I used live traps. It was easy to catch the mice. I took them out to a field and released them. Caught dozens of them. And eventually took care of the problem.

But the rats (which came after the mice problem was over) were too smart for their own good. I only managed to catch one juvenile rat...who I watered, fed and released. I even put fried chicken in the trap and couldn't catch them.

Finally put poison down and hated doing it when I saw the blood trail one rat left behind dragging themself across the garage.

Happily a cat came into my life. The cat didn't hunt the rats. But the rats must have smelled the cat and decided not to move in for the winter (which is when they'd come into the attic).