The rodenticides mentioned above use coumadin/warfarin for the method of action. This anticoagulant leads to GI bleeding and death by exsanguination. (Effective especially with rodents such as these, which generally do not vomit even after ingestion of harmful or nauseating substances. Side note--their pica behavior and selections when ill or poisoned have been studied for medicinal botanical insights.)One hopes the dying family of mice don't succumb within your wall spaces. Can you say, "eau de mus?"
The non-selective nature of these poisons puts other critters at risk if they are likely to eat whichever bait you've chosen, such as rabbits, birds, etc. Minimal risk to dogs--depends on size/ bait qty. etc.. Cats usually won't consume these baits, and should be trained and encouraged to apprehend the mice. Ho ho. Get a Mauser to get the mice. Mouser....
Norwegian rats from the orchard chose to enter the garage, thence house, on their nightly rounds a while back. Smart, wily. Eluded several types of traps. Finally caught the pair by forcing their path choice to a glue trap (male) and strategically positioned multiple spring traps, onto which the female toppled as she tried to enter the hole they had chewed in a doggie door.
The male pulled the glue trap free of its anchor and proceeded to chew up the controls and elect. cord of a TV. He spent several hours angry, til his rapid dispatch and demise. Different outcome with a baby mouse once caught by a friend in college with a glue trap. Despite her mouse-phobia and revulsion, she watched as I slowly, carefully, (and luckily) managed to extricate the cute tiny guy, who found a home with someone else in the dorm.
Whatever you choose to do, be humane. There are humane modes of death as well as inhumane modes of life...
