I read with interest the articles about mouse problems, and thought I'd
add my 2 [cents] worth, also.
 
I've never had a problem with them, despite living in the country.  I
attribute this good fortune to the fact that I've always had cats and
feed the huge population of strays.  The homeless and/or feral cats are
undoubtedly the primary source of this 'good luck', because pet cats
are unreliable when it comes to predation of vermin.
 
This unreliability is understandable: pets aren't generally hungry.
In my observations, pet cats tend to play with (read: torment,
unfortunately) small rodents, but more often than not, finally lose
interest and allow the poor things to escape.  This has always
necessitated my having to put them down humanely, as they have been
mortally wounded.
 
The best mousers?  Dogs!  They're far more likely to feed on their prey,
(though this isn't a good idea because of disease, and I don't allow it
when I see it, it IS somewhat comforting, speaking ecologically), they're
not usually interested in 'playing', and they never let one go if they
can help it.
 
My best canine 'mousers' have been a Corgi mix, a couple of Dachshund
mixes, and one of my 'currents', a pure-bred Siberian Husky.  That is,
until now.
 
I recently acquired (rescued) a Rat Terrier.  (Don't bother looking for
the breed on the AKC lists: they have their own registry, for those
interested in such.) Let me tell you: they are APTLY named.  I've not
seen a more ardent hunter among my 'pack'.
 
However, THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED AROUND FERRETS!!  IMHO, of course!
Granted, mine was grown when I got her, but I consider it to be playing
with fire to attempt to persuade a Rat Terrier to peacefully coexist with
ferrets.  From what I've seen, they do NOT discriminate, and ferrets are
simply filed under 'prey'.
 
In fact, I keep all my dogs away from 'em, though surprisingly (to me),
the cats (with one exception) have been great.
 
IF, and only IF, you keep such a dog away from your weasels, I don't
think you'll have any problem with rodents.
 
I'm always against poison, (and please don't think I'm contradicting
other posters, or that I know it ALL!  *s), because it's too easy for
pets and small children to get into the poison itself, because pet
animals have been known to eat poisoned rodents, and because it's a
not-unknown phenomenon to have a poisoned mouse die within the walls
of one's home, lending quite the fetid atmosphere for an amazingly long
time.
 
As this is my first post, I'll add the 'Peanut Gallery':
 
Cats Elvis, Tiddy, Girl-Cat (one litter), FatBoy, Piccolo, Cammie and
Spooky (another), Prissy (FatBoy, et al's mother), Rainbow and Squeak.
All rescues.
 
Dogs Sonny (Dachshund/Beagle Cross, we think!) a nearly-one-year-old
stray; Lexie, the aforementioned Rat Terrier rescue; Luca, a pure-white,
blue-eyed Siberian Husky rescue; Rocket, registered Chocolate Chihuahua,
11 years old, and the only 'chosen' among the cats and dogs; and Abby, a
Dachshund/Cocker Spaniel Cross, 14 years old and also a rescue, still
keenly 'interested' in hunting, but who is a classic example of 'spirit
willing, flesh weak.'
 
Aquaria of various fire newts, fish, and (alleged) African frogs.
 
A ten-year old iguana, Josepha, originally 'Joseph' until we found eggs
one day, and another rescue.
 
Finally, (drum roll, please!) our newest species: an albino ferret,
rescued from a (yes) pet store by my son, named 'Casper', but called
'Weezer', and a baby 10-week old dark sable (I think!  it's hard to
figure out ferret colors and markings, for me at least), girl named
'Mindy.'
 
What little I know about ferrets, I've mostly gleaned from the FML and
the Ferret Central (I think that's the name!) website.  Let me tell you:
it's apparently more than the latest pet store owner and vets know.  (Our
vets, naturally enough in this rural area, are primarily large-animal.) I
frequently scan lists of ferret-friendly vets, but have yet to find one
so described in Oklahoma.  But hope springs eternal!
 
Good luck with the folks with mouse problems, and keep up the great work
on the FML.
 
Gia
[Posted in FML issue 4343]