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DADoES

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... which is the Czech word for MICE.

I've caught FIVE of 'em in the last month. Four in the house, one on the patio. Rather much irritating, but also kinda funny.

First incident, I was in the kitchen pantry, saw a blur back in the corner, then it was peeping at me from behind a tray on the floor. I carefully closed the door, went to find a trap. Thought it was in the utility room, was rummaging through a box when the critter ran under my feet behind the dryer. It had run out of the pantry, through the kitchen, and around the corner into the utility. I had to laugh. Found the trap in the garage, took the third baiting for success.

A week or so later, noticed a piece of gift-wrap tissue paper sticking out under one of the closet doors in the bedroom. Took a look, obviously another critter at work. Set the trap in there, nothing. Next day or so, saw it running out of the pantry to the utility again. Set the trap by the washer, took three baitings. This time I heard the trap snap in the wee-morn hrs. Looked the next day, it was flipped over with little mousie feet sticking out from beneath. Had another chuckle.

Third one, again in utility.

Next, one that got away. I ran into it on the patio one night, snooping around the trash can, peeping at me from behind. I set a trap out there, it ran off, but not before trying to climb up the brick wall. Little bastard.

Fourth one, I was in the guest bathroom, saw it run past in the guest bedroom. Set the trap in the hall back there, took FOUR times baiting to get it. This one was crafty. Tried peanut butter first, no action for two days, then it was licked clean. Tried it again, smeared *under* the clip instead of on top. Again licked clean, within TWO hrs of setting it while I was changing some light bulbs outside. Peanut butter doesn't work, not enough grip to trigger the catch. Tried bit of chewy granola bar. Gone in THIRTY MINS, still no catch. So now I was pissed ... and quite amused. Next, a bit of smoked pork chop. Within 10 mins, I was in the bathroom, heard it snap. Goner.

Fifth one, was the trap I had left on the patio behind the trash can, set but the bait gone. Came home late in the night, noticed the trap was gone. WTH??? Looked around, saw it in the grass just off the concrete, upside down with a mouse beneath. Caught across the belly. Apparently it had run across the trap, got snared and crawled off carrying the trap. Still gasping slightly. Was kinda gruesome. I left it there, was expired by morning.

Hazard of living outside town surrounded by grassy fields, I suppose. But to be sure, this is the first time I've run into mice here since moving in Jan 2005. Perhaps a cat or six is in order.
 
When I was working at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle, we went through a mouse phase. While even the nicest hotels have mice, this was ridiculous: for some reason, we were practically overrun by the critters. It was a very warm and wet spring, which might have had something to do with it.

During this time, I was entertaining some society ladies at lunch (we were supposed to be talking about a charity ball that they were on the committee of, but it was mostly me sitting there nursing a cocktail while they got drunk on our dime) As the room emptied out, I noticed two waiters moving back and forth along the back of the room. One of them was carrying one of those silver trays with a domed cover that you only see in movies, and I couldn't figure out what was going on.

Suddenly it hit me - they were discreetly trying to capture a mouse! I wanted to laugh, but I didn't dare, because if the ladies found out what was going on, there was sure to be hysterics (I don't buy into the stereotype of women being afraid of mice, but I knew these women - they were world class divas - and would do anything to make a scene, especially after a few cocktails) so I bit my tongue and wrapped up the luncheon, dumping the ladies in the bar to continue the party on their own money.

After disengaging myself, I went back to the dining room and talked to the Captain. It turned out that they had dug the silver tray and dome out of a display of historical silver from the hotel's past, and were using it as their very own, very discrete, mouse trap.
 
No mice around here. I have a cat who's an expert mouser (and ratter, and he even gets the occasional squirrel) so no rodent dare come within 50 feet.

However, the shop at work has mice and rats. It's a old dilapidated building by a creek, with lots of gaps for critters to enter/exit. One day I was working in the office part and saw a mouse climb up onto a co-worker's very messy desk, sit back, and nibble on some scattered food. It was kind of cool - the mouse was so oblivious to nearby humans. The worker has since gone onto greater exploits and I haven't seen any more mice in broad daylight. They don't really bother me, but I'd rather not have them dropping on or nibbling on my stuff.

