I have a mouse in the kitchen. Any advice?

[Rhiannon12866]

When I got home, tonight, to my total surprise, I spotted a mouse in the kitchen. At first, I thought it must have been a toad. This has never happened before. He is the tiniest thing, probably a baby, and very skittish. I called my friend, who suggested I just shoo him out the door or try to catch him in a paper cup. Obviously, I would not want to hurt him. I left the door open and he went out twice, but the first time, I moved too fast and scared him, so he ran back in and the second time, I didn't move fast enough, in shutting the door, so he came back in again. I thought I barricaded the kitchen in, sufficiently, so he didn't get loose in the house, but he may have gotten past my barricade. I am getting discouraged.

When I was a kid, I had a pet mouse, Franklin, named after FDR. He was very dear to me and, when I went to summer camp, my grandmother mouse-sat for me, feeding him blueberries and melon. So I would hate to see anything happen to him. My problem is my mother. She would kill him, on sight, if she could. She is Polish and hates "rodents." She is also a Freeper, no surprise. If I can either manage to get him close enough to the door to get him out or wait until tomorrow when I can borrow a friend's small "have a heart" trap, he will be okay. Anyway, any ideas or experiences would be appreciated. Thanks.:shrug:

[SoCalDem]

1. Mouse Chow??

:)

[Rhiannon12866]

36. I am sure that you have never had such a problem, with all your kitties

My own cat died on February 10th, which was pretty heartbreaking for me, and, of course, I lost my beloved Rhiannon previous to this. But I would never subject a small animal to such a brutal death. I just want to extricate him from the house and send him back to his mouse family. He is so small and, obviously, still a baby.:-(

[SoCalDem]

39. We had a mouse once... I played "Roadrunner & Coyote" with him

for weeks.. I was trying to outsmart him and catch him.. He would hide under the refrigerator, and then scamper out into the open.. The cats' food & water dish is RIGHT NEXT TO THE REFRIGERATOR..

One night, he made a dash for the corner cabinet...came shooting out from under the refrig..and ran right INTO SKUNKIE'S FEET.. The Skunk man, jumped backwards, bumped into the dishwasher, and beat a hasty retreat into the dining room..

I think the little mousie got bored and left, or died of old age..

My kitties are "lovers"...not "fighters"

[Rhiannon12866]

41. That's unusual, but admirable

I don't know if you read the rest of my post, but, as a kid, I had a pet mouse, named Franklin, after FDR, who I had for a long time and loved dearly. When visiting my first boyfriend, while I was in college, his younger brother also had a pet mouse. While I was there, the elderly family cat caught and ate the brother's pet. It totally freaked me out. They were not as disturbed by it as I was.

Kudos to your kitties. I lost my kitty in February, but she didn't have the run of the house, still being somewhat feral. I kept her in this room, with all her food, water, toys and litter box, etc. It's a big room and it became her world, rather than the dangerous world outdoors. She still did love sitting up on the window seat to look out, but never missed going out. So she wouldn't have run into the tiny mouse. I miss her a lot. But I have to feed my two little dogs. Should I unblock the kitchen? I just wish that the poor little guy had run out the door and kept going while he had the chance.:shrug:

[radwriter0555]

73. They like CHEESE a LOT. with some nice crackers.

Enjoy.

[MichaelHarris]

2. cook

to an internal temp of 160 and serve with sourkraut

[toddzilla]

4. if a mouse wants in or out, you won't keep him from going anywhere.

Either capture him and take him to a field, or put him in a cage.

[Rhiannon12866]

18. Well, that's my my plan, capturing the litle guy and taking him

back outdoors, so he can get back to his family. But first, I have to capture him in my house. And I seem to have just lost him, despite having sat there, waiting for him to show himself and leaving the door to the outdoors open. He left twice, but returned. I lost the little guy and hate to leave him to the less-than-mercy of my Freeper mother, plus my dogs are waiting to eat. I definitely kept them out of the kitchen, since I first saw him.:shrug:

[Ready4Change]

50. Don't let him loose in your backyard.

He'll just come back inside the house. Or into one of your neighbors houses.

Find a large park and release him there, as far from residential areas as you can. It's a wild creature, and away from it's mother now, so it'll be fine, and living as nature intended. Especially with summer approaching.

