Mice or Birds?

Knine

I can hear scrabbling in the ceiling above my bedroom so I have some guests. During the summer I had birds nesting but could not see them when I got into the attic but moved around although not that much so I left them be.

I want to get into the attic and set a few traps in case it is mice, however I am worried I could hurt a bird on the offchance it is birds I hear.

I'm not worried too much about them getting into the house as I have terriers that would make short work of them.

How can I be sure its mice? The house is detached 2 storey. How would mice (or rats) even get up there?

OpenYourEyes

Knine wrote: »

I can hear scrabbling in the ceiling above my bedroom so I have some guests. During the summer I had birds nesting but could not see them when I got into the attic but moved around although not that much so I left them be.

I want to get into the attic and set a few traps in case it is mice, however I am worried I could hurt a bird on the offchance it is birds I hear.

I'm not worried too much about them getting into the house as I have terriers that would make short work of them.

How can I be sure its mice? The house is detached 2 storey. How would mice (or rats) even get up there?

If you havn't noticed any bird activity recently then I'd imagine it is mice. Maybe go up and have a quick look around for mouse droppings first of all. If you find mouse droppings, and don't see any sign of birds coming and going, then I'd say its probably safe enough to assume it is mice!

Mice can squeeze into very small holes, holes much smaller than you'd think! Good climbers too from what I know. So if there's any kind of entry point into your attic from the outside, it's likely they'd find it!

Mothman

I think unlikely to be birds assuming it is dark up there. I do have wrens and tits that go into small holes/crevices but they don't venture far into the dark.

About mouse droppings, they and bat droppings look similar. bat droppings are crumbly (remains of insects), mouse droppings do not crumble and when dry are hard.

Knine

Thanks I got up into the attic but can't see anything, they must be between the attic and ceiling. I did set traps though.

kincsem

Mice come indoors in October. Wooden traps with chocolate melted into the small circular hole are very effective.

Knine

I would have used humane traps to be honest except I won't be able to get into the attic to check them often enough. I used peanut butter with a tiny bit of cheese wedged in tight to make sure they set the trap off.

If they come into the actual house, they will have two very fast terriers to deal with.

kincsem

Cheese only works in Tom & Jerry cartoons.