For Freepers in the Southwest:
Precautions for Inside the Home
Keep food and water covered and stored in rodent-proof containers.
Keep pet food covered and stored in rodent-proof containers.
Allow pets only enough food for each meal, then store or discard any remaining food. Do not leave excess pet food or water out overnight.
If storing trash and food waste inside the home, do so in rodent-proof containers, and frequently clean the interiors and exteriors of the containers with soap and water.
Wash dishes, pans, and cooking utensils immediately after use.
Remove leftover food and clean up all spilled food from cooking and eating areas.
Do not store empty aluminum cans or other opened containers with food residues inside the home.
Dispose of trash and garbage on a frequent and regular basis, and pick up or eliminate clutter.
Keep items (e.g., boxes, clothes, and blankets) off of the floor to prevent rodents from nesting in them.
Repair water leaks and prevent condensation from forming on cold water pipes by insulating them. Deny rodents access to moisture (e.g., mop closets, boiler rooms, catch basins under potted plants, and areas around aquarium tanks).
Correct any conditions that support the growth of mold, mildew, or other fungi in the home.
Keep exterior doors and windows closed unless protected by tight-fitting screens.
Use spring-loaded traps in the home. Use a small amount (the size of a pea) of chunky peanut butter as bait. Place the trap perpendicular to the baseboard or wall surface, with the end of the trap containing the bait closest to the baseboard or wall. Place traps in areas where rodents might be entering the home. Spring-loaded traps can be painful or even dangerous if they close on fingers; they should be handled with caution, and careful consideration should be given to keep children and pets away from areas where traps are placed.
From the CDC website at:
-http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5109a1.htm
can you just burn the place down and get it over with
Once I hit a mouse using a cheap BB pistol - it made a fatal mistake of sitting still for a few seconds where I could see it.
Or get a couple of hungry cats.
Good info mkjessup.
How I survived all these years - here in the desert SW - without adhering to all those essential nuggets of knowledge, I will never understand.
My wife survived, too! I'll have to ask her about that.
You have a government job, don't you.
:)
Hantavirus infection (resulting in HPS or HFRS) has been epidemiologically associated with the following situations:
The simplest way to eliminate exposure when cleaning a well house or storage shed, is spray the floor and areas where mice have congregated with a 10% bleach solution before cleaning. Wearing a good dust mask and wearing disposable latex/nitrile gloves should be included in the precautions.
Excellent list!
My college roommate is married to a guy who has turned into a recluse. They were "into" recycling right before he just Lost It. He sits around and watches TV and drinks wine all day. I don't think he eats. She can't get him to get help, so basically, we are all watching him kill himself slowly. Their house is full of recycling MESS. Newspapers piled to the ceiling, empty wine boxes, etc. They now have mice. I keep telling her that SHE is going to have to rent a TRUCK and haul that stuff OFF. I offered to help and to help her clean up the house. It is worth over a million dollars IF they would clean it up! They do everything the exact opposite of the way you listed we should do things... and they DO have mice everywhere. Their house stinks. Their neighbors won't talk to them. Their yard looks like a dump. It is sad.