Many years ago we lived in an old farmhouse, and we were constantly battling mice. It got to be a serious battle when one of them ran up the inside of my wife's pant leg (while she was wearing them). The way we finally won the battle is not recommended, but ended up being quite effective. One morning we both had headaches, and didn't feel great. I went to the basement to get something and discovered that the exhaust vent from our furnace had become disconnected and was pumping carbon monoxide into the house. I fixed the chimney, opened windows, and we were fine. I did notice a week or so later that we had no more (live) mice left in the house. It was quite the experience, and one i would not every want anyone else to repeat.
Oh, Mrs. R-S! How could you end it like this, “Meanwhile, somewhere, a hawk is circling?” You were doing so good 😆! Jolt me back to reality, I guess?
To be clear, you released three mice.. Yes? You had written that the traps were “three quarters full” and I envisioned a lot of mice. But, that’s not the case—not to say three isn’t a lot—it’s one too many, clearly. My reading comprehension skills have been questionable, lately. Just looking for validation that I’m not losing it.
Didn’t even get a chance to see the handsomes (I meant to spell it like that 😉) the hawk leaving me perplexed🤭 But, love to them, always.
Love your ‘mouse’ adventures…I experience a similar quandary at our summer cottage every year. I believe in allowing God’s creatures to live their lives unthreatened, but I draw the line at letting them burn the place down by chewing on the wiring or trashing my pantry such that I can not determine what might have been soiled or not. We know that we will never win the war, only a few skirmishes, but feel the need to exert our rights as owners., even tho’ we refrain from the nuclear option. They have free run for 9 months. I ask only for 3!
I had a friend who lives in the city and feeds birds liberally. One day she discovered that her subcompact had been infested with mice for months. They are very clever at disguising their trails. I didn't know they could infest cars, but your wiring comment brought it all back.
When I was in high school ( more than 50 years ago) I was reading in bed and, out of the corner of my eye saw a mouse run under my closet door. I immediately went to my parents’ bedroom to retrieve our Siamese cat from his sleeping position on their bed. He and I retreated to my bedroom to wait. Sure enough Mr Mouse bravely left his hiding place in my closet. I threw the Siamese into the fray where he instantly nabbed the trespassing foe. Both of them were summarily tossed out the door and only one returned. I can honestly say that I never saw the cat kill any critter. As soon as they were caught they held no excitement and he would let them go. This was behavior I observed many times over his 23 year lifespan. So I don’t heel too much guilt for using him as a trap.
Thank heavens has been years since we had mice in the house, but I always used humane traps and released them in the woods. Sure to this day I got one of them over and over, he was smart enough to get back to the house ….
THAT was a real mouse Jamboree! But I commend you for the “process”- get dressed, go out in the cold, drive somewhere, deposit critters into freedom. Better than picking up trap style #2, walking a couple steps to garage garbage can. For some it’s a no-brainer, but I’m more partial to us softies.
Poor Auggie… when you get older we all get more sentimental, hey?
J. F., you have a real skill for writing children's books for adults. It was delightful reading and the hawk ending put the period to it. Adults need to be cheered and entertained by silly stories once in a while, and you truly do it so well. To make it better, it's all real life!
Apparently you have not yet found the entry points, but remember, mice breed twice a month. If the captives are getting smaller, maybe you're coming to the end of it. Then you have to emotionally struggle with the possibility of child abandonment.
Yay. It's so funny and odd that the dogs completely ignore the kerfuffle in the kitchen. It woke you up and the dogs didn't care to investigate? You ought to write about that more some time. There's a humorous tinge to it.
Growing up, we lived in 2 different 100yr+ houses. One would be considered a mansion today, except our neighbour on one side had a house that was twice as big and everyone called that "The Mansion".
We didn't get a lot of mice, but between a male cat and female doberman we had, the mouse's indoor adventure didn't last long.
My sister finally decided to go a more serious removal route when a mouse was poised on the rim of the dog food dish in the kitchen eating and the dog was patiently watching! I applaud your humane approach.
Hearing your trapping experience reminds me of the summer during COVID when I was at my uncles in MD helping him post knee replacement surgery.
He has fruit orchards and is in constant competition with the squirrels in the neighborhood. One of my jobs while there, was to set the traps to catch the varmints, put the trap in the trunk of his car, drive them across the creek and release them onto the nature preserve on the other side.
All in all, I ended up with a tally of 27 squirrels, 5 blue jays and 2 possums!! The possums and birds didn’t need relocation, although it took the possums about 30 minutes to figure out the trap was open..:🤦♀️🤣
I declined my uncles idea that I add Squirrel Wrangler to my resume 🤣
Has daddy gone somewhere for Auggie to miss? But he gave you a hug …. How fun for Eli to bark at all the coyotes out there. As for the mice: yuck …
He’s been sick with a bad cold and hiding in another part of the house.
Right … he did sound a bit nasally on his podcast. Doggies don’t catch cold from us, do they?
Many years ago we lived in an old farmhouse, and we were constantly battling mice. It got to be a serious battle when one of them ran up the inside of my wife's pant leg (while she was wearing them). The way we finally won the battle is not recommended, but ended up being quite effective. One morning we both had headaches, and didn't feel great. I went to the basement to get something and discovered that the exhaust vent from our furnace had become disconnected and was pumping carbon monoxide into the house. I fixed the chimney, opened windows, and we were fine. I did notice a week or so later that we had no more (live) mice left in the house. It was quite the experience, and one i would not every want anyone else to repeat.
