The hot weather has brought some uninvited guests into New Jersey homes: rodents.

Essex County in particular has seen an increase in rodent activity throughout the summer.

The heat becomes too much for rodents like rats in the wild, so they look for food and shelter in our homes, for example.

Mercer County is also not immune to an invasion of rodents, especially field mice.

Earlier this week, I was sitting at our kitchen counter overlooking the stove and a small critter was peeking out from under the stove as if it was asking if it could have a bite. The solution? I had a couple of old-fashioned mouse traps, smeared a little peanut butter on the tab and placed the trap under the stove.

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Apparently the peanut butter was too tempting for the animal. In the early hours of the morning, just before I went to the studio, bang. I caught it in the neck, so I can at least hope that it was a quick death and the little creature didn’t know what hit it.

But either way, the problem is solved.

What rodents have you found in your home? How do you keep them away? Send me a message through our free NJ 101.5 app.

The above post reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Bill Spadea. All opinions expressed are Bill’s own.

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