I live in Wisconsin. I have been catching between 0-3 mice per day (zero is rare) since August, around the air conditioning unit outside my house. We moved here in August. The AC soon died. Called heating/cooling contractor who quickly found mice had chewed wires in the exterior unit. Ever since I have engaged in daily combat using 10-12 victor traps. The day I buried 3 mice in one hole was fun.
We live in the country with woods nearby. Used to live in country with no woods. Being a farm girl, I am used to setting mouse traps and the more tricky (dangerous for me) rat trap for gophers.
One year I finally saw a rat for myself (rather than on TV when they show a rat taking a slice of pizza for a walk). Rats took up residence in my horse barn! I took care of that PDQ with victor rat traps. Never saw rats again. Had one skunk in the barn, shot it, buried it.
Mouse traps are easy. Rat trap got my pointer finger once, ouch. I hate setting those. Have no cats. Although that is a great way to have very few perhaps no mice.
End of rodent rant
rats are nasty.
Barn cats are worth their weight in gold.
Full rodentcide!