i read somewhere that mint plants in the house will chase the mice away. we keep our mice in the cold drafty basement, not enough light nor heat to support plant life. would mint leaves in a potpourri pot work?waddya think? where do you keep your mice? thanks in advance!! p.s. we do have 2 cats in the house , they get some, but not enough. we don't want the cats to eat any poison. or step in a trap. so any other suggestions are welcome. again, thanks!

-- fred in wi (sixuvusmeyers@aol.com), January 24, 2002

Answers

I have no clue about mint but moth balls work very good. Had rats not mice in attic and read somewhere about moth balls so threw some up there heard them playing one night but they didn't stay long and never came back. I did fix the place they were getting in at but not one has come back!! I don't like the smell of the moth balls but I'd rather smell them than have rats anyday!

-- Sandy(FL.) (REDNECKGIRL32@prodigy.net), January 24, 2002.

Have you ever tried one of those sonic beeping things that you plug in? It's supposed to work, but I haven't tried it. The other thing I might suggest is looking for every possible entrance and stuff it with steel wool. Also you could hide traps in places your kitties won't be able to reach like under a weighted coffee can with a hole cut out. Peanut butter works good for bait.

-- Pam in Oregon (pamalimabean@hotmail.com), January 24, 2002.

We had one of the early model sonic pest repellent gizmos - didn't work worth a thing. That was early in the game, early 1980's, so they may have been improved by now.

If you have access to a pet shop or know someone owning a snake, you are in luck. Snakeskin is a definite mouse repellant; the smell really keeps them away. This is one unconventional method to get rid of mice that really works. Good luck; I hope one of our solutions helps you out.

-- j.r. guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), January 24, 2002.

I have used mint for years. I even give the whole stems, leaves and all, to my husband who puts them in the truck, tractors and all the machinery on the farm. No mice and it smells great in there. I am trying to get mint to grow around all the grain bins and building on the farm. It smell wonderful when mowed. I have also heard of people sing dryer sheets to keep mice out.

Pat

-- Pat (hiddentreasuresfarm@hotmail.com), January 24, 2002.