Yikes.
http://WOW.You were both lucky!
Yes we were. Can’t say the same for the mice.
Oh, Mrs. R-S! How could you end it like this, “Meanwhile, somewhere, a hawk is circling?” You were doing so good 😆! Jolt me back to reality, I guess?
To be clear, you released three mice.. Yes? You had written that the traps were “three quarters full” and I envisioned a lot of mice. But, that’s not the case—not to say three isn’t a lot—it’s one too many, clearly. My reading comprehension skills have been questionable, lately. Just looking for validation that I’m not losing it.
Didn’t even get a chance to see the handsomes (I meant to spell it like that 😉) the hawk leaving me perplexed🤭 But, love to them, always.
Eli❤️ Auggie 💚
Four traps. Three mice. Only one per trap.
🫣 Embarrassing, on my part. Thank you!
😎🥳
Love your ‘mouse’ adventures…I experience a similar quandary at our summer cottage every year. I believe in allowing God’s creatures to live their lives unthreatened, but I draw the line at letting them burn the place down by chewing on the wiring or trashing my pantry such that I can not determine what might have been soiled or not. We know that we will never win the war, only a few skirmishes, but feel the need to exert our rights as owners., even tho’ we refrain from the nuclear option. They have free run for 9 months. I ask only for 3!
I had a friend who lives in the city and feeds birds liberally. One day she discovered that her subcompact had been infested with mice for months. They are very clever at disguising their trails. I didn't know they could infest cars, but your wiring comment brought it all back.
Sounds fair to me, Anne. You have a good heart.
I also feel they have a better chance out in the wild than in my home. Cats take no mercy ...
Thank you JF, this was a most enjoyable read.
You’re a very brave woman! Brave and kind.
I can recommend ear plugs!
When I was in high school ( more than 50 years ago) I was reading in bed and, out of the corner of my eye saw a mouse run under my closet door. I immediately went to my parents’ bedroom to retrieve our Siamese cat from his sleeping position on their bed. He and I retreated to my bedroom to wait. Sure enough Mr Mouse bravely left his hiding place in my closet. I threw the Siamese into the fray where he instantly nabbed the trespassing foe. Both of them were summarily tossed out the door and only one returned. I can honestly say that I never saw the cat kill any critter. As soon as they were caught they held no excitement and he would let them go. This was behavior I observed many times over his 23 year lifespan. So I don’t heel too much guilt for using him as a trap.
Thank heavens has been years since we had mice in the house, but I always used humane traps and released them in the woods. Sure to this day I got one of them over and over, he was smart enough to get back to the house ….
THAT was a real mouse Jamboree! But I commend you for the “process”- get dressed, go out in the cold, drive somewhere, deposit critters into freedom. Better than picking up trap style #2, walking a couple steps to garage garbage can. For some it’s a no-brainer, but I’m more partial to us softies.
Poor Auggie… when you get older we all get more sentimental, hey?
He’s always been very tender-hearted and deeply emotional. He just doesn’t show it.
He’s a beautiful dog and that tender heart makes him even better.
J. F., you have a real skill for writing children's books for adults. It was delightful reading and the hawk ending put the period to it. Adults need to be cheered and entertained by silly stories once in a while, and you truly do it so well. To make it better, it's all real life!
Apparently you have not yet found the entry points, but remember, mice breed twice a month. If the captives are getting smaller, maybe you're coming to the end of it. Then you have to emotionally struggle with the possibility of child abandonment.
Can't win, I guess. Life is hard.
We believe we have found the entry points. Now we’re clearing out the residents.
Yay. It's so funny and odd that the dogs completely ignore the kerfuffle in the kitchen. It woke you up and the dogs didn't care to investigate? You ought to write about that more some time. There's a humorous tinge to it.
Growing up, we lived in 2 different 100yr+ houses. One would be considered a mansion today, except our neighbour on one side had a house that was twice as big and everyone called that "The Mansion".
We didn't get a lot of mice, but between a male cat and female doberman we had, the mouse's indoor adventure didn't last long.
The mice in my past dwellings just could not be convinced to enter a trap to be transported anywhere. . . I admire that you've found a way.
Nothing quite like affection from dogs. . .
Thank you for the daily writings; they help to keep me grounded in the midst of national chaos & crazy.
My sister finally decided to go a more serious removal route when a mouse was poised on the rim of the dog food dish in the kitchen eating and the dog was patiently watching! I applaud your humane approach.
Hearing your trapping experience reminds me of the summer during COVID when I was at my uncles in MD helping him post knee replacement surgery.
He has fruit orchards and is in constant competition with the squirrels in the neighborhood. One of my jobs while there, was to set the traps to catch the varmints, put the trap in the trunk of his car, drive them across the creek and release them onto the nature preserve on the other side.
All in all, I ended up with a tally of 27 squirrels, 5 blue jays and 2 possums!! The possums and birds didn’t need relocation, although it took the possums about 30 minutes to figure out the trap was open..:🤦♀️🤣
I declined my uncles idea that I add Squirrel Wrangler to my resume 🤣
Love to the Big Boos…💜💜
I have this vision of you releasing a mouse far from your home while someone is releasing their mice near yours.