Whack job neighbor— help please!!

recently, there has been a mice infestation in the surrounding area where I live. Since I work from home, I rarely drive my car. And well, mice turned the inside of the engine into a little mouse town. My car was completely rewired, thankfully covered by insurance. Long story short— I told my neighbor about this, who also has a car sitting idle. We live in a home, and the best way I can discribe it, as its split into two aparentments, side by side, and our cars comes right up to our front doors.

After hearing about the infestation, he decided to pour ammonia around our cars and adjoining porch. Supposably this is suppose to keep the mice away by burning their noses.. this is something Ive never heard of before and as an animal lover I would never do.

I have a large window in front (over looking the cars and porch), where I have two lovebirds, and an alexandrine.

Understand, he came and told me all this after the fact and I was absolutely livid. Also, this neighbor is, I would say, mentally disabled and is difficult to talk to. I couldn't get out of him how much he poured, but, I did smell it after it happened.

So my question.. what harm is this to my birds. I have closed off ALL the windows, but I just can't relax knowing there's chemicals poured right outside my door. Unfortunately, I cannot move them to the other side of the house, because it's a large one bedroom, with a large front room, kitchen, etc, all with windows to this porch.

The smell is gone. And all birds are fine. I called the local avian-vet and they said keep an eye on them, but there's no current danger.

Also- if anyone has any advice on talking to this neighbor, that would be fantastic. After my boyfriend and I spoke with him this evening, as calmly as we could, with all the facts on the table, he said he was going to continue to use the ammonia because his car is worth more than my birds, and my birds were going to die anyways. I think anyone with a bird, or just generally a soul, can understand the red i was seeing. We've had our issues in the past, but we've learned to just stay away from him. It's a very unusual, difficult situation.

my first concern is my birds, and dealing with the a-hole second.

I don't know much about ammonia either, I don't know if it's still toxic after the fumes are gone?

I actually started shaking from just writing this. Hopefully some fellow-bird lovers can help me out!

- Kate

Hi sorry about this whack job, I have one too! One concern I have is, for you to remove all outdoor footwear at the door, don't walk around the house in them, in case the birds go play on the floor. Always remove shoes at the door, which leaves picked up germs from outside on the mat.

You could just wash it away outside at a discrete time, certainly around your car? He should be asked not to pour this on your property.

Without knowing where in the world you are I am suggesting that maybe your local police can help? There are more humane methods of catching mice.

Is the outside area kept clean and free from litter and debris, this makes it less inviting for the mice? Have read that ammonia just on some rag could be enough so he could just put some under his car hood/bonnet LOL.

Just another thought do you have any local by-laws or water company/drainage company regulations that forbids pouring certain substances? If so, is this one?

Is he mixing it with anything else?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonia Some fact FYI

Ammonia at full strength, is a very strong chemical and again at full strength can be a problem for Adults with Lung /breathing problems and also young children. As stated above: "Just another thought do you have any local by-laws or water company/drainage company regulations that forbids pouring certain substances?"

NOW, to bring a bit of comfort, Ammonia breaks down rapidly and shortly after you can no longer smell it, it is no longer an issue of coming into you home in the air.

As recommended above: "Always remove shoes at the door, which leaves picked up germs from outside on the mat." This really should be a standard for every home, but more important in homes with small children and home based Pets. Leave the outdoors on the mat!

Regarding mice. Visit your local family owned Auto Parts and Hardware Stores and ask them what is popular in your area to keep mice away from your automobile! Do not tell them what the other guy is doing, you want what is working, so don't close off any and all comments specific to your area!!! Also, consider visiting or calling your locally owned Pest Control Company.

As you know, it is costly to re-wire an automobile. Once you have had them living in /on the automobile they will come back!!! You will need to be providing some kind of 'barrier' to protect you investment!!

Wow thanks guys, I did not even think of the shoes.. thankfully we do already take off our shoes, but another good thing to keep in mind. Unfortunately we have a little King Charles that doesn't have shoes to take off...

My plan was, Monday morning, to go out with a hose and dilute the area. Unfortunately, I'm not convinced he doesn't have cameras set up. He's mentioned in the past that he believes a certain ethnicity will steal from him, clearly just a racist comment. This is the type of person I'm dealing with. It's sad and disgusting. Dealing with someone like this does scare me, as I'm not afraid of him physically, but what he could do to make my life miserable living next door.

BUT, we do have a rain storm blowing in, probably in about 10 hours here. It seems like Mother Nature has decided to help me out.

We live in the San Francisco Bay Area, a little more off the grid than normal, not within city limits. I do believe that within city limits it's against the law to dump any chemicals in the drain.

I've actually heard peppermint extract keeps them away, so when confronting him, we brought him a bottle as a safer alternative. Also, the dealship told me to simply drive my car more! The easiest, cheapest, safest soluation for everyone. It's been two weeks, and no issues yet.

My boyfriend has bad asthma .. I'm going to use that in my case against him. The least I think we could get him to do is tell us when he's doing it. It seems logical. Then I can close the windows, and prepare myself a bit.

Thank you everybody! This gave me more options on both fronts to think about

May I just add my support and solidarity?
Great suggestions above.
Good luck!

It seems as he's using the Ammonia because it's cheap and easy. It may not be fair but this will definitely solve your problem, offer to let you take care of the mice situation. He doesn't have to do anything, you'll take care of the problem cost and all. At least that way, you have control over what is used.

Just a thought.

GaleriaGila said:

May I just add my support and solidarity?
Great suggestions above.
Good luck!

Click to expand...

Thank you! I need to find all the patients I can to deal with this person! Haha!

Taking care of the problem ourselves might be a great option..

I do have electric mouse traps, which I absolutely hate to use, but they do help cut down the population.. That along with the peppermint might be just enough.

