There is a mouse population
explosion this year.
Everyone I have talked to
reports their traps clicking and clacking on a regular basis. My own traps are
singing loudly and more often than in recent years.
The worst thing that can
happen during a mouse outbreak is encountering the critters nose to nose. And, my
nose met a mouse nose the other day.
I am not frightened by mice,
but it was disconcerting when I opened a cupboard door and found one staring at
me. Bulbous, penetrating eyes locked onto me demanding: “Who are you and why
are you here interrupting my business?”
I don’t have any government studies
or statistics to report how bad this year’s outbreak is. I don’t really care
about the numbers. One mouse is one mouse too many.
Mice are believed to have a
population cycle of four years. Their numbers hit a peak on Year Four then drop
drastically before beginning a new cycle. The last major outbreak in Ontario
was in 2014.
Milder winters and warm and
dry summers also can be factors in increasing mouse populations. Mice are
really into love making and breed as many as 10 times a year, producing six to
eight offspring each time.
Mice are cute in photos.
They can be dangerous, however, especially in cottage country. Deer mice, the
species found in cottage country, carry Hantavirus which causes serious
respiratory disease in humans.
Small numbers of deer mice
carrying Hantavirus have been found in northern Ontario, including Algonquin
Park.
Hantavirus in humans is
relatively rare. Health Canada reports three or four cases a year across the
country. However, it is out there being spread by mice and it can be extremely
debilitating, even causing death.
Hantavirus is most commonly
spread through mouse urine and droppings. The greatest danger to humans is in
cleaning mouse-infested areas by vacuuming or sweeping, or other forms of
raising dust. The virus is in the dust, which is inhaled into the lungs.
Experts caution that mouse
messes should be cleaned with extreme care and face masks and rubber gloves always
worn. After clean-up the area should be washed with a strong disinfectant.
Keeping mice out of a
building is near impossible. They will find entry through the smallest crack or
cranny.
Trapping is the most
effective, albeit often unpleasant, solution to mouse problems.
There are dozens of
different mouse traps, many touted by their manufacturers as magic solutions to
mouse problems. The absolute best in my view is one that you make yourself.
It is the rolling log mice
bucket. You drill holes on each side of a bucket rim and run a piece of dowel
through the holes. Partly fill the bucket with water and coat the underside of
the dowel with peanut butter.
Place the bucket in a spot
where mice can climb onto the dowel. They walk the dowel, lean over to get the
peanut butter, the dowel rolls and they tumble into the water and drown.
Car windshield washer or
anything containing some alcohol can be used instead of straight water to slow
the rotting of the dead mice. It also can prevent freezing if the bucket is
used in an unheated area during winter.
The beauty of the rolling
log bucket trap is that you never have to touch a dead mouse. Just dump the
bucket, refill and reload and it is ready to trap more of the little beasts.
Mouse poison is not a good
idea. Poisoned mice will crawl behind walls or other hidden spots and rot,
spreading horrible odours.
Also, poisoned mice can get
outside where they are easy targets for birds of prey such as owls, hawks and
eagles. When these birds consume a poisoned mouse they are a getting dose of
poison.
Some people on my lake have
noticed an increase in raptors this year. One cottager has reported seeing
three young bald eagles and in fact has a photo of one.
An increase in the number of
birds of prey might be connected to the increase in mouse populations. These
are magnificent birds and we need to do whatever we can to keep their
populations safe.
Let them eat mice
(unpoisoned)!
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