[bloodyjack]

3. whatever you do

DON"T GIVE HIM A COOKIE

[MichaelHarris]

5. NOOOO

give him a cookie, he/she may grant you a wish. Its worth a shot.

[bloodyjack]

11. he will probably ask her for a glass of milk

and when that happens, all is lost :(

[MichaelHarris]

16. LOL

yea if you give him a cookie and no milk you'll have one pissed off mouse on your hands

[Rhiannon12866]

19. I would give him whatever he wanted, if I knew what it was

I just want to get him back outdoors, and back to his mouse family, where neither my Freeper mother or my dogs won't hurt him. But I, somehow, lost the little guy. He was so very small and very cute.:-(

[MichaelHarris]

20. I've

used live traps before, in school and they work very well.

[Rhiannon12866]

31. I will try that, today, since there still is no sign of the little guy

I really thought I had him out of the door. I have used a Have-A-Heart trap, in the past, three years ago when I rescued my abandoned kitty. I consulted with a local vet's office, (a great lady there told me exactly what to do) which I borrowed it from, and it wasn't easy. It took me several weeks. My kitty died in February. I would never wish her loose on this tiny mouse, since I am sure that this abandoned house cat was forced to learn how to hunt, but I really do miss my cat. I still have two dogs, and am just trying to keep both of them out of the vicinity.:shrug:

[Delano]

6. I had a rat infestation

In my last apartment in Miami. I am no freeper, but I had no compunction about using the old-fashioned traps to kill'em. (I got about 8 in 2 months) It was SO disgusting - it was an old building they were about to tear down.

I caught a couple in a can, and called a pet store and asked if they wanted them for the snakes, but they said "no way, we use special mice" So I had to kill them quickly and humanely myself. (I'll leave out the details of how, but it was quick & painless)

I couldn't just let them go into the neighborhood - they'd get in somebody else's house - and you know they spread all kinds of disease.

I don't hate any sort of rodent, but I can NOT abide them being in my house.

[Zorra]

9. Catch a bull snake and let it loose in the house for a week or so.

Great mousers.

[andino]

7. Buy a cat....

Not only will it take care of you 'problem' but it will also be a great companion.

[Rhiannon12866]

15. My cat died on February 10th. I miss her terribly.

And I lost my beloved cat, Rhiannon, in September of 2001. I would never do such a thing, as I am sure you must know. And I had a pet mouse, when I was a kid, who I was also terribly fond of. I am just looking for a way to humanely trap the mouse and get him back to his wild family, back where he came from. I am afraid that my mother will try to kill him. He is very little and, obviously, only a baby. How he got in here, I cannot imagine, but it was a very rare mistake.:-(

[proud patriot]

Get A Cat

:hi:

[Frangible]

8. Get a small live trap

And bait it. It'll be trapped in there and you can relocate it.

(of course, upon being relocated, it'll either a) go back to your house, or b) go to someone else's, where it will likely meet an untimely demise. Such is the fate of mice.)

[Rhiannon12866]

33. Well, that is my plan

Actually, since I am now catless, I could keep him for a pet, but he is a wild thing, unlike my pet mouse, Franklin, who was a domesticated pet. I just need to get this little guy back into his environment. I just cannot imagine how he got in here, but, with my mother and brother on the loose, there's no telling what they did.:shrug:

[Rhiannon12866]

10. What sad responses. I thought you all here were animal lovers

My plan is, if I cannot catch him, tonight, and I came so very close to getting him out the door and back to where he came from, is to borrow my friend's have-a-heart trap. But I am very worried, as I don't have the luxury of time, with my Freeper mother at-large. I am lucky that she lets my two small dogs live. So this little guy stands no chance with her, but, if I can't locate him, maybe she can't, either. I had him in sight for several hours, then he just disappeared. Wish me luck.:shrug:

[Ready4Change]

51. In my experience, Peanut Butter is the best bait.

I think it's strong smell is very attractive to mice. I've cleared up newly established mouse families from a couple houses using peanut butter as bait in various live traps.

It's also good because it sticks to whatever triggering mechanism the trap uses, and lasts longer than cheese.

[neoteric lefty]

12. get it out or kill it as soon as possible.

the breeding rates of rodents (mice aren't that bad compared to rats. If you see a rat, chances are you have a serious problem nearby). Catch it, kill it, eat it, whatever. Just do it as soon as possible before more start showing up.

