the mashed pototato thing... My mom hopes it works.. We've already gone through a box. I think its mean lol

You need to find the nest in the garage. I had the same problem last year. When we moved everything out of the garage to enclose it, we found the nest in an old window A/C unit. Haven't had a problem since then.

Also, mice don't like moth balls.

Buy several cats!!

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Originally Posted by redfish slayer

buy several cats!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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That was my first thought, but the mice are living at a dog kennel. That rules out having cats around.

Here are some sites I found with suggestions that should be dog-friendly.

Cheap and Easy Ways to Repel Mice Naturally - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Scatter Mice Far and Wide Naturally | Care2 Healthy & Green Living

Weather-out Mouseaway Herbal Rodent Repellent

RepellAll - Herbal repellents

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Originally Posted by J_9

Also, mice don't like moth balls.

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Neither do puppy kidneys, that's why I was suggesting mechanical alterations and exclusion. Good suggestion on searching for the nest. I somehow forgot that part.

Yea, cats would definitely not be a good choice. The dogs are pretty good mousers themselves. They catch the younger ones and chomp them..

I'll have to check out those websites.. Thanks

I think we found the next... Its in a blanket at the top of our storage closet.

I think my mom and I are planning on going through everything this spring/summer. Might be some interesting finds lol

Thank you all for your info! Much appreciated!

Use mousetraps with cheese or old bread