EEK, A RODENT!
Today was my teenage daughter's first day of school as a high school senior. Because she has to catch the bus at 6:15AM, she gets up very early.
She woke me up at 5:30 asking, "Do you want to see the mouse in my room?" I didn't think she meant it to be a yes-or-no question. I got up, trying desperately to get my eyes to focus. There he was, on the top of her bedroom curtains. He was just perched there on the curtain rod, peering down at the room.
"He's really cute," my daughter said, but with a questioning tone in her voice, indicating that he'd be a heck of a lot cuter somewhere other than in her bedroom.
I wasn't ready to start chasing a mouse around the house at 5:30 in the morning, so I'll still have this problem waiting for me when I get home from work. I guess I'll pick up some sort of mouse repellent on my evening commute. (Right after I pick up that damn strapless dress from the tailor!)
Eesh!!! I so need a vacation!!
posted by WordWhiz at 8/30/2005
17 Comments:
awwww cute little mousie!!lol good luck with that
4:15 PM
Well, I have to advocate getting a live trap. I can't go around killing things. When you catch it, set it loose far from your home or it will be back. Also, stuff any mouse holes with steel wool, they can't chew though it. Lastly, unlsee you are alergic, get a cat, they are the best mouse deterant devices available on the market today.
4:53 PM
Mouse TRAP Whizzer, not repellent. One less mouse is not going to count much in the scheme of things. In fact, if there's one, there's probably plenty. Maybe better get A BUNCH of mouse traps. And find out where they're coming from. Big job; better put off your vacation.
7:35 PM
I was sitting at the computer about a week ago, when I heard a high pitched scream coming from the kitchen. Being the observant husband that I am, I knew that particular scream meant C. had just seen a mouse, a nice big fat one, too. We caught him (or her) the next day. Sorry, Tom. No live trap. I agree with not killing things, except for mice in the house. If they want to live, they better stay outside, or at least in the garage.
What in the world is mouse repellant? Does it come in a spray? lol
7:40 PM
Hoss posted his comment while I was writing mine. He cracks me up. I agree, Big job. You better cancel your vacation. lol
7:42 PM
Ewww! Your daughter handled the unexpected visitor remarkably well. I'd have screamed like the girl I am. Good luck getting rid of the rodent.
8:39 PM
Okay gang...I hear ya. I'm an animal lover too and I have to admit, he was a cute little thing. Even my daughter thought so...just before she moved out of her room. She's sleeping in her brother's room tonight. She's convinced the mouse will climb into her bed and bite her while she sleeps.
I stopped at the hardware store on my way home and discussed my options with the man there. I have tried those live traps in the past. Mice are way too smart for those. They hold open the doors with their tails and take the food. I'm not going to discourage them by setting out little private dining booths complete with banquet dinners.
Snap traps..are you kidding me? I didn't much care for seeing the live mouse in the house, but it was a lot cuter alive than bleeding from it's broken little neck! And then I have to pick it up and discard it?? ME?? That's not happening!!
The kill-em-in-a-box method? I'd still have to check the boxes and feel if there was a dead or LIVE mouse in there. And it's not like I couldn't see the thing through the hole in the box. I'd still basically be required to TOUCH it. Also not happening.
So I opted for the pellets. The theory goes that the mice eat the pellets and become horrendously thirsty. They go outside looking for water. Okay, yes...they will die out there. But I can fool myself into thinking that they just got thirsty and went away. I can pretend that maybe they didn't eat enough for it to KILL them, just make them uncomfortable. I can make believe I'm not a horrible, evil mouse killer, but rather someone who just prefers to segregate the rodent population. I'm not homicidal...just slightly prejudice toward mice!
I explained all this to the guy at the store. He looked at me like I'd grown a third eye in the middle of my forehead and walked away, shaking is head and looking thoroughly disgusted. Men...they just don't get it!
The bait is supposed to work in 4-5 days. Since we're going to Florida for a few days, and the dog is also away from home, it seems a good time to encourage the little guys to take up residence elsewhere.
Wish me luck!!
10:02 PM
Our number two son got lonely at college and bought a hamster/mouse/whatever (we're not sure) the first week he was there. We ended up with it and ever since it escaped from its cage one night my wife has been complaining that it's living wayyyy past his life expectancy.
Hea, re your comment on my blog my dad is an operating engineer. Think that might count
10:06 PM
Big Dave: That's funny. My son has a gerbil. He keeps it at his DAD'S house. I did take care of it while he was on vacation. I call it "the rat". He's actually kind of cute too. My son calls him, "Mr. Sparks". I still wouldn't want it running loose in my house!!!
10:22 PM
Those little mouses are fast. The are excellent for fast-draw target practice. Pellet pistols cause the least damage inside a house.
Woo-hoo!
secret code is vthblw
11:18 PM
You need a kitty cat.
6:53 AM
You do really need a cat, WW. They're much cuter than mice, and even teenage daughters don't complain about them climbing into bed with them, purring away. Alternatively, use a shotgun to blast the mouse away. Some redecoration may be needed, but Hey, it saves your son's privacy!
9:31 AM
My ex is deathly allergic to cats, which in my mind does nothing to discourage the idea of getting one. However, my 11-year-old son didn't seem to think it was a good idea.
10:23 AM
For every mouse you see there are 10 more scurrying about inside your walls.
Old school mousetraps work like a charm. Nothing more satisfying than hearing that loud "SNAP!!!!"
11:27 AM
Gee, thanks for the reassurance, Hermes. If I were to go the "old school" route, would you come over and dispose of the remains? I thought not. If I have to deal with the mouse corpse, forget it!
11:41 AM
Actually, my old house never had mice even though we were in the woods solely because I had a cat. It's too bad you can't train your dog to hunt mice like a cat ;)
7:29 PM
Dress before mouse. Priorities, priorities.
1:15 AM
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