[Rhiannon12866]

21. I have had both a pet mouse and a pet rat

(from my Experimental Psych class in college) and definitely know the difference. This tiny guy is a baby wild mouse, who obviously lost his way. He is very small. I intend sent him back to his mouse family, if I can. This is the only one I have ever seen inside. I hope to humanely catch him, and release him, if My Freeper mother doesn't get to him, first. I had just hoped to do it, tonight. I came so very close.:-(

[neoteric lefty]

23. I didn't mean to ensinuate that you

did not know the difference. I just wanted to make sure you don't just forget about it if you don't see him for a few days. If you live in an urban area, with lots of potential food sources, a pair of mice can quicley turn into a bunch in a few weeks.

[Rhiannon12866]

26. Thanks for the clarification. I live in the remote suburbs, LOL!

I am well aware that this little guy, and he really is very small, could get into the cupboards and all, but I just want to release him back to the mouse population that lives in the woods and mountains around here. I live in Northern New York State and, as a kid, we had an infestation of mice in the house, when I lived much further North. This is different, an isolated incident, and I just want to save the tiny guy and send him on his way. I came so close, and almost got him out twice, but then I lost him. But his is so very tiny and really moves so fast. So now I need to feed my dogs. Sigh.:shrug:

[Rhiannon12866]

24. This is a baby mouse, who came in by mistake

I hope to catch and release him, but I would never kill him, and am trying to prevent him from being killed. This has never happened before, and this is not a new house. He just needs a way out, which I have been trying to provide. I have also had a rat, but he was a pet, from my Experimental Psych class in college. I kept him. I am sorry for your negative experience. This little guy just needs to be caught and sent back outside to his mouse family, I promise you.:shrug:

[NuttyFluffers]

13. leave a trail o' food?

cook up some of the tastiest curry you can and leave a trail of rice leading out of the door?

i'd just buy a baby rosy boa or a corn snake. but i like snakes... just as cuddly as my hamsters used to be. :)

ps: mice aren't the best rodents for pets. pretty stupid creatures, and very skittish. i prefer rats, hamsters, guinea pigs and the like. more 'pet' material, lovable.

[Djinn]

14. you're unlikely to have ONE mouse

Last year we had tonnes of the little plague machines in our walls and kitchen - I had to CONSTANTLY sweep up poo and used buckets of antiseptic all over the place which made the house stink like a hospital (and probably wasn't all that healthy) we tried a supposed "cruelty free" trap - which basically was a sticky thing they walk onto and can't get off - apparently you were supopsed to take them far away from your house pour olive oil onto them and they'd come off - they didn't - you would have had to rip their legs off to get them off and having them looking up at you shitting themselves was too much - next up was normal old fashion traps which worked but couldn't kill enough of them (and my big tough boyfriend decided he felt sorry for them so if the trap sprang on their back or somewhere else that just trapped them and didn't kill them - executing them with a hammer was MY job)

They went away when the weather got warmer - but now it's cooling down again and we've heard them in the walls - I'm calling the mouse Nazi and having the horrible skittering, shitting machines gassed and gassed some more.

I used to be fairly easy going with the odd mouse - but shitloads is another thing - I could happilly kill every mouse in my suburb now!

[Striker Davies]

17. Invite Condoleeza Rice for Dinner.

She emits the same vibes as the Australian Taipan, the most dangerous snake in the world.


All rodents will get the hell out of there within seconds.

[Rhiannon12866]

Give me her number, if you have it. I am a good cook

I don't suppose that you caught "Whoopi" on Monday. I happened to catch most of it. She told her Freeper brother to call Condi Rice and ask her out on Saturday, since she would, obviously, be free. That show is rampant with Bush* jokes.:-)

[Rhiannon12866]

27. Give me her number, if you have it. I am a good cook

I don't suppose that you caught "Whoopi" on Monday. I happened to catch most of it. She told her Freeper brother to call Condi Rice and ask her out on Saturday, since she would, obviously, be free. That show is rampant with Bush* jokes.:-)

[Striker Davies]

62. I like Whoopi

But I don't get all that much US TV here in Oz, and the stuff we do get, I don't watch.

She is certainly one of the brighter sparks and the fact that she is belting the crud out of Bush lifts her another few notches in my estimation!

