Nonlethal Ways of Eliminating Rodents

Question: Do you have resources for humanely moving rats and mice out of my home? I hear there are herbal and sound repellents. Do they work, and where can I get them?

--F.P., Topanga

Answer: I don’t know of any herbal remedies that will send the little buggers packing. And I would be very suspicious of any such product, not to mention sound repellents, which by and large are unproven.

Since you don’t want to kill the rodents, your best option is to “live” trap them. Of course, once they’re trapped, you’ll have to figure out what to do with them.

While your desire to use nonlethal techniques is admirable, the truth is that most mice and rat species breed prolifically, so if you’ve seen one, you’ll probably see more.

And they can cause tremendous damage to the insides of your attic and your electrical system, not to mention the potential health hazards. Where personal tolerance permits, lethal techniques are faster and more thorough.

Whatever control techniques you choose, be sure to also manage the rodents’ environment, making your home and garden less appealing to them.

Trim back shrubs and vines in your yard, seal holes larger than half an inch around pipes leading into the house and around the roof line, screen open vents, clean up debris lying around the yard, elevate wood stacks at least 18 inches off the ground, and store all trash and food in rodent-proof containers.

To purchase a no-kill mouse trap and learn how to best place them throughout the house, contact Seabright Laboratories at (800) 284-7363. To purchase a no-kill rat trap, contact Curley’s Critter Catchers at (909) 592-6626.

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Finally, my column of Dec. 17 ruffled the feathers of pigeon fanciers who were offended by what they viewed as my condemnation of pigeons, and inaccuracies about the diseases the birds can carry. Here’s a sample from one reader’s letter:

“I agree with your ‘nonviolent’ solution to the pigeon problem, but I have heard of only one disease that pigeons transmit--it is a fungus that seeps from the soil into the droppings and lives there. This disease most often affects pigeon fanciers who do not maintain their lofts well.

“I would appreciate it if you would continue offering good solutions, but please do not give pigeons such bad raps. Like killer whales, they don’t deserve it.”

Got critter conflicts? Send your queries to wildlife biologist Andrea Kitay at P.O. Box 2489, Camarillo, CA 93011, or via e-mail to andrea@livingwithwildlife.com. Please include your name and city. Questions cannot be answered individually.

For a list of Wildlife Bulletins that provide sound advice on homeowner-wildlife conflicts ($4 each), send a SASE to the above address, or visit https://www.livingwithwildlife.com.