Mouse from Neighbour's Backyard

I have been seeing mouse /rat running over to my side of the property since yesterday. Spotted a few burrows/tunnels they dug under the fence so I quickly blocked it with some rocks. This morning, I've been seeing them again climbing up the fence to come over!

I'm not talking only 1 or 2 but coming in a squadron of 6-8!

My yard is generally tidy, lawn maintained low, no exposed food source for them. Have never seen this since we moved in a few years ago. Neighbour is a rental and they have moved in mid last year.

What are my options?

Comments

  • +50

    Get a cat

    • +32

      Bikie cats for bikie mice from mars

      • +4

        Dare I say .. Biker Mice

        • I would say rather get a Ferret
          (or a Marten, Mink, Stoat, Sable, Grison, Polecat, Weasel).

          Cats are (generally) useless. That class of animals are very ferocious and active in hunting skills, despite their cute looks. With mice, rats, and rabbits being their main dinner (but they'll take on a snake, owl, or cat too). They are also the textbook example of overkill or surplus-killing predators. I've seen a video where a farmer has a chicken coop and two large gaurdian geese, and a wild mink made its way in the henhouse, and absolutely killed all the chickens for no reason but for sport.

    • +4

      already have a cat ffs..but it's an indoor cat tho.
      Gonna try scattering some cat litter along the boundary?

      • +6

        Definitely need a mouser.

          • @payless69: lol - do you think the company founders got inspiration for the business name from their cat?

              • @payless69: For reals source?

          • @payless69: Building a robot mouse killer sounds like the hard way.

          • @payless69: you had the perfect opportunity for a goatse

      • Your cat doesn't like going out?

        • +45

          Indoor cats live longer and kill fewer native birds.

            • +18

              @Leadfoot6: They live longer, get into less fights with other outdoor cats/feral cats, less parasites. My backyard has high fences and I used to let cat out every day because he wouldn't run away, but neighbour cat jumped fence and got into a fight, my cat had a bleeding paw and limped for weeks after. Was indoor cat after that. I'm sure he longs for the outdoors still but it's better for him to stay inside.

              • +5

                @AustriaBargain: Indoor cattos also need to touch grass ! Get a harness & supervised catto backyard grounding sessions only.

                • +12

                  @Leadfoot6: Stupid progress and understanding the impacts on our environment and it’s fauna, just more woke nonsense from the soy boy latte set.

                • +5

                  @Leadfoot6:

                  All this nonsense about cats being kept inside is a 21st century aberration.
                  It was not heard of before that.

                  And as we all know, only things that were decided prior to the 21st century make sense.

                  • @Diji: Your twisted inclinations still can't change nature.
                    This is indicative of the insanity that Aldous Huxley was trying to point out in "Brave New World".
                    I recommend that you read it.

                    • @Leadfoot6:

                      Your twisted inclinations still can't change nature.
                      This is indicative of the insanity that Aldous Huxley was trying to point out in "Brave New World".
                      I recommend that you read it.

                      Hey I'm not the one who decided to domesticate cats, don't lay the blame on me! Anyway, I only read non-fiction material, such as books on chariots and medieval warfare.

                • @Leadfoot6:

                  • The further back you go the population of Australia was also lower, meaning a lot less cats, and much less dead wildlife.
                  • Latte sippers own cats too.
                  • Regardless, I recently made one trap and bought a second on ebay during the free $5 a couple of weeks ago. The local council guy said if I catch any pet in my yard to call him, he'll come pick it up, and if it has a chip the owner gets contacted to come pay to pick it up, or surrender it for execution, which also happens if there's no chip. So I'll be checkout out cheap cat food next. Let your cats roam at your latte-sipping peril, folks! ;-D
                  • @[Deactivated]: Care to "shape up" man to man, instead of weakling to cat?
                    A person of your obvious bravery would have been almost guaranteed to win the Victoria Cross in some of Australia's military engagements.
                    You would have strongly outshone most veterans.
                    I salute you.

                    • @Leadfoot6: Only if you take to climbing my fence to hunt and kill rosellas and s@#t and vomit on my day bed.

