Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie

[serene]

A while back, a friend posted about zir chagrin and shame over having an infestation of bedbugs in zir house. I understood it then, but I'm feeling it for real now. Not bedbugs, but we have a mouse. A cute mouse, I'll grant, but no-kill traps have failed and now I'm considering more drastic measures. I can't handle the cliche mousehole in the corner of the kitchen, or the footprints in the butter if it's left uncovered. I can't even sleep at night because of the sound of the little mousie chewing holes in the wall.

And I feel huge shame. Shame because my house isn't cleaner. Shame because I'm even considering harming this little creature. Shame because I don't have the emotional resources now to figure out a more creative solution, or to think about the whole thing without crying.

Bleah.

Comments

[snippy]

You poor thing! Hugs if you want.

[serene]

Thank you!

re: Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim'rous beastie

[betonica]

Oh, my sympathies!

I finally resorted to snap-traps, before I had cats. Messy and nasty, and I don't blame you for wanting to avoid the whole thing. Still, the live traps might work if done right - have you tried peanut butter and crackers? Mice seem to love peanut butter. And raisins, too - my mom always used them. Check the traps frequently (twice a day, at least) so that when you catch mousie he isn't stuck in there for too long without access to water.

And that shame thing because your house isn't cleaner? It isn't you. No degree of cleanliness will keep critters out if they want to wander through and chew on the wainstcotting.

Be sure, if you do catch mousie in a live trap, to take him or her more than a mile away before letting her loose - they can find their way back a surprising distance.

When I lived in the flatlands of Berkeley, I thought of the hills as a good location for strays (in this case, cats): lots of wildlife, and people with the money to spend on kittie crunchies left on the back porch.

I'm sorry you have to deal with this, and I hope it all works out well.

[ecce]

We lived in a house that had mice for a while. It wasn't that our house wasn't clean, it was just that they were developing the field a few houses down, so the mice were fleeing for anywhere they could find. Our house, I guess, was convenient.

Scrambled eggs are the most perfect bait. Peanut butter works too, but put some scrambled eggs in a no-kill trap and leave the room for a few hours.

[deakat]

I've deleted my previous comment because I decided that it was less than helpful. Just plain hugs, if you want some.

[serene]

No, it was very helpful! Thank you.

[trixtah]

That kind of thing is difficult, and I must say a cat around the house makes it easier. I would suggest dealing with it one way or another sooner might be better, before offspring occur.

But I did want to say that a mouse in the house is no reflection on the cleanliness of your house. If you were a hoarder and the hoards were infested with nests, sure. But otherwise, mice just hang out where it's cosy, warm and there are adequate food supplies, which, unless you're OCD and store everything edible in plastic, everyone makes available in sufficient quantities to keep a mouse happy.

[aquaeri]

*hugs*