This will be an on-going thing until he moves, which, he was talking about yesterday which was music to our ears. Him following through with that is a different story.

I would contact the local branch of the EPA( while we still have one) and tell them this guy is dumping things into the ground. DOnt know where the water from Frisco comes from, here on LI its the aquifer and there are major fines for dumping just about anything directly into the ground.

I used to live in the Bay Area and the police will be interested in ammonia pouring as well. It's a health hazard to humans and animals. Maybe that can at least document his erratic behavior - you never know the back story, but what he us doing is illegal and he can be arrested for it. You should be able to complain anonymously (to him, not to the police) since anybody nearby will be able to smell it.

We drive our cars all the time and still get mice in them. The mice are looking for a warm dry place, and card are full of tiny openings - I even had a big mouse nest in the spare tire compartment, under the decking! The only thing that works is trapping, sadly.

They sell these ultrasonic pest resellers that I think are a crock, but maybe you could find something like that and explain to neighbor about the great new technology to put him off the ammonia. And do call the police the next time he does it.

I'm assuming you both rent from the same house owner? I lived in the same set up for 3 years, a house split left to right into 2 apartments. So if it were me I'd contact your landlord and tell them he's dumping ammonia into the ground to kill mice. Your landlord may do something about the mice and tell him to stop the ammonia, that they will take care of the mice. If there is an ordinance where you live against dumping chemicals into the ground water (there most likely are) your landlord will be responsible for the ammonia, not the renter. If by chance a fine was given it would go to the landlord and the landlord would have to take him to small claims court to get reimbursed. So I'm sure your landlord doesn't want a fine from EPA or DEP.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

Thanks all for the replies. This forum is full of all types of amazing people.

Well, my landlord is my in-laws! My mother in law came over to calm me down after this all happened yesterday, so she knows the story and is understandly pissed off, seeing she as two cockatiels. Unfortunately, it's a gentleman they are helping out. And at this point we all understand he is uncapable of living on his own. Nobody wants to deal with him and enter the little world he's created for himself. Her biggest concern of the moment is him smoking cigarettes in doors. A conversation can lead to a big blow out trauma drama. The situation is so difficult, and has been prior to this.

There are three large "in-law" like units.. two are attached. Thankfully we share no living space, just a wall and a porch. The third was ruined by a hoarder or I would be all over that one!

We are outside city limits which makes it ever harder. I would have to contact the sheriff, which is an option. We don't have much foot traffic (it's a ranch like set up). we do have TONS of wild animals— rabbits, ground squirrels, snakes, raccoons, quail, frogs, barn owls, etc. We even had a tarantula come out to our front door recently.. ick. BUT, this poor things don't deserve chemicals in their living space. We also have plenty of dogs on the property, and neighboring ranch dogs always come over to a explore.. and a cat every now and then.


I do have a collection of electric mouse traps that are as humane as I can find. There's a metal plate, and when they step on it, it's zaps them and instantly there're gone. (Sorry for any mice/rat lovers reading this)

I LOVE living out here. I love having all this land to myself, with walking trails, clean air, and quiet. The only downfall is the neighbor..

Well that's an awkward situation, lol. I'm not quite sure how you'd address this situation without involving the authorities, maybe the Sheriff just coming to talk to him about not dumping chemicals into the ground water would be just enough to scare him to stop doing it.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

A couple of thoughts in no particular order:

-The state itself has pretty strict dumping laws, so the fact that you're not within the city itself doesn't matter much.

-It's laudable that your in laws are trying to help this guy, but in the end, they're going to be the ones responsible if their tenant's actions lead to harm and there's any indication that they knew about said actions previously. For example, let's say that he goes and dumps a whole bunch more ammonia and the cops find out. A simple web search could lead to this thread and connect their prior knowledge to the environmental harm done by the second dump, and they're on the hook almost as much as he is. There could also be insurance ramifications. Back when I was a landlord, my property insurance would have been substantially higher if I didn't include a no smoking clause in my leases. My insurance would not pay for smoking related damage if they could prove I had any previous knowledge of the tenants breaking that section of the lease. Those are just a couple examples, but in the end, the property owner is ultimately responsible for anything that goes on, and your in laws need to take appropriate action to protect themselves. If that means kicking this guy out, then that's what they have to do. It might sound heartless, but what's going to happen if tragedy strikes and the lose everything? The guy is out on his own anyway. At least right now they have the option of working with social services agencies to find him a better place (I'm not saying they need to dump him out on his rump, but they do need to find a more suitable housing situation for him...one that doesn't damage their property and risk their own livelihoods).

-At this stage, I wouldn't worry about the ammonia that's already been poured. As SailBoat said, it dissipates fast.

Has your neighbor seen and met your fids? Have you told him about them? I ask because I have a nephew who is mentally challenged and we approach him with meeting or telling him about animals or fids. Then we talk about dangers with them, just conversations but seeing and interacting with them opens doors for us, everyone is unique though.

My nephew will process and consider new info. He's so good I now pay him to sit my dogs and fids which includes for the dogs keeping fresh water out and feed them AM and PM, and put them outside three times a day. Fids, give them parrot chop three times a day, I prepare in ziplock bags in fridge, and fresh water three times a day.

If you have an opportunity you can open a conversation with him explaining how chemicals like ammonia are not good for them and talk about the resulting effects, death for them. Like I said everyone is unique but you can try and gauge his response. Like with my nephew educating him in a conversational tone he got it and I won his interest and trust so now he can sit with them and he cares for the, very well.

This is not a guarantee of how you neighbor will respond but IF you haven't talked with him and showed him your fids, then talked about the danger of chemicals this can be changed. This is a tuffee, so many variables!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk