Ok, so maybe I'm being a little dramatic. But anytime something that is not human enters my home in large numbers (large meaning greater than 1), I consider it an infestation!!!
Last night I was walking down my basement stairs (off the kitchen) to grab a roll of paper towels. Harmless right? I thought so. As I got a few steps up from the bottom I noticed a grey ball of what I thought was lint sitting on the step. I leaned in closer and saw another one a step below it. I assumed both were dust balls (don't judge me for not cleaning please.) So as I bent down to pick up said dust balls, I realized they were NOT dust balls. They were in fact baby mice. MICE!!!!!!!!!!! ICKKKKK!!!
Now before I could panic, I realized they were uber tiny, and not moving. They sat there calmly, quietly, motionless. I quickly had my kids help me corrale the little critters (this involved a shoe box, magazine and salad tongs. Nothing but the best pest elimination equipment in this house!) We let them loose outside on the other side of a small retaining wall that surrounds my driveway. Hopefully they don't find their way back in. All total we caught 3 and let them loose. Ironically they were cute and seemed harmless, except for the threat of rabies and other disease. Oh yeah and the fact they could've entered my main dwelling (kitchen, etc.) and started to get comfortable. Having them in the basement was more than enough for me.
I never did find the mama mouse. It's like bees, you have to find (and destroy) the queen in order to eradicate the problem. I really do not want to call an exterminator. Quite frankly I cannot afford an exterminator! I am accepting applications for temporary cat help. Interested parties, please inquire within.
I have 2 cats and would be happy to lend you one. One of our cats is a superb mouser so she would probably be a great fit. I can't stand it when anything enters my house (I am sometimes not terribly welcoming to children). Exterminators are not terribly helpful in a rodent situation. You can buy a couple of traps at a hardware store and get the same result.
ReplyDeleteSend 'em over Anne. Do they have references? I am not too fond of children entering my home either. Especially my own children! ;) So far I haven't seen any additional rodents, but I am thinking I have not seen the last of these pesky critters. :(
ReplyDeleteI love your tools of eviction- that's exactly the way I would've handled it. You can also buy humane mouse traps to continue the trend. Personally, I don't mind the thought of having them as much as I mind the thought of killing them- they're too cute!
ReplyDeleteI agree - they were actually (dare I say) cute! I couldn't see harming them. But I was terrified they would end up in my kitchen which would freak me out to no end!
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