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sevierville, Tn

I have had mice in the past & they have never bothered anything. This year they are eating my melon vines. So far its just been small vines that don't mean anything. Its probally just a matter of time till they get to one that does...so.... i put out traps for them. I use peanut butter, but they have not gone near them. Always worked in the past. Any sugestions as to a better bait?? I have not used poison due to my dogs, so thats a last resort. Thanks

8/7/2011 4:25:37 PM

Garner, NC

Last year I used traps with peanut butter, them I sprinked deer corn on the peanut butter and that worked well. Kinda like a desert from mcdonalds. If that doesn't work put out little tiny pans of water with talstar in it, bet that would get them, it kills everything else.

8/7/2011 5:26:42 PM

Corryton, TN

I've had to resort to poison this year. I'm using the enclosed bait boxes that prevent unwanted grazing on the bait by our pets. I'm about half way through a $30 bucket of bait and I've only seen one dead mouse. But the chewing has slowed down drastically. It gets worse every time I mow the adgoining fields. My pets don't have as much access to the dead rodents that yours might. Not sure what problems they might cause if they found one. (The dead mouse was in the melon patch.)

8/7/2011 5:40:19 PM

SW Ohio

I have good luck with bread. If you're using a snap trap, make sure to tie the bread to the trigger so they can't get it off.

8/7/2011 6:15:02 PM

sevierville, Tn

Thanks guys,. Sue, the traps are such a hair trigger that its hard just to set them, i'm sure the mice couldn't steal any bait ! Got to watch my fingers LOL !

8/7/2011 6:21:26 PM

Garner, NC

This spring I had mice in the barn, due to left over deer corn. I put out decon rat bait. The chicken pen is next to the barn, so the mice would stagger out into the chicken pen, and bam they were eaten by the chickens. You would almost have to see it to believe it. So I was afraid it might kill the hens, but none died, I did however throw a lot of eggs away for a few weeks. So I think the amount of posiens digested by the mice is not enough to hurt a chicken, even if your dogs got one they should be fine.

8/7/2011 6:24:41 PM

Arden, NC

Chris,

I have tons of mice and rats in adjacent fields that are around the patch as well as a roaming pet dog that would eat poison pellets so I have "tubes of death" (remember "rings of death" in the Lords of Gourds video) for the rats and mice. I take 4 or 6 inch PVc pipe and slide the baited mouse/rat trap in it and check it daily. I could put poison bait peelets in it but haven't yet. I've killed about a dozen mice so far. The pipe keeps the rain/sun off the bait and keeps the dog from getting it. Pipes are project left overs, 2 foot to 6 foot long. Good luck. Z.

8/7/2011 10:32:20 PM

Muddy Waters

Put the poison bait in small jars & lay on ground Your dogs dont walk in your plants do they? the jars keep the rain out!the dogs wont get mouth inside jar!I have so many casts in hood there are no mice!!

8/7/2011 10:37:16 PM

sevierville, Tn

Still no mice caught, maybe they left. I'll keep trying. The ants keep taking the peanut butter. Last night the ants went after the peanuts i put down. Wish i could train them to get the mice! LOL

8/8/2011 3:07:33 PM

Linden, Mi.,

Try cooking a hamburger, let the grease set up, and use some of it on your traps. It works in the house and shed.

On second thought, maybe you should not use it in the patch as it may bring other not wanted

8/8/2011 8:04:33 PM

Muddy Waters

The cats get the mice before they ever get to the patch!

8/8/2011 9:24:41 PM

Western PA

I live in a old farm house and we get mice. The best bait I have used is a small piece of milky way or snickers bar. I pick a small piece off with some caramel in it to help it stick on the little bait holder on the trap. They can't lick it off or pull it off.

They are chewing on your vines to get water. My guess is your very dry down there ? The Hunts had that trouble years ago and said they would put out dishes with water in them right in the melon patch. I can't remember if it helped or not.

8/8/2011 10:01:38 PM

sevierville, Tn

Funny, cause its not that dry & there is a stream on 2 sides of the garden. I bought some poison , the ants are taking it. Storm set off all my traps today. Can't win.

I'll try the candy bar tomorrow. The ants should leave that alone.

8/8/2011 11:32:30 PM

Muddy Waters

Candy bars are getting pretty pricy! you might catch me in your trap!!lol

8/9/2011 6:38:19 AM

Muddy Waters

The ants will be all over that candy bar Chris,like flys on a watermelon!!

8/9/2011 6:44:18 AM

sevierville, Tn

Not these ants, they won't eat sugar, only like meat,fats

8/9/2011 2:50:38 PM

sevierville, Tn

Which is actually good, since they don't bother the melons & pumpkins, only other bugs.

8/9/2011 2:51:48 PM