                      • @[Deactivated]: I am sure that there are plenty of rosellas to go around.
                        Where I live, colourful birds outnumber the cats by hundreds to one.

                        • @Leadfoot6: Actually I changed my mind… my real name is Daniel Andrews, and I live in Mulgrave. ;-D

                          • -3

                            @[Deactivated]: Dictator Dan has thousands of black uniformed goons to protect him that like to beat up on peaceful protesters, or arrest pregnant women posting dissent on Facebook.

                            https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/victoria-pol…

                            No bravery there.

                            What you should be doing, instead of worrying about cats killing birds, which is natural, is to put your support behind justice campaigners such as Avi Yemeni of Rebel News, who exposes himself to arrest and legal costs in order to protect civil rights.

                            https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/andrew-bolt/i-only-wanted…

                            I support him financially with regular small donations towards his fighting fund.

                            In the video I linked to, court action has resulted in a written apology from Vic.Pol to him over 3 wrongful arrest cases.

                            He has been publicly vindicated.

                            • @Leadfoot6:

                              Avi Yemeni

                              You mean the wife beater?

                              • -1

                                @Diji: Are you perfect?

                                • @Leadfoot6: Insofar as I haven't been a perpetrator of domestic violence, yes.

                                  • @Diji: Are you perfect?

                                    And here is the true story, just released yesterday.

                                    https://www.rebelnews.com/avi_yemini_opens_up_about_the_bigg…

                                    • @Leadfoot6: He couldn't possibly be lying again, could he? Yemini isn't a rebel, he's a professional shitposter.

                                      • @Diji: You might like to define what you mean.
                                        I don't have any terms of reference.

                                        • @Leadfoot6: Lmao, I can't tell if you're doing a bit right now or not.

                                          • @Diji: Once again, you might need to define what you mean.
                                            I am not a mind reader, and I attempt to express myself clearly.
                                            It leads to less possibility of misunderstandings, rather than talking in riddles.

              • @AustriaBargain: Some neighbours cats grow big and achieve 'Top Cat' status. End up running all the local protection rackets, so can get their pick of the local opposition, not to mention the poor lizards, birds, and marsupials (even possums are easily wiped out by domestic felines).

                They never see it coming home bleeding and needing to goto the vet, even when they let the cat out whenever it likes, as few others will challenge its superiority when it does its rounds (cat studies show they can tell by scent markings when and which other cats have visited, so know to keep a good distance at that times)

            • @Leadfoot6:

              completely unnatural and cruel.

              Wait till you hear about the billions of animals bred for consumers all for unessential reasons.

              • +1

                @fantombloo: Like food?

                • -1

                  @Leadfoot6: Like various unessential types of food (cheese, eggs, chicken nuggets, etc.) - yes.

                  • -1

                    @fantombloo: I am rather hesitant to accept that you have been appointed World Arbiter of what foods are unessential.
                    You might like to post an image of the official certificate displaying such a qualification.

                    • +8

                      @Leadfoot6:

                      I am rather hesitant to accept that you have been appointed World Arbiter of what foods are unessential.

                      Good move.

                      The consensus of organisations with clout in this area might be a good place to start looking. I'll start you off:

                      Harvard Medical School
                      http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/becoming-a-veg…

                      Traditionally, research into vegetarianism (see context) focused mainly on potential nutritional deficiencies, but in recent years, the pendulum has swung the other way, and studies are confirming the health benefits of meat-free eating. Nowadays, plant-based eating is recognized as not only nutritionally sufficient but also as a way to reduce the risk for many chronic illnesses.
                      

                      British Dietetic Association
                      https://www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/vegetarianfoodfacts.pdf

                      Well planned vegetarian diets (see context) can be nutritious and healthy. They are associated with lower risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, certain cancers and lower cholesterol levels. This could be because such diets are lower in saturated fat, contain fewer calories and more fiber and phytonutrients/phytochemicals (these can have protective properties) than non-vegetarian diets. (...) Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for *all stages of life** and have many benefits.*
                      

                      Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
                      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27886704/

                      It is the position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that appropriately planned vegetarian, including vegan, diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. These diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, older adulthood, and for athletes.
                      

