Is it OK to Trap & Release Rodents?
`No. They are highly bonded family wise and territorial.
Also, eviction is likely a death sentence as they will freeze! I know it's very annoying, and don't expect you to tolerate it
First thing, basically you want to push out, slowly, from the inside. This may include putting something outside they can shelter in - a chest of drawers with some scrap fabric and a tarpaulin, in an ideal world.
Just remember they need what we need - warm, dry beds, water, food. Space to stash food, ideally, but shelter is important.
I suspect they're scared enough of us to want to stay away.
Put flour on the floor. They'll come to lick it up, and leave tracks to where they're getting in. Hopefully, it will also expose runs.
When you work out the runs, clear them. They want cover, so light and distance without things to hide behind puts them off.
Do this, and maybe leave a light on at night.
Then start putting scent down. Wipe the floors and counters you think they may use with some bleach in water. You need to wipe the pheromone trail out, and they leave that constantly in a dribble of wee. I have read kestrels hunt by picking up on the UV of their urine trails, don't know if that's worth trying to spot them? It's a guess, I don't know.
Sonar deterrents do work, to some extent.
Put some citronella down, or even fine ground pepper. It's a gentle deterrent.
When you tracked the entry points, mark them. If it's more than one, block one, then the other, and stuff with wire dish scrubbers before filling.
If you use expanding filler, knock hard around the entry first, because they could get stuck in it which would be awful.
Slowly (a couple of days - they are smart and leaving it too long is inviting more holes) push back with these methods, as well as fastidiously cleaning and sweeping, putting things they eat out of reach etc, and I hope you'll have them out soon.`
Alternative shelter is the ideal way, obviously you want no harm to come to them.
If you know anyone with a snake, ask for some ****. That scares them!
You can also try putting cellophane down so if they walk on it it's immediately noisy.
If you have some who are stuck in the house after filling holes, do a humane trap. A bin with a flip lid is good, or baking paper wrapped over a pan they can reach, with a light X cut in it and some bait will work. But this is another reason the alternative gaff is a good idea, cos trapping and dumping rodents is likely to end in harm for them. Rival territory, no shelter etc.
Citronella and probably many other scents are a good start.`
A Wildlife Rescuer
