Posted on: Tuesday, July 13, 2004

Makakilo mice dwindling

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Health Writer

Residents and state health officials say the mice invasion of Makakilo seems to be letting up.

Greg Olmsted, vector control chief for the state Health Department, said fewer mice have been caught in traps over the past two weeks compared to late May and June, when residents complained about the rapid rise in the rodent population.

David Bambadji of Makakilo agrees that the mice are still out there but they aren't showing up in the numbers that were creeping into yards and houses earlier this summer. His family got some help with mouse patrol from their cats, who brought them 30 dead mice in a week's time in May.

Olmsted said the number of mice went down slightly in recent weeks and crews didn't set traps last week because they shifted to work on mosquito eradication linked to trying to keep West Nile virus out of Hawai'i.

Health Department spokeswoman Laura Lott said that West Nile season occurs in summer on the Mainland because mosquitoes thrive in the warm weather and die off in the cold of winter.

Lott said health officials are targeting areas linked to out-of-state transit because "the most probable way it's going to come to the state is via cargo container or airplane."

Olmsted said the department expects to trap more mice in Makakilo later on.

He said traps also were set in Nanakuli, Wai'anae, Royal Kunia and 'Ewa. "We are still concerned," he said. "We will continue to watch it."

He said no poisoning has been done on O'ahu this year.

In the past week or two, Bambadji said he hasn't seen any mice in his house, but he still sees them scampering across Makakilo Drive at night. "They're still around," he said.

Olmsted recommends that anyone concerned about mice get rid of open sources of food, water and shelter that might attract them. That means not leaving standing water, pet food, lumber and other items around that attract mice.

He also recommends snap traps to get rid of mice that have arrived.

He said residents also can keep the creatures out by repairing holes in walls or screens; caulking behind appliances, around plumbing or electrical openings. "They can come in through very small openings, even a quarter of an inch," he said.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.