Dill speaks with Press Herald about keeping mice out of greenhouses
Griffin Dill, an integrated pest management specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, spoke with the Portland Press Herald about ways to keep mice out of greenhouses and from damaging crops. Deer mice, meadow voles, white-footed mouse and an occasional chipmunk are common pests in Maine greenhouses, according to Dill. He suggests keeping grass around greenhouses mowed to cut down on rodent populations. When setting traps, Dill said peanut butter is generally a safe bet and recommends attaching a piece of string to the mousetrap-baiting mechanism, and putting peanut butter on that. “Because mice are surprisingly good at removing bait without setting it off,” Dill said. “This way they will work on the bait, start to chew on the string, and that will set it off.” In addition to peanut butter, he suggests bait of apples for voles and oats and seed for mice. Sun Journal also published the article.