For whatever reason I do not comprehend at all, my sister has elected to deal with mice by using

[conuly]

glue traps.

So when I went upstairs to fetch an apple for Bonne-maman (when I'm in the basement, what I urgently need is always in the attic, and vice versa) I found a poor little guy, chin and all glued to the trap, squeaking in fear.

Really, I should've taken him down to show Jenn. If she had seen his suffering, she would not be so cavalier about torture, I can tell you!

But I didn't think that would be the right thing for the poor mousie, he was upset enough as it was (and wouldn't you be?) so I took him outside and used vegetable oil and a toothpick to free him. One minute he's all glued down, then his tail is freed and then the next thing either of us knew he was sitting upright looking as surprised as I was. And then he was off, not quite sure if I was about to pounce and kill him anyway. (I wasn't.)

Though he was all doused with vegetable oil on one side, and it's cold out, so I don't know if, on the whole, it might have been kinder to just take a knife to him inside and end it all. But I could not have just let them there, it would have been wrong.

So now I'm going to take my miserable little pay and go invest in some snap traps. I'm not entirely opposed to killing small furry animals, even the cute ones (though I'd rather remove them if possible, of course), but torture is one thing I cannot abide. For the obvious reasons.

I'm filing this one under "good deed for the day", and tomorrow I'll put out extra birdseed for the squirrel, I'm feeling that happy. (When we plant our garden this year I plan on putting in some birdfeeders (seed generously mixed with pepper) and some squirrel feeders as well (no pepper!), so that's all right. But while I'm reading a lot about bird diets, I can't find out much about proper squirrel diets other than "early spring is the hardest time" (that's why I'm putting out extra birdseed for 'em) and "peanuts and sunflower seeds are lacking in essential nutrients" and "if you find a baby squirrel, take it to a licensed rehabilitator and for god's sake don't give it cow milk", which isn't useful.)

Comments

[azarias.livejournal.com]

Could you toss an animal harm warning atop this post?

[conuly]

Sure, will do.

[azarias.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And good job on the solution, too.

[conuly]

I just hope it was the right thing to do and the mousie won't die from being out in the cold with all that oil on him.

[feebeeglee.livejournal.com]

Oil has lower thermal conductivity than water, by a factor of three or four - it will actually keep it warmer. And it will have groomed most of it off its coat by now anyway, nice edible oil like that.

Icon is my favorite brand of mousetrap.

[conuly]

Okay then :)

I like cats as mousetraps too (although they're arguably even crueler than glue!), but I cannot have one right now, no matter how purry it is.

[gingembre.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, truly I am, but I did not buy them and after many many dealings with the mice (plural) I just put out what was in the house. While I am not happy to kill them, I also am not happy to have them eating my food and pooping on my counter. (Not to mention scaring the crap out of me when the suddenly run out past me from my closet! Seriously comical, if only not in, y'know, MY actual life.)

[conuly]

Well, you know, traps are one of the least effective ways to rid yourself of rodents. The most effective way - as I've been saying - is to plug up the holes and eliminate the food source.

[gingembre.livejournal.com]

Please do plug up the holes then. In the entire house preferably, but my floor and Bonne Maman's would do for starters. Eliminating the food source - frankly, I might throttle you if I see you too soon after this comment. REALLY?? ONE of us leaves food - and crumbs - all over, everywhere. Guess what? Despite my asking Said Person to clean up after themselves, repeatedly, it just doesn't seem to have enough effect. If you have any advice to convince That Person, or The Other One for that matter, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

[(Anonymous)]

/bemusedoutsider here/

Caulking works to keep them out. Either the foam aerosol kind or the kind that looks like a firecracker where you push a handle.

Victor makes some good catch and release traps and some not so good; Victor's Tin Cat is good. Not Victor, but "smart mouse trap" is very good though expensive.

There's also a free home made humane trap using two empty tin cans, which is explained on Google Groups.

Trigger warning: mouse disposal

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

The best thing for plugging up rodent-holes is copper-wool scrubbers. They're fairly cheap; you can get 'em at the dollar store or hardware store - just wedge them into the holes with a chopstick or something. If necessary, you can cut them smaller with garden shears, though it doesn't do the shears any good. No rodent can gnaw through them, and they won't corrode or deteriorate.

You might not like to hear this, but the most merciful and expedient way to deal with a still-living mouse in a trap is to get it into a heavy grocery bag, trap and all, and then whang the sack hard against the garden wall a few times. I know it's difficult to see and hear their suffering and not want to rescue them, poor little mousies, but there was a good reason for setting out traps in the first place, and sadly, it's the same reason to not set them free once they are trapped. This method of finishing them off is quick and painless.

[redbird]

All I know about squirrel diets other than nuts and seeds—they store and transport things like hickory nuts and pine nuts—is that in early spring they seek out new greens and flowers. Which translates to "chew on your crocus sprouts, often before the buds open." But I don't know whether that's because they really want a salad, or because it's the first food to appear and they've gone through their hickory nut stash.

[conuly]

Because they've run out of everything else, apparently. They can't really digest celulose.

[redbird]

Well, neither can we, but that doesn't stop us from eating leaves and even flower petals: squash blossoms, nasturtiums, candied violets, chamomile tea come to mind (I have culinary dried rose petals, though I haven't made much use of them). On the other hand, the only part of crocuses that humans eat is the stamens, and only certain crocuses.

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

My grandparents used those once when I was a kid. I saw my grandpa finish off a mouse by crushing its skull with an empty can of Coke. I'll never forget that sqeak.

[fjorab-teke.livejournal.com]

I wish setting them free were an easier option for you. I like Mice Cubes (http://www.amazon.com/Mice-Cube-Pk-Reusable-Humane/dp/B000WB13QC), but back at home and even around here, i have places i can set them free where they're likely to have food and water sources and not go back into a person's house.