Mousefest in March in Maine
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simbarel · 03-11-2005, 01:02 AM

UGGGH! For two days the cats have been obsessed with something in the kitchen, and Wally has witnessed the pitter-pat of teeny-tiny feet behind the walls and in the ceiling. Today he discovered that my 70% Cocoa chocolate bar that I had been saving in the cupboard for Easter had teeny-tiny bite marks in it. An hour ago DH left for 3 weeks (for Florida no less, the jerk) and I don't think I can handle this. Do mice multiply? I'm expressly against mousetraps, but I don't want the house to be overrun with food-stealing rodentia either. I just want the cats to catch them and make them go away...none of this "Look, Mommy!" business. Once at an old apartment my brother heard me scream at something gray and fuzzy lying next to something pink and squishy. That's all I saw of it, but my brother said that Geoffie (cat) had sadistically slit open the mouse's belly, dismantled its bowels, and then just left it there. I'm living in this house by myself, I really can't handle this! Tell me it will all go away!

**DopeyGirl** · 03-11-2005, 01:09 AM

There are "humane" traps!!! You could get a couple of those cage like traps and catch the buggers . . . then go out in the woods (like there's none of that in Maine . . .

) and let them go!!!

I don't like the real live mice either . . . I'd be freaking out just as much as you!!!

Here's some

in hopes that they wisen up and go away soon!!!

**Colexis Mom** · 03-11-2005, 05:38 AM

Gosh Rachel, we've got one in the garage, and I've seen him a few times too many

Sending you pixie that he goes away and doesn't bother you (I'm ready to send DH out for traps as well)!!

BostonTeaParty · 03-11-2005, 07:18 AM

Thank goodness Wally discovered the teethmarks before you sunk yours into the chocolate!

Do mice multiply? Not to bum you out more than you already are, but YES they multiply. Hopefully your kitties can keep up with them. As the old saying goes "no one has 'a' mouse". Not only are mice "food-stealing" but (sorry this is gross), but they poop all over the place. It's very unsanitary. Can you tell I've had experience with this? If you won't do mousetraps, perhaps you could take Sarah's advice and use the humane traps. Good luck.

**HiddenMickey** · 03-11-2005, 08:10 AM

We had a mouse in an apartment once. We could hear his little feet in the ceiling above us and in the morning we'd find his droppings around our pantry. We set out a trap and had him within two nights (unfortunately we chose the wrong kind of trap....but that another gory story).

Get one of those humane traps from the hardware store and set it up near where you keep the food. Once it's caught, take it far from your house and let it go. Then set it up again, in case you have a family....

-HiddenMickey

MegglesMom · 03-11-2005, 08:52 AM

Oooh Rachel, I feel your pain. We are currently housing some mices as well. I'm sorry you have to deal with it 'cause your DH is out of town. Humane traps are great!

Tara O'Hara · 03-11-2005, 09:16 AM

Rachel, they usually don't go away on their own.

At least your mouse has good taste!!

You could make him something with your yummy chocolate bar!

Sorry, I know this is not helpful!

**DebiDebiDebi** · 03-11-2005, 09:25 AM

I did some searching...here is a link to a site that might help!
building a mousetrap

BritDisFan · 03-11-2005, 09:37 AM

My Mum had a mouse in her house (hey that rhymes

), she used a humane trip Rachel and it was just fine. I hope your mice go away soon

.

Karen

lauren-roxy · 03-11-2005, 09:53 AM

Sorry to tell you Rachel, but those little critters multiply like crazy! I would defintitely buy a trap of some type. Good luck!!

JoanW · 03-11-2005, 10:03 AM

When it gets cold, we'd get one or two residents. That I knew of. We also live in a farm area, and we are very rural. I hate to say it, but there is no real humane way to get rid of them. The bait and release method brings them right back to you, especially when they know what you are eating. When we ripped down walls in the kitchen, we found holes and stuff from when the house was built, we knew how they were getting in (fan vent was never hooked up, was like an open door for them).

The "trails" they leave can be dangerous too, so I had to weigh the situation, our health v. humane mice removal. Health wins out every time. We have hamsters as pets too, but the mice factor makes me go ick.

I use the little packs of poison. You don't see mangled bodies that way. I could never get the spring traps loaded, so I stick with what I can use. You just have to make sure it's not in a place the kitties can get it. I have two dogs, a large black lab and small auxillary back up Cairn Terrier, so I hid the poison in various spots in the kitchen out of paw and tongue reach. The lab could have cared less about the mice, and they would run right in front of him. The cairn, on the other hand, would bark at the wall for hours because she heard scratching noises. I thought I was going to have to get Doggie Paxil or something for her. The "guests" were gone in less than a week and I've not seen any footprints, claw or teeth marks and my cookies and chocolate are safe.

GoofyMom · 03-11-2005, 10:04 AM

I can sympathize with you Rachel. Our vermin infestation is ants though.

I agree, you need to get a trap. I have to tell you that I think even the gross and gory spring traps are more humane to the mouse than letting a cat "get" him. Have you ever seen a cat torture a mouse after he's caught it?

:shudder:

debsta922 · 03-11-2005, 11:13 AM

I agree with Joan... but if you go for the Decon I found the big bricks work better than the pellets. We found that the mice were storing the pellets as food supply and not really eating it... with the bricks, they take a couple of nibbles and then need to go find water... usually outside (so for the most part, they won't die in your house or behind your walls... because that smell is totally disgusting!) Goodluck... and I wouldn't wait any longer before doing something... If you have any other questions or want more suggestions you could always call an exterminator they may have better advice

**DrDolphin** · 03-11-2005, 12:01 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I use the little packs of poison. You don't see mangled bodies that way. I could never get the spring traps loaded, so I stick with what I can use. You just have to make sure it's not in a place the kitties can get it. I have two dogs, a large black lab and small auxillary back up Cairn Terrier, so I hid the poison in various spots in the kitchen out of paw and tongue reach.

[/ QUOTE ]

Definately be careful that kitties can't get access to the poison - or that the little dying mouse does not come out and get munched on by kitty (another way to harm kitty). If you use the poison - be prepared not to see them... but smell the decomposing little bodies... UGH. I would use the spring traps and just deal. ITs either them or you. Kitties won't just eat them - unless you starve kitties to the point they are major hungry. If you are feeding them their food - they will think the little mouse is a toy - and will "play" with it accordingly.

Hope you deal with this ok...