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

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.