OT/old news/mice/ lavender

[annie at allthingspiano.com]

Stephane,

How do you know the lavender actually repelled any of the mice?  You found
little mouse shacks under other furniture?  They posted tiny Rooms Wanted
signs on the lamp bases? <g>  (No nastiness meant -- I really do want to
know.)

My guess is that the best defense against mice is a really good offense,
and I doubt lavender is it (and I certainly apologize if I was one of the
people who suggested using it!).

I'd also guess that mice are like a cross between salmon and ants in that
they'll tend to nest in the same area they were raised, and the smell of
mice attracts more mice.

But poison is such a gruesome solution -- besides which, you can never be
sure that they're actually going to die where you'll find them easily and
quickly.  And it is so very dangerous to all living creatures that depend
on their blood remaining in the appropriate and necessary places.

Adult mice HAVE to come out of the piano to get food and water (although I
suppose they could live on moldy DC pads -- ick!).  Put traps around the
piano -- snap-traps for killing or live traps for catch-and-release.  My
favorites of both types are made by the Kness Company (www.kness.com). 
Use peanut butter as bait.  (BTW, I think glue traps are one of the most
barbaric inventions, ever.)

Once you get them out, remove/cover all traces of mouse scent... and keep
a trap or two near the piano, especially in the fall.

Annie Grieshop

> Hi Sid.
>
> After asking about last year for a good mice repellant on the list, many
> answers mentioned lavender.  I did try this.  I put lavender everywhere, I
> mean lots of lavender, dried or in spirit, in all the places possible.
> The
> good news is : yes, it repels mice, and the perfume is nice (to me at
> least), even on the long time.  The bad news is : no, it didn't repel all
> of
> them here.  There was a couple who were not bothered, stayed home and made
> kids.  In last resort, I had to get that difenacoum thing, which I hate (I
> love animals).  Only this worked here, while I tried many sweeter options
> (like adopting them, but this proved quickly not to be feasible, because
> of
> their excellent fecundity).  In about 3 or 4 days, no more mice.  But
> those
> days are pain, as you keep seeing the little animals suffering hell.  They
> run less and less quickly, then they don't move anymore, but not dead yet.
> There is danger for kids and pets, as if they can't reach the stuff, they
> always could reach the crops of infected mice.  You should bury or burn
> those before anyone else that you like can eat them.  In case, manage to
> get
> some K1 vitamins which are the antidote to defenacoum.
>
> Best regards.
>
> Stéphane Collin.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
> Behalf
> Of Sid Blum
> Sent: dimanche 30 septembre 2007 1:42
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: OT/old news/mice/ lavender
>
> After searching the archives I still have no hard evidence that
> lavender is or is not an effective mouse repellant.  Anyone willing
> to offer first hand experience?
>
> Thanks much,
>
> Sid
> --
> Sid Blum
> sid at sover.net
> --
> Sid Blum
> sid at sover.net
>
>
>