                      Dietitians of Canada
                      https://www.dietitians.ca/Downloads/Factsheets/Guidlines-for…

                      A healthy vegan diet can meet all your nutrient needs at any stage of life including when you are pregnant, breastfeeding or for older adults.
                      

                      The British National Health Service
                      http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Vegetarianhealth/Pages/Vegandiets…

                      With good planning and an understanding of what makes up a healthy, balanced vegan diet, you can get all the nutrients your body needs.
                      

                      The British Nutrition Foundation
                      https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/helpingyoueatwell…

                      Well planned vegetarian and vegan diets can be nutritious and healthy ... Studies of UK vegetarian and vegan children have revealed that their growth and development are within the normal range.
                      

                      The Dietitians Association of Australia
                      https://daa.asn.au/smart-eating-for-you/smart-eating-fast-fa…

                      Vegan diets are a type of vegetarian diet, where only plant-based foods are eaten. With good planning, those following a vegan diet can cover all their nutrient bases, but there are some extra things to consider.
                      

                      The United States Department of Agriculture
                      http://www.choosemyplate.gov/tips-vegetarians

                      Vegetarian diets (see context) can meet all the recommendations for nutrients. The key is to consume a variety of foods and the right amount of foods to meet your calorie needs. Follow the food group recommendations for your age, sex, and activity level to get the right amount of food and the variety of foods needed for nutrient adequacy. Nutrients that vegetarians may need to focus on include protein, iron, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B12.
                      

                      The National Health and Medical Research Council
                      https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/file/publications/n55_…

                      Appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthy and nutritionally adequate. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the lifecycle. Those following a strict vegetarian or vegan diet can meet nutrient requirements as long as energy needs are met and an appropriate variety of plant foods are eaten throughout the day
                      

                      The Mayo Clinic
                      http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healt…

                      A well-planned vegetarian diet (see context) can meet the needs of people of all ages, including children, teenagers, and pregnant or breast-feeding women. The key is to be aware of your nutritional needs so that you plan a diet that meets them.
                      

                      The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
                      https://www.heartandstroke.ca/get-healthy/healthy-eating/spe…

                      Vegetarian diets (see context) can provide all the nutrients you need at *any age,** as well as some additional health benefits.*
                      
                    • @Leadfoot6: They don't have one. They might have a practicing cult membership certificate though.

            • +1

              @Leadfoot6:

              Indoor cats are completely unnatural and cruel.
              It is an absolutely stupid notion.

              I can't believe even the simple concept of a "pet" is beyond you, and yet here we are.

              • @Crow K: The simple concept of a pet cat was that they come and go in my house as they please.
                I'm 61 now, and that is how it has been since I was able to remember.

                • +2

                  @Leadfoot6: I'm looking for writing prompts right now, thanks

                  (jots down: dystopian sci-fi, "As It Always Has Been". World citizens are forced to conform to the whims/memories of single aging man who for some unknown reason has the ability to impose his unfounded, narrow whims on the world without any exterior review or appeal. Man increasingly gets unhappy despite more and more of the world agreeing with his take on things, obv only happiest when he has 'modern nonsense' to push back against, which he is sole-handedly eradicating. Eventually stuck in Hell where everytime he tries to pick a fight with someone on something, they wholeheartedly agree with him and say his own words along with him in union. An entire planet parroting his views simultaneously, and not one person thinking what it means. Twist ending, reveal he's senile/ in a nursing home and loved (?) ones have paid top dollar for his mind to be immersed in a simulation of the world that will let him do whatever he wants/bend to his will etc, mind is the cruelest prison of them all, you are your own jailor etc).

                  • @Crow K: Too "high brow" for me.
                    I have not got any idea what you are talking about.
                    I'll just go back to reading my book about German nuclear physics during WW2.

                    https://freebookspot.club/book/Hitlers_Nuclear_Weapons_The_D…

                    Makes much more sense and actually grounded in some basis of reality.