[Piperay]

22. I had mice for awhile

and I just couldn't stand to kill them. I got a humane trap and got one out that way, the other I managed to shoo out the door. I still had one mouse running around the house but I made sure I left no crumbs or anything around and apparently he found his own way out eventually because there hasn't been a sign of a mouse for at least six months. I am surprised too that so many people say just kill it or something like that. I contemplated just getting a glue trap or some horrible thing like that but really they are the cutest little things and it made me just about cry to think of the poor things dying some horrible death. :cry:


I actually grew fond of the last little guy and named him Speedy, cause he was so fast. :-) :shrug:

[Rhiannon12866]

28. Domesticated mice or wild?

Thanks so much for your sympathy. You, obviously, understand. The humane traps are, definitely, the way to go and I am glad that you took it. I am horrified that DU people reacted in this way. I was just seeking advice in getting a tiny wild mouse safely from my kitchen. And, yes, they are very cute. This guy is so very adorable and very tiny, but doesn't belong in a kitchen.

My pet mouse, Franklin, I bought in a pet store and there is just no way he could have survived on his own. I gave him lettuce and cheese, besides his regular food, when I was away at school, and while my grandmother "mouse-sat" with him, she was heavy on the fruit. But this little mouse is wild, and just needs to get back outside. He must have a family out there. But I lost him, since he is, obviously, hiding, so just need to get him back out there. He went out, twice, dammit, but came right back in.:-(

[Piperay]

64. The were wild

they had gotten into the house I later discovered by getting into the garage then somehow through a tiny opening into the cabinet under my kitchen sink. The one I managed to shoo out tried to get back in and it broke my heart to slam the screen door tight behind him as he kept looking for away to get back in. :-( I knew though that he belonged outside and would be better off there. The one that stayed in cause he was to smart to go into the humane trap or let me shoo him out must have found a way back out on his own. They were cute little things and outside of the 'tracks' they left behind didn't do any damage or destroy anything. Everyone told me to get them out even if I had to kill them but I just couldn't do it.

I had a had a cat but he died a few months before the mice came. I think just the scent of the cat had kept them away because I know he never caught any.

[benburch]

25. Humane Moustrap Do-it-yourself Plans. (Easy!)

http://www.rmca.org/Articles/ssmousetrap.htm

[Rhiannon12866]

34. Thank you so much, benburch!!! This is the most helpful thing

that anyone has sent me. I had no idea that liberals would be so anti-mouse. I am familiar with others on this site being worried about pet rats. This is just a tiny wild mouse. I am totally let down, but do really appreciate your offering.:-)

[benburch]

46. You're welcome!

I've tried the sticky traps, but they die on those... The panic of being glued to the thing seems to stop their little hearts.

[maxpower]

29. Try a Jack Russell terrier

My JRT would eliminate that mouse with extreme prejudice.

[Parrcrow]

30. Watch Tom and Jerry cartoons

and don't do anything that Tom does. Getting hit with a frying pan hurts.

[IronLionZion]

32. set up some food for him where you want him to go

like near the door or someplace when you can catch him.

I caught one by leaving a magazine with food on it , then when he came to eat it I covered him with plastic cover and took him outside.

[Rhiannon12866]

35. Good idea. Thanks. I am thinking of the Have-A-Heart Trap

since this tiny guy is so skittish and just moves so very fast. I had him out of the door twice, just by leaving it open, but the first time I moved, scaring him back in, and the second time, I just didn't move fast enough. Now, I just can't find him. I just hope he didn't get loose in the rest of the house or I am really in trouble. I was so close. Damn.:-(

[Mr.Green93]

37. learn to co-exist

the is already too much death in the world

[Rhiannon12866]

38. I agree. But I have two dogs, who may not appreciate him

And a Polish Freeper mother, who will appreciate him much less. So I need to take him back outside to his home. My friend is coming over with his tiny "have-a-heart" trap, later, So I have a slight hope that this will work. He was so close to leaving, on two occasions, I am very frustrated. I am very fond of little animals.

[Madrone]

72. About mothers -

When I was back in MI for the first three weeks in January (stepfather had a nearly fatal heart attack, and wasn't expected to live - he did!) my mom discovered there were mice taking over her pantry. They live outside of town, on a lake, with a huge field behind them and woods on one side. They always have had mice there, I think.

Anyway, my mom put down a bunch of mousetraps, and each time she'd catch one she'd gleefully call me to come see the carnage. She'd do it in a sing-song ridiculous manner, and seemed to take a large amount of delight in doing so. WTF?

