You would think that after a 100+ scorpions, a snake, and lots of spiders, a mouse wouldn't be that big of a deal. But, I beg to differ. A mouse is a HUGE deal. They a germy, they poop EVERYWHERE, and they are so stinkin fast that you can't squash them! (Not that I would want to step on one and squash it!) We had our first mouse about 2 months ago. We had an alarm system put in that day, and he must have snuck in while the doors were left open. We were sitting on our couch that night when Ryan grabs me and pulls me off the couch just in time to see a mouse crawl out of the cushions behind us and run into the toy room. We follow it and get it cornered in a closet (amid lots of screaming by me). Then we put a mouse trap in the closet and sealed the bottom of the door so he couldn't escape. After 5 days in the closet, he finally got caught in the trap. That one little mouse, who was in our house for only a couple of hours, had pooped all over our couch, requiring LOTS of cleaning, and then I had to clean that whole closet out--yuck!
Well, a couple of weeks later, I see more mouse poop. I wasn't sure if it was from the mouse we had caught earlier, or not, so I had to clean, clean, clean. I was thinking that it must've been from the first mouse, until, one night, I saw a mouse run into our cleaning closet. Once again, we filled the closet with mouse traps and sealed the door up. Well, this mouse's name is Houdini, because somehow he escaped from that closet! We never caught him, and we seriously have traps placed strategically around the house (atleast 15 traps) but I think he got caught in one and somehow got out, and since then, he avoided our traps like the plague! Well, I was starting to think that maybe the mouse had left because I hadn't seen any of his signs (aka poop)! Then, last Monday, I was working on laundry late that night and I heard something run over a hanger on the floor, and out of the corner of my eye I saw something dart behind the water heater. We figured that the mouse was back there, and so I placed those sticky traps on either side of the water heater. If he wanted out, he was gonna have to go over the traps. The next morning I check the traps. Nothing. On Wednesday morning I check the traps, and one of the traps is missing! Houdini! What did you do with my trap! I looked under the mop bucket that is right next to me and scream out in fright because the mouse is on the pad, flopping around and squeaking just inches away from my bare toes! Now, the kids are all scared because of my screaming...time to be brave...and I grab a bucket from the garage, put it over the mouse, and then place a full case of detergent on the bucket! I didn't want Houdini getting away just in case he got off that pad! In the midst of my frantic movements, I knock over a bunch of hangers, which were left there for the rest of the week--no way was I going near that bucket!
Well, a couple of weeks later, I see more mouse poop. I wasn't sure if it was from the mouse we had caught earlier, or not, so I had to clean, clean, clean. I was thinking that it must've been from the first mouse, until, one night, I saw a mouse run into our cleaning closet. Once again, we filled the closet with mouse traps and sealed the door up. Well, this mouse's name is Houdini, because somehow he escaped from that closet! We never caught him, and we seriously have traps placed strategically around the house (atleast 15 traps) but I think he got caught in one and somehow got out, and since then, he avoided our traps like the plague! Well, I was starting to think that maybe the mouse had left because I hadn't seen any of his signs (aka poop)! Then, last Monday, I was working on laundry late that night and I heard something run over a hanger on the floor, and out of the corner of my eye I saw something dart behind the water heater. We figured that the mouse was back there, and so I placed those sticky traps on either side of the water heater. If he wanted out, he was gonna have to go over the traps. The next morning I check the traps. Nothing. On Wednesday morning I check the traps, and one of the traps is missing! Houdini! What did you do with my trap! I looked under the mop bucket that is right next to me and scream out in fright because the mouse is on the pad, flopping around and squeaking just inches away from my bare toes! Now, the kids are all scared because of my screaming...time to be brave...and I grab a bucket from the garage, put it over the mouse, and then place a full case of detergent on the bucket! I didn't want Houdini getting away just in case he got off that pad! In the midst of my frantic movements, I knock over a bunch of hangers, which were left there for the rest of the week--no way was I going near that bucket!
(This is the tipped over mop bucket and mess of hangers by the bucket containing the mouse!)After several days of leaving the mouse alone, I figure he MUST be dead by now. Ryan is refusing to take care of Houdini, so I figure if I want this mouse out of my house, I am gonna have to do it myself! After kicking on the bucket and hearing no squeaks, I carefully lift the bucket up on one side, and then I see a tail moving and the mouse is trying to get out! I scream and slam the bucket down, right on top of the mouse! I am squishing it in half, but there is NO WAY I am letting it out and there is NO WAY I am gonna touch it and put it back in! so I throw the detergent back on the bucket and leave Houdini with his bum hanging out!
Aren't you glad I took a picture of this!
Finally, that night, after being squashed in two for about 12 hours, Ryan and I work together to dispose of the mouse. Houdini really was an amazing mouse because he had gotten off that trap while under the bucket, but fortunately, I had trapped him under the bucket so he starved to death, and then got smushed in two. The area under the bucket was disgusting and it smelled so gross! I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned that area!
Hopefully, Houdini is the last mouse of the winter. I don't know if I could handle anymore excitement! And, just in case you are nervous to come over to our house, we now have the scorpion problem under control, and the snake was just a little 6-8" baby who had wandered in during irrigation! So, come on over!
11 comments:
That picture is so funny - it reminds me of the wicked witch of the west with just her feet sticking out from underneath the house! You're a great storyteller, Lena!
You have the BEST STORIES!!! I wish I would've heard you tell this one in person. Great pictures!
Thanks for a great laugh! When I was Prego with Avery we were living with my Grandma, I woke up early one morning to go to the bathroom, screamed and ran back to bed! Kevin rolls over, what was the toilet seat cold? yeah, there was a dead mouse in the bathtub, we'd all been gone for week (winter holiday of some variety) and you could see muddy footprints where it ran all over trying to get out! After that we covered the house in glue traps!
AHHHHH I can't stand mice. You are a quick brave woman to trap that sucker under a bucket. So glad that the mouse is gone!
Oh my goodness, what a story! That's totally something I would do too with the bucket. I usually leave bugs underneath pots for Michael to kill later. But I really hate mice. A couple of summers ago we had a mouse get into our attic and then die...leaving the most horrendous smell imaginable. It took forever to find it and dispose of it.
We too have been recently plagued with mice. I did not know I had so much candy lying around the apartment but those stinkin mice have found all of it! We had pest control come and set baits that poison the mice-we are now 2 days mouse activity-free, but they were disgusting!!! One got in our closet and somehow climbed up the clothes to the top clothes rod, so he was above our heads, oh gross me out! We chased him back to the kitchen where the baits are located. Ratatouille is such a horrible horrible movie that I will never watch after this experience. I feel your pain!
Great pics! I would just freak if I had a mouse in my house too. I was lucky to never have one at the last house...just in the garage. We'll see what happens in this house. It's a new development and we don't have the yard in yet.
hate mice! why do we (humans) hate mice when we're so much bigger than them and they're so cute in cartoon form? after all, they are Cinderella's friends and Tom's quest. I had to put a dead mouse in the trash and it took all my bravery to do it.
Oh my Lanta, woman. You're like Snow White--all of the animals are naturally drawn to you :) You really do lead an exciting life!! I love your story (as usual) :)
I would have seriously freaked out! When I lived in Hawaii we had a HUGE rat infest our house. I love how you took control of the situation...and provided comic relief for all of your blog readers as well.
That was so funny! Hopefully no more critters for a while!
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