                    • @Leadfoot6: Obviously I'll need to work on some rewrites of my "dystopian science fiction" to get it more grounded in reality, that was well spotted, good analysis, thanks for the notes.

                      • -1

                        @Crow K: I don't read "dystopian science fiction".
                        I only read non fiction/current affairs/modern history/aviation/cars.
                        Pretty much factual only.
                        Sorry.

                        • +1

                          @Leadfoot6: "Merry Christmas Uncle Leadfoot, here's another book on tanks"

                          Paint me a picture, why don't you.

                          Probably even more depressing than my sci-fi, if we're being honest.

                  • @Crow K:

                    World citizens are forced to conform to the whims/memories of single aging man who for some unknown reason has the ability to impose his unfounded, narrow whims on the world without any exterior review or appeal

                    Distopian!? That was most of the world for two years.

                • @Leadfoot6: Bet you have few birds around your place, and you outdoors cats are not safe may disappear one day!

                  • -2

                    @Sunshines bright: I live in a semi rural area.
                    Plenty of birds.
                    I can hear them singing now.
                    Cats and birds have coexisted since the beginning of time.
                    Not many mice near my house though.
                    Cat keeps them under control, as God intended.

            • @Leadfoot6: Domesticated animals are "unnatural", might as well go all in.

            • @Leadfoot6: Second only to the stupidity of thinking the rest of us want your shitty cat running around our yards killing native species.

            • +1

              @Leadfoot6: Domestication is inherently unnatural lmao

          • +1

            @AustriaBargain: Oh yeah I'd rather my cat stay indoors but he gets mental if I don't open the door.

        • +10

          My cat does go out occasionally with leash and harness.
          Cat is healthier living indoor and poses a threat to native animals as stated by in other comments. In fact, my council has regulations against it.

          • +2

            @hovie: There are lots of council regulations.
            It does not make them correct or sensible.

      • +1

        Be careful, if someone has fed the rats rat poison and your cat its them, it could get poisoned too

      • Dont feed it as much and put it outside…

    • +15

      Get a good quality and very fast cat, at least Cat 6 or better!

    • Bruh OP there are mice everywhere. Just call a pest guy and he can set traps, but if they end up dying under your house enjoy the smell.

      Neighbour has mice you cannot really do much.

  • +2
    • But then you have to deal with dead mouse bods

      • +6

        Put dead one into your green bin, better dealing with dead once than they destroying your house
        Not every cat eat them, some just crunch crunch half of it, some bring them inside.

        • two of ours leave one bit behind, might be kidney/bladder/bowel
          .

        • They don’t go into green waste.

          • @mapax: Not sure about yours, our council says yes.

            • +3

              @boomramada: Which council?
              Baited rodents pose a secondary poisoning risk to off-target species and should not be going into green waste, especially if they’re taking part in those BS trials to feed green waste to livestock.

                • @boomramada: But you're ACT? not SA

                  • +2

                    @capslock janitor: What's your point? I currently live in SA, sometimes in ACT, so far I didn't have mice issues in ACT yet, if I had, I check with their council info.
                    And I'm not sure why people neg me, it's not my rule its council rule.

              • @mapax: Red bin then but that still sounds risky?? Double bagged where plastic does not decompose first? Yet still a problem.

                • @Sunshines bright: Once laced, nature is tied with cleaning up poisons, down to the lowest biological levels.

                  Yet we are sold more and more 'safe' chemicals of all kinds, and despite gaining far better knowledge, think less and less when buying and using them.

      • +1

        Don't get a lazy cat……
        https://imgflip.com/i/639f9o

        • lol - catto tried

        • Slack cat!

    • Neighbours are beneath him

  • +3

    What are my options?

    Bait outside, trap inside
    Go to the fodder store and get your bait there its cheaper and it comes in larger quantities
    Use a bucket trap inside your shed and house
    Remove any food sources on your property

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clTq6Gzm0SA

    The idea is to kill them before they make their way into your house and cause any damage

    Make some of these from storm water fittings cheap and easy with top loading and water proof, pet proof place them along your fencline

    https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQBk-ee…

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