I've been dealing with my 5 rat girls slowly dying off over the last year, and have one left that will not be with me much longer. When I catch a spider I let it go outside. I have a lot of respect for nature and the creatures we share the planet with (things like ticks excepted!), and my mother, knowing this, couldn't resist being a bitch and rubbing my face in her gleeful killing of mice with terribly inhumane mousetraps.

I seriously don't know how I descended from that woman.

[eyesroll]

40. The live traps work well

The cube-style ones worked better for us than the repeating metal ones, for some reason.

Peanut butter makes a good bait.

What you're going to want to do is take a look around your house and see if there are any obvious holes, mortar missing, etc. Mice can squeeze in through a hole smaller than the diameter of a dime. An exterminator also can help -- NOT to spray or to poison, but to find out where they're coming in from and how to keep them from returning.

Good luck.

[Rhiannon12866]

44. Thank you for your sympathetic response

This has been sadly lacking from my friends on DU. The peanut butter is a good suggestion, thanks. My first thought was to try cheese, since, when I trapped my kitty, I was told to try something odoriferous, and managed to finally bring her in with tuna fish. But I need all the help I can get. I had hoped to have this solved by now, since I just don't want my mother, who would just kill him, involved. Thanks for the good and positive advice.:-)

[noonwitch]

42. Show it no mercy, it's a mouse!

Kill it as soon as possible, or it will bring it's little friends to your house.
Don't use those gummy traps-they work the best, but they torture the hell out of the little creatures. Use D-con and make sure you have no plumbing leaks-if they can get water, it can reverse the D-Con effect.
If you don't want to use poison, borrow a friend's cat. My cat is an efficient little mouse huntress. Before I got her, I'd get mice every fall when I first turned the furnace on. The first fall I had her, I had a mouse. She was too small to kill it at that point, but was tormenting the hell out of it. I took it from her (using a plactic bag, so I didn't touch it), took it outside and killed it with the broomstick. My neighbors thought I was cruel, but it was dying from the scratches the kitty put on it. I was just putting it out of it's misery.

It's a mouse, not a dog or cat. Kill it!

[Rhiannon12866]

45. You didn't read my whole post. I used to have a pet mouse

and this tiny little guy is adorable. As for my kitty, she died on February 10th. I miss her terribly. But I would not sic her on this baby, though I know she learned to hunt, since she was a house cat that was abandoned by a neighbor and it took me four months to rescue her and bring her inside, several years ago.:shrug:

[gpandas]

49. they are called pests nt

[Richardo]

43. Listen to UB-40

There's a rat in the kitchen
What am I gonna do?
There's a rat in the kitchen
What am I gonna do?
I'm gonna fix that rat,
That's what I'm gonna do
I'm gonna fix that rat.

(Repeat 78 times)
:D

[Rhiannon12866]

47. Not only did I have a pet mouse, but also a pet rat

He was my rat in college in Experimental Psych. I was very careful that I didn't ever do anything that might hurt him. I was allowed to keep him after the course was over, otherwise he would have been recycled to the biology lab, a terrible fate, and his little graphs come out perfectly, earning me a solid B in a very tough course. I didn't have him as long as I did my mouse, probably because he had been so stressed, but all my animals, including my dogs and cats, have been rescue, and I value any life I can save or prolong. My guys have been pretty special, three cocker spaniels, and my tiny Brussels Griffon. It's totally amazing what has become disposable these days.

My valuable and tiny dog, who was almost euthanized twice, which I just cannot understand. His owner died.:-(

[Touchdown]

48. Hook it up to your USB port.

It should be on the side, or front of your tower (you know, that big tall thingie on the floor). It's used for moving around an arrow we call a curser.:evilgrin:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

52. rat in me kitchen

There`s a rat in me kitchen what am I gonna do?
There`s a rat in me kitchen what am I gonna go?
I`m gonna fix that rat thats what I`m gonna do,
I`m gonna fix that rat.

