@Gwendolyn2018 in pursuit of possible prey she can find a way nder/through a 4' high new chain link fence...I have had to ground-stake & tie-wrap chicken wire to the bottom foot of All fencing and extend a foot into the yard.....child locks on all interior cabinets too. When I say she is a Dedicated Hunter, I am stating it mildly.

@Gwendolyn2018 she only digs for moles now, having figured out she cannot dig through chicken wire...thank goodness

Mice sure can throw a wrench into things, can't they? Sounds like they've made themselves a bit too comfortable in your home. Have you thought about trying pest control services? Sometimes a professional touch can really help put a lid on the issue. But there are some DIY methods too, like peppermint oil or sealing up their entryways, that can keep the little critters at bay. What about other folks here? Any tried-and-true tricks for dealing with these whiskered invaders? I've heard steel wool can be a game-changer!

@Gwendolyn2018 That does happen and more often than we think. Another big problem is that within the walls they can chew through pipes. The new plumbing material is called PEX which is a pliable plastic. Our plumber told me that he has seen rats chew through copper pipes. Rats are very smart animals and some people make them as pets.

@Gwendolyn2018 Oh yeah. I have helped neighbors deal with rats in 'manufactured' homes. One had, as you said, a water heater that opened from the outside. It was a mess and stunk up the whole house. We had to remove the heater and clean and plug all the holes. However, the rats, being so smart, found a way back in. Later, I was informed the best way to plug holes is to use steel wool. Rats hate gnawing through that material.

@Gwendolyn2018 Good you've been able to get rid of them. Sometimes it's difficult keeping pests out.
Most people, like me, think mice are a pest and mostly harmless until I read a report of how the pandemic changed some of our affects on nature. One item was about mice dubbed 'vampire mice.' Pretty scary stuff. [rt.com]

@Gwendolyn2018 I also thought I had blocked my crawl space (half is a concrete stem wall and the other half is the wall of the house going down to the concrete base. The siding is hardiboard (concrete). The one weak spot was the intersection of the two and I had added a 2 X 4 to that spot. It worked for several years but one alpha female (the females always seem to be the smartest) found a weak spot and climbed over the 2 x 4 and got in. I found the spot and sealed it inside and outside. Problem was she was trapped inside and even leaving the entrance panel open all night didn't entice her out. I left water so she wouldn't chew the plumbing but she outsmarted herself and died from starvation. I actually felt sad at the loss of so smart a critter.

@Gwendolyn2018 Goliath was over 4 feet long, Some of my sick friends would come by to see him eat good sized rats, swallowed whole. He kept growing and had to give him away as I feared for my cat.

@Gwendolyn2018 Absolutely. The monitor belonged to a friend with health issues. The lizard would have perished otherwise as it was an illegal species in that state thus no other options. His next home was over the state line so it all worked out well.

Crap! I was wondering why everytime I tried starting my old car I would pass out.

@Gwendolyn2018 I leave possums and raccoons go their merry way. Right now, I might have to get out my bunny thinner. The raptors aren’t doing their job. This spring, the rabbits are every crocus flower

Man, that's dark.....

@PondartIncbendog I used to try to live trap them and set them free, but that was just giving the problem to someone else. The rats here swarm in packs and will chew a hole in a solid wooden door overnight. After dealing with that level of damage, my patience is exhausted. I don't like killing anything, but I'm not going to live with flies, spiders or rodents in my house, especially as they severely upset my partner. I do not take any pleasure in killing these creatures but do what I feel I must.

I've seen a lot of rats and mice die in the coils of a snake. Suffocation is quick. Seeing anything die causes revulsion (or should), and that sensation is thought to be a primary source of our morality. I seek to remain mindful of my reactions.

@Gwendolyn2018 The fella sneaks in when I've got the door open. He's looking for cat food. I can't get mad at them.

Just treat them like pickles. Should be able to get a dozen in a good sized jar.

Amazon has them.