Rodents and rowhome living

[Anonymous]

Have you ever had a problem with rodents, but had no evidence of them inside your rowhome?

Multiple companies have concluded that they are most likely coming from the adjoining rowhome. I’m losing hope this problem can be solved without tearing up my walls/ceilings.

[Anonymous]

Mice?

If it's mice, and you're not seeing them inside the rowhome, it's just the cost of doing business. I've talked to all my neighbors, some who have lived here much longer than me, and all say you just deal with it. If it's bad, you can put traps in some places (like cut a hole in a closet ceiling and put a trap between floorboards), but it's just a fact of life.

[Anonymous]

get a cat.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused, what is the problem exactly if there's no evidence of them inside your house? If there's no evidence or damage occurring, then that's just city living and you should consider yourself lucky they're not pooping in your cupboards.

And FWIW, we had ongoing mice issues despite having cats until we renovated. Took the back sunporch fully off the house and rebuilt it from the studs up. Haven't had mouse droppings since because the house is actually sealed now and they're not getting in. Or mostly not getting in. Once a year or so my cats leave a dead mouse offering in the middle of my living room. But I assume that's actually a one-off mouse that got in because otherwise I'd see evidence of them like we used to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused, what is the problem exactly if there's no evidence of them inside your house? If there's no evidence or damage occurring, then that's just city living and you should consider yourself lucky they're not pooping in your cupboards.

And FWIW, we had ongoing mice issues despite having cats until we renovated. Took the back sunporch fully off the house and rebuilt it from the studs up. Haven't had mouse droppings since because the house is actually sealed now and they're not getting in. Or mostly not getting in. Once a year or so my cats leave a dead mouse offering in the middle of my living room. But I assume that's actually a one-off mouse that got in because otherwise I'd see evidence of them like we used to.

a problem with no evidence is the definition of there not being a problem. and if they aren't in your house now, why would you rip things up to allow them temporary access?

[Anonymous]

Op here. I feel like I have no choice but to open the ceiling and wall. Last inspector said it could be very difficult to locate the point of entry so it could all be for nothing.
The problem is I’m starting to lose my mind. Every night I wake up to scratching/scurrying or gnawing and fear that it will get worse if we don’t do something.
My neighbor recently shared that they had a problem with mice, so I assume that what’s we’re hearing.

[Anonymous]

YES! After you’ve done the basics, then ruled out the plumbing and roof, that’s when you unfortunately have to start opening walls and ceilings. If they are coming from a neighbor, it will be where there are holes in the party wall, like where beams are attached or plumbing was relocated. Start with the areas where you’re hearing the most traffic. Find the access point and be prepared to bait / trap in the walls, and if its larger than mice be prepared for foul smells and flies (fly paper is your friend). And wine, lots of wine. I’m also assuming your neighbor is totally unfriendly and wouldn’t let you send your pest control in to exterminate and look for obvious holes to your side. Source: lived that nightmare and will never share a common wall again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I feel like I have no choice but to open the ceiling and wall. Last inspector said it could be very difficult to locate the point of entry so it could all be for nothing.
The problem is I’m starting to lose my mind. Every night I wake up to scratching/scurrying or gnawing and fear that it will get worse if we don’t do something.
My neighbor recently shared that they had a problem with mice, so I assume that what’s we’re hearing.

You're hearing them in the house or in the walls?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I feel like I have no choice but to open the ceiling and wall. Last inspector said it could be very difficult to locate the point of entry so it could all be for nothing.
The problem is I’m starting to lose my mind. Every night I wake up to scratching/scurrying or gnawing and fear that it will get worse if we don’t do something.
My neighbor recently shared that they had a problem with mice, so I assume that what’s we’re hearing.

I had an exterminator cut open holes in the wall, place poison, and then seal the walls again.

[Anonymous]

I sold a house precisely because of this and will never share a wall again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I feel like I have no choice but to open the ceiling and wall. Last inspector said it could be very difficult to locate the point of entry so it could all be for nothing.
The problem is I’m starting to lose my mind. Every night I wake up to scratching/scurrying or gnawing and fear that it will get worse if we don’t do something.
My neighbor recently shared that they had a problem with mice, so I assume that what’s we’re hearing.

You're hearing them in the house or in the walls?

OP. Most frequently, we are hear them in the ceiling, on our top floor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sold a house precisely because of this and will never share a wall again.

Op. This is how I felt yesterday morning - I was in tears. We have never experienced anything like this (ongoing noises over many months) in our 10+ years we've lived in this home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:YES! After you’ve done the basics, then ruled out the plumbing and roof, that’s when you unfortunately have to start opening walls and ceilings. If they are coming from a neighbor, it will be where there are holes in the party wall, like where beams are attached or plumbing was relocated. Start with the areas where you’re hearing the most traffic. Find the access point and be prepared to bait / trap in the walls, and if its larger than mice be prepared for foul smells and flies (fly paper is your friend). And wine, lots of wine. I’m also assuming your neighbor is totally unfriendly and wouldn’t let you send your pest control in to exterminate and look for obvious holes to your side. Source: lived that nightmare and will never share a common wall again.

OP. Thank you for responding. Every single company that has inspected has said it's most likely crossover. Neighbor is lovely, but I don't think they would be willing to let us send someone in on their side. Surprisingly, yesterday afternoon, the same pest control company that inspected my home yesterday morning, was back to supposedly set traps two door downs from me.

DH says we just need to deal with this on our own, have someone cut the drywall on our side and hope they can find the point of entry. Yes, it is a nightmare. I'm so sorry that you had to deal with that and hope everything worked out. There's a part of me that believes things happen for a reason, and it's time to finally put every ounce of energy I have into moving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I feel like I have no choice but to open the ceiling and wall. Last inspector said it could be very difficult to locate the point of entry so it could all be for nothing.
The problem is I’m starting to lose my mind. Every night I wake up to scratching/scurrying or gnawing and fear that it will get worse if we don’t do something.
My neighbor recently shared that they had a problem with mice, so I assume that what’s we’re hearing.

So, the problem is that you're not cut out for living in a row house if you're starting to lose your mind even though rodents are not entering your space. Move. It's the only way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I feel like I have no choice but to open the ceiling and wall. Last inspector said it could be very difficult to locate the point of entry so it could all be for nothing.
The problem is I’m starting to lose my mind. Every night I wake up to scratching/scurrying or gnawing and fear that it will get worse if we don’t do something.
My neighbor recently shared that they had a problem with mice, so I assume that what’s we’re hearing.

You're hearing them in the house or in the walls?

OP. Most frequently, we are hear them in the ceiling, on our top floor.

if you are hearing them "in the ceiling" on the top floor, please consider that you are actually hearing squirrels on your roof?