PS-Saw a science article recently about an interesting mouse/cat biological interaction. Apparently the cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii, when it infects rodents, causes them to undergo behavioral changes that make them less wary and more risk-seeking. It's further theorized that people may react the same way to the parasite, which in turn may affect human cultural development.

http://www.livescience.com/othernews/060803_tgondii_culture.html
 
Here's my suggestion

Years back I had a cat who would catch mice outside, bring them inside alive to toy with, and let them go. I had the same trouble with the mouse licking the peanut butter bait off of the trap. The scheme which ultimately worked was to sacrifice a couple of baits like that to train the mouse how good it was, then wrap a blob of peanut butter in plastic food wrap and fasten that to the trap. The mouse then needs to get a good grip on the bait, and voila Pierre, the trap does its job.
 
My take on mice is this: They're cute (they are!), but they can't live in my house. Haven't had one in my house yet, thanks, no doubt, to the several neighborhood cats who patrol the area daily, but had one in my office a few weeks ago.

Good luck, Glenn! Where there's one.....
 
Some friends say that got mice from an outdoor potted plant that came indoors for winter. They beleive it was hiding/nesting in the pot.

Some say the mere smell of a cat keeps mice away. Perhaps you can cat-sit for one for a week or two.
 
If you have friends that have a cat, offer to buy their cat a new cat bed....and take their cat's old bed in return!

The deterrent of cat ownership....without the parental responsibilities!
 
A Mouse in the House!

Oh dear - Glenn...that little guy probably knew that we were getting a Blue Norther! If you're like me, everytime you see something out of the corner of your eye, you're going to think its a mouse! Would you like to borrow a cat? We have several. ;-)
 
One word:

Ewwwwwwwwww!

I hate meeces to pieces! Haven't seen one since I moved to the condo and with the amount I'm paying in fees, I had better never!

You go, Glenn! Don't take any prisoners!

veg
 
When i was a kid i found several in the dog food... Screamed like hell and ran off... Mom just chuckled and looked and proceeded to throw the box of dog food and mice into the neighbors driveway..After that we got 2 cats..
 
We had a mouse in the Calgary house that would come into the kitchen from under the dw, over to the stove and munch on crumbs I guess.. big old Spot our cat couldn't have cared less. He'd just lie there sleeping on the kitchen floor in front of the heating vent in the toe board. No amount of mice was going to disturb him. I finally had to resort to mouse bait to get rid of them. Where you have one mouse you have a dozen or more sooner or later,, usually sooner.
 
Not really... Then again they wheren't fond of us either... Shortly after that, they moved and we never saw a mouse again..
 
My mouse story

When I was living in IL, I was working for a company in Elk Grove. One day I was doing paper work in my office and for some reason I got the feeling that I was being watched. I looked up from my paperwork and lo and behold there were 2 furry little mice peering at me. I didnt move and it was a staring match. someone came into my office and then they ran into the gap in the wall at the bottom of it...they were too cheap to panel the wall to the floor so it left a good 3 inch gap at the bottom. So up into the wall we go. I left my office and noticed near a storage area near my office was bird seed and grass seed. 2 sacks of each and thought maybe they are coming in for that. We a week later they musta told a few of thier friends cousins and neighborhood because we had many of them. And it was December so the weather was getting cold. I told my boss that I was over run with mice and well fed ones at that and that I think we need an exterminator. The guy shows up 2 hours later. Now this was a Friday...by monday when I came into work there were carcasses everywhere. 8 of them died in front of my door to my office. I had just opened the door to my office and then the outside door opened and a woman from Sales her name is Hope was coming in and I thought my gawd if she sees the mice she will scream. She didnt she calmly saw them stifled the scream and said to me as I was taking my coat off...Sweetie you have company that died to see you at your door. I told her that I would take care of it.
But I can say there is nothing like the scent of dead mouse in a wall.
Scott and I had a mouse problem a couple of years ago. They were getting into the kitchen under the sink. Scott put a trap under the sink next to the dishwasher detergent...one of those reset-able ones. Red lever up means you got one. We were catching 6 a day. When we remodeled the kitchen we took out the cabinets and there were carcasses every where. The dishwasher got pulled out and it was something in a horror movie. Mice everywhere falling off the top and and dropping out and under. We counted 53 of them. I was gagging at the freeze dried suckers. Today we dont have any mice...got 2 cats and they have no clue what to do if they see a mouse. I think my cat Kyle would probably come and get me to kill it.
 
oooooooooh Glenn

I forgot to tell you.....

I left Mickey and Minnie there at the wash-in! I thought you needed some company in that big house you have all to yourself.

I see they have been busy....LOL

*runs*
C~
 
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