With the numbers of mice that seem to be around the shelter I saw in GA lst year, a few well placed traps would help cull the herd, but would not affect predator species like snakes. Mechanical traps only as D-con and baits need to stay out of the food chain. I would be concerned about the mouse corpses attracting bears (real big mice) if they are flung around the shelter… I guess you would have to pack the dead mice out with you. :bawling
stumps
I came to the conclusion that mice serve absolutely no purpose…none. Except to ravage the gear of innocent hikers, in their sleep. Mice aren’t varmin…they’re goddamn terrorists (You can tell I have no hard feelings). After they raided my food bag, destroyed my smartwools, and scampered all over me in my sleep…I knew I had heard my higher calling. Destroy the bastards. And since, that is what I have done…and with no remorse.
Andy
Has anyone brought up the hanta virus issue. As I understand it certain species of mice carry a fatal virus in their droppings. People get the virus when they inhale dust from the droppings. With that in mind I say squash the little buggers.
PB
Well unless you kill every mouse it basicly a pointless waste of time(or cheap entertainment).All it takes is one mouse to get into your food bag,there not pack animals.Also there reproductive cycle is so fast that they will reproduce fast enough that a hiker 2 weeks later may not even notice your killing spree if you missed only 2 or 3.Animals will exploit any food niche that they can,if you wanna control mice try to control hikers,you will probably be more succesful if shelters are kept clean and food free.You might as well try to kill all the flys also while your at it,have fun.
Newb
<<<thus in admission to killing pesky mice you could possibly be admitting a crime in a national park, maybe being convicted to 20 years and fined and/or gear confiscated? over mice? lol, hope you guys have fun with the rest of the criminals for 20 years.>>>
A) Even me and all my limited law experience could get my own confessions thrown out of the equation. B) Then all I have to do is convince a jury that I killed a mouse. A damn mouse. Beady little eyes, nasty little teeth, long, thin tail. All it takes is ONE HOUSEWIFE on that jury and I am skipping out of the courthouse faster than you can cook ramen.
I’ll take my chances with the jury of housewives, grandmas, and exterminators.
God bless America:cheers
Ben Reuschel
Make all hikers hike the trail without bringing food. That way, hikers would not leave scraps for the mouse population to explode at shelters AND they would kill mice to eat them.
rc
My largest kill was 9 in one night with the help of my friends Animal and Soggy Feet (SOBO’s from 2002). We arranged their frozen bodies into an AT symbol and got sick satisfaction over our meaningless mouse kill. It just felt good to get them back for running over my sleeping bag and my face and trying to go for my food bag. I do not blame the mice, 'cause if I were a mouse, I would definitely live in an AT shelter… preferably in Maine where the shelters were cooler. 
As long as I don’t develop signs of Hantavirus then I will consider my victory complete over the mice on the AT.
Gravy
What a hoot! I have really enjoyed this topic. Mice are lke all other critters; creatures of opportunity. The mice have a good thing going. No worries about foxes, cyotes, owls or snakes. The big clumsy humans keep them away from the shelters. As a bonus, they bring tasty food! Sure, there is some risk, but life is a risk. Mice will fill their ecological niche as they have for thousands of years. Down in their snug warm mouse holes, they are toasting the exploits of their bravest, ridiculing the demise of their unlucky, and thanking the big clumsy humans for making a place that is safe from predators with fast reflexes and hungry eyes. Hikers need more snakes, foxes and owls!
Bulldog
killing mice?
whats the problem…in the wild…they’re just morsels of food for the bears, snakes & other critters anyway!
stomp 'em, smack 'em or just let the snakes have 'em!
Jaybird