Moose in the hoose
I was sitting reading a book late last evening when I heard a little rustling in the bag beside the bin. I keep recyclable stuff separate from the bin bag that sits on the floor. I'd heard it making noises before but thought that as it's got tins an cardboard in there it was just the containers working themselves to the bottom of the bag. When I looked up the bag definitely moved, though not by much. Hmnnn. I went back to my book but when I looked up again there he was, Mouse (as I've taking to calling him) standing there bold as brass with his huge ears scanning for sounds.
I was like - oh my gosh, I've got a mouse!
Then, of course, it dawned on me as soon as called him (or her, how do you tell) "Mouse" I knew that I couldn't put down a trap to get rid of him. Then I thought, ok, if it isn't too unhygenic for him to stay there (I think he's living under the cupboard behind the fridge) is there something I can do to make his wee life a bit better than having to rummage through my rubbish? What kind of cheese (if any) do you actually give a mouse?
Then it dawned on me that perhaps I'd have to tell the council. Not that I've got vermin (though I don't think of them that way) but that I'm now sharing my flat and perhaps I'd lose my single occupancy allowance on my council tax! If only I could get him to clean the place up a little while I'm out that'd be great!
Had a great bank holiday weekend though I may have pulled my right shoulder a little bit working out in the park. The sun tan lotion I had on my forehead didn't protect me as much as I thought it would so I'm sporting a rather red face this morning. Forecast has it warm and sunny for the rest of the week. Looks like summer's finally here.
Comments
Hi Gee
A colleague now has a vole outside his house. He looks like a hamster/mouse. I suggested he befriend him.
Frankly, if you want to remove him, the most humane contraption I've seen, quite Buddhist, is one where you put food, the mouse becomes trapped. Then there is a "door" made of crackers and peanut butter. You take the box outside, hopefully to some wooded area, and let the mouse eat through the door - enough energy to escape and continue. I think you have to order it through the internet.
I feel bad karma from when I set a trap that killed a rat in my apartment in Miami Beach years ago. I wish I had known about this contraption.
Cheers,
Arturo
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Thanks Arturo. Yeah, I had heard of the humane traps that don't kill the captive. I'm on the 2nd floor of a block so there's no real place for him to go. I'd also imagine that he might last about 2 minutes outside in the park if I caught him and set him loose there. I'm kinda thinking of just letting him be. He's not doing me any harm and he's not taking up room. In fact, it's kinda nice having him around the place in a funny sort of way. For sure the next tennants won't think this way so his days are numbered so I'll probably try and catch him and set him free outside before I move out. Give him atleast a fighting chance.
Posted by: Arturo | May 6, 2008 12:02 PM