Outdoor Ontario

Wildlife Reports => Toronto Wildlife => Topic started by: Pat Hodgson on December 09, 2009, 02:47:32 PM

Title: Deer mice
Post by: Pat Hodgson on December 09, 2009, 02:47:32 PM

Had to resort to trapping in my garage (droppings everywhere).  Was surprised to find that it was deer mice, not house mice.  Not sure if they are common in the city, I always thought of them as country mice.

Title: Deer Mice
Post by: Napper on December 11, 2009, 06:46:19 PM

Hey Pat!

I had a similar problem last spring.. found one in an empty feed bucket in the garage. I used to store seed in the original bags.

Now I use plastic buckets with lids.    Did  the mouse it look like this?

http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/album ... .sized.jpg (http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/albums/album09/thief3.sized.jpg)

You have to be careful with their droppings, wear a mask if you can while cleaning up.:!:

Napper:))

Title:
Post by: Dr. John on December 12, 2009, 01:09:16 PM

We've had deer mice in our downtown Toronto backyard too. They particularly like nesting in our compost and get particularly annoyed when we water it and turn it over. They also quite like the birdseed that gets scattered from our feeders.

-John

Title:
Post by: Pat Hodgson on December 13, 2009, 08:46:11 AM

No, they do not look like that picture.  They are caramel brown on the back and white on the underside.

Title:
Post by: Halton Hills on December 13, 2009, 09:11:49 PM

.

They can vary in colour from grayish to light brown, but the key is the white belly.

As Napper noted, use caution when cleaning up the droppings.

Use a  damp rag or mop.......vacuuming or sweeping should be avoided.

.

Title: Caution warranted.
Post by: Ron Luft on December 16, 2009, 11:11:34 AM

Used to work in the Safety business....Mouse & bat droppings can contain a fungal spore that could be very serious (in extreme cases; deadly) if inhaled into lungs.  Normal dust masks are NOT sufficient. Recommended is a high density respirator mask from a proper safety supply source. A damp rag is marginally better than a regular mask.

Title:
Post by: JimmyM on December 16, 2009, 04:49:09 PM

Pat,
Try to find the entry point and block it ( them ) up or you will probably will get a repeat of the mouse problem . The respirator, rather than a paper mask is a good idea when cleaning the droppings and above all wear disposable gloves if you handle the trappings . If you are using spring traps , again, use gloves and spray the traps with a solution of javex to kill bacteria or parasites before resetting them. Mice can carry parasites which if they get under the fingernails can cause flu like sickness.
Sticky glue boards baited with a small ball of cotton batten covered with a bit of peanut butter is effective - just garbage the board and the trapping.  
Regards,
Jim

Title: Re: Deer Mice
Post by: David Shilman on January 18, 2010, 12:17:04 PM

Quote from: "Napper"

 Did  the mouse it look like this?

http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/album ... .sized.jpg (http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/albums/album09/thief3.sized.jpg)

That's a House Mouse, isn't it?