The most important way to permanently eliminate the problem is to search for and find all access points and seal them. A pro knows how to do that. Simultaneously, traps can be set. If all the ones inside are removed and no new ones can enter, you're done.

No need to ask me "How do you know". I had the same problem that was resolved as I explained but in my case, the intruders were large rats that could squeeze through very small openings. It took about 6 months of repeated monthly inspections before all the points of access were found and blocked. In the meantime, traps were set in strategic places and new invaders were captured. (No rats were ever in the actual living spaces, all were in the garage, attic, walls, and crawlspace that's not attached to the interior.)

Good luck.

Lately I have been having more frequent visits. In the past it was many years between.

Mine come in my basement and are attracted to food and my dog food.

I use human traps. Sorry, just can't kill

I then release in a wooded park.

I've now banned food in my basement pantry. I have a simple human container to store dog food.

I'm hoping for no visitors this year.

I use dog kibble as bait.

While I like Elmer’s idea and even suggested it to my husband the last time around, DH wasn’t on board.

Since this isn't the first time, start sealing food plastic containers. Do they usually

go to certain places?

So frustrating. I catch one at time, but last time, it was four!

Thanks, Elmer. It will take some big time sleuthing to locate the entry spots. Maybe a pro can do that. Im glad its not rats! Both my son and brother have battled them, successfully, i think.

Why cant these critters just find a home outside! yuck.

Thanks, Eld. i dont even want to go near the humane traps. Last night i was lazy and left a couple dirty dishes on the counter because the dishwasher needed to be emptied. The visitor left some droppings on a plate. It seems to be an endless battle. I believe they come up from behind my stove.

In the past i have only noticed their visits in cold weather.

Fortunately I don't have mouse issues in my home but we do at our PA place. We have an oversized detached garage with an apartment above it. Every now and then we'll find droppings and then DH sets traps - the old fashioned wood ones. We have an exterminator 4 times a year and the last time he pulled the stove away from the wall and we discovered that there was a gap in the caulking around the gas pipe line. He used expanding foam to fill the space and so far we've been mouse-free.

Here, it's been three different kinds of ants indoors, and rabbits and chipmunks outside. As of Monday, and $300, the ant invasion seems over, and there's bait down for the chipmunks under the porch. We had three kinds of ants, all unhappy after we dug up some of the garden bed below a bathroom sindow. It took a while to see that they were coming in around the window framing.

I'm storing the watering can for the south pots on its side after twice discovering a dead mouse in the spout after I'd left it upright. (Fill watering can; tilt; discover why water isn't coming out; remove and bury tiny creature.)

The exterminator said to buy bait that you put in a box for the mice in our attic.

Our guy came and we walked the permimiter of the house. He had a pencil. He stuck the lead into cracks in the foundation and show me the gaps they could get into. It's between the size of the lead tip and the diameter of the pencil. Chalk them up, fill any holes. He would not guarantee anything as homes expand contract with the weather opening gaps. Diligence.

I have a bunch of hosta growing along the foundation on one side of the house. They would provide the perfect cover for mouse entrances. They will be fading soon so maybe ill whack yhem down and look for entries there.

Im just tired of this battle!

If you think the kitchen mice might come from behind the stove, perhaps you could slide the stove back and check for entry holes. Also under the sink since there are already holes that pipes come in, see whether any of them are bigger than the pipes. And of course a quick perimeter check might catch any really large entrance holes.

" It will take some big time sleuthing to locate the entry spots. "

I think you might be pleasantly surprised. The people who do this for a living and are competent know typical behavior habits well and know where to look.

One thing I learned about is what they call "grease spots". Rodents have an oil on their fur. When they pass repeatedly and brush against particular places, it leaves a brown streak. Also, if you're talking about access points in the structure, by crawling around underneath in daytime, light will shine through access holes to pinpoint such locations. Along with looking for the obvious torn screen barriers or ones for which there are gaps.

Good luck.

I have mice in my attic. They can't get into the house from there though. They usually only come in in the fall, but this year we've had them all year. I don't know how anyone would find the access points as they would be well under the eaves where you can't even see to get in there. There are some "vermin entrances" on the outside of the house that they may be using, but they're up under the eaves 2 stories high. I use both the spring traps, and if I can catch them, the live traps and let them go outside. Just part of living in the country. I wouldn't be happy though if they got into the living spaces.

You can use something like this to seal up entry points...

I do prefer bait blocks, since the vermin go elsewhere to perish after consuming, but if they're inside, that could present a problem with smells.

" I don't know how anyone would find the access points as they would be well under the eaves where you can't even see to get in there. "

Some tasks are not immediately obvious for DIY'er to understand how to accomplish. The good thing about hiring a pro is that a competent one DOES know how to do what's needed to fix problems.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I don't agree that having rodents in the home is part of "living in the country." I live near an undeveloped area and there are rodents and other animals here and there. I have none in my house because of being proactive and diligent about it, it isn't that hard. Some of my neighbors have had infestations too and, usually horrified when they realize it, have also been able to remedy their problems in ways similar to what I did.

I agree about the poisons as they are not only dangerous to household pets, but wildlife too...owls, foxes, coyotes and other predators who eat rodents.

Okay, if you don't want to kill them, stop reading now. I understand that karma will get me for this.

I have little luck with snap traps. I use the plastic humane traps that look like little tunnels. Bait with peanut butter. Catch mouse. Fill bucket with water, drown mouse. Put out in front yard for foxes, owls, and hawks. Dog would play with them if I put them in the back yard. Repeat as needed. Yes, I feel awful, really really awful. Really. :-(

Cyn, you are tougher than i imagined! I am such a wimp. I want them dead but i dont want to see them.

Agree about the poison but it does work.