When you open your mouth you don`t talk, you shout
And you give every body the blame,
But when they catch you up,
They will shut you up
And you got no one to blame


When you out on the street,
You practice lies and deceipt
And you scandalize my name
But when I catch you up
I`m gonna pull you up
I`m gonna check-out inside your brain


when yo deh pon the scene,
You make everyone scream
Because they know your so unjust
But when they catch you up
They will kick you up
Because you someone they cannot trust

You invade my space
Make me feel disgraced
And you just don`t give a damn
If I had my way
If I had my say
I`d like to see you hang

[Teddy_Salad]

53. Get a Puddy Tat

eom

[Rhiannon12866]

56. My kitty died on February 10th. I miss her terribly

But I would never sic a Kitty on such a scared and helpless baby. He just needs help in getting out and back to his mouse family. He has just lost his way.:shrug:

[Canuckistanian]

54. I have just the thing

Roast at 350degrees with Honey maple glaze. (Approx. 10min/oz.)
Serve with Lentil cilantro soup and fresh asparagus.

[Champ]

55. Mouse trap?

:shrug:

[Rhiannon12866]

57. My friend will bring me his have-a-heart trap, tonight

He was so close to getting outside, but, inexplicably, ran back in. I am hoping for the best.:shrug:

[Endangered Specie]

58. A mousetrap, or (if your clumsy) get a cat...

Never operate a mouse trap unless you hava a VERY calm hand and mind.

[mouse7]

59. Mouse in the kitchen? Make Mouse a banquet

When Mouse is in kitchen, you should make Mouse a big dinner.

Mouse like Szechuan cooking.

[Rhiannon12866]

60. Cook for the little guy?

I think not, but I could easily spare some cheese or some vegetables. My pet mouse preferred fruit, like blueberries or melon.:shrug:

[mouse7]

74. Mouses prefer Szechuan Chicken w/ rice and egg rolls for dinner

Mouses like fruit for Brunch.

[JohnKleeb]

61. hmmm Rhi I dont know

I know how you are about animals, so I would try to keep the mouse safe. Nice story about your pet mouse, how cute lol. Too bad your nana isnt around to watch the mouse.

[Rhiannon12866]

68. Thanks, John. My Nana would probably have some good ideas

But I lost her five years ago. She was a real animal lover, as was my Dad. One time, she had a bat in her house. She caught it and had it in a wastebasket, and kept it there, until I could come over, before letting it go outside, so I could get a good look at it. It was cute.:-)

[JohnKleeb]

70. this was your mom's dad right

Personally I am suprised your mom is a republican. Polish Americans are strong democrats. :shrug: Then again a lot of people who should be democrats are republicans.

[Taverner]

63. Play some broom mouse hockey!

Yep, open a door and sweep the mouse through the "goal" (the doorway)

[Rhiannon12866]

67. I tried that twice. I sat there with a broom, LOL!, though I would never

have hurt him. The first time he went out, I stood up and the movement scared him and he ran back in. The second time, I should have shut the door, but just didn't move fast enough. Poor little guy. I have no idea now where he is.:-(

[Deja Q]

65. Advice? I'm partial to onions and lemon herb marinade...

:9

[Cuban_Liberal]

66. Hav-A-Heart trap.

Paddy also has a pet mouse, so we're in your situation. We've trapped 3, since we've lived here...

[Rhiannon12866]

69. My friend promised to lend me his, but didn't come today

But this is my plan. It worked with my kitty, so now I know exactly what to do. If only my Polish mother and two little dogs don't freak out.:shrug:

[TankLV]

71. Get a nice kitty. Mine is a good mouser I've discovered.

Couldn't figure out why she was engrossed witht the pantry = hours at a time.

Then we went to clean it - and found some "calling cards". It's usually rare when we get a mouse around here in the desert - this is my first one, I think since moving in at the end of 1996.

[Rhiannon12866]

75. I want to save the mouse. He is just a baby and very small and cute

I had a pet mouse when I was a kid and he was a great pet. I also had a kitty. But she died on February 10th, despite bi-weekly vet visits to treat a growth in her ear. I miss her a lot. I also have two small dogs, but have tried to keep them, out of the kitchen. My friend just showed up with the have-a-heart trap. I think I will try that.:shrug:

Edited for punctuation

[HEyHEY]

76. Victor mouse traps, peanut butter cups - and a mouse preist

[Rhiannon12866]

77. They like peanut butter cups?

My friend just arrived earlier with the have-a-heart trap, but I had no idea what to put into it. If this is your advice, this is what I'll get. I just want to save the little guy. For my kitty, I used tuna fish. After I brought her inside, she refused to ever eat it again.:shrug:

[JohnKleeb]

78. what are you gonna name the mouse rhi?

:hi: nice to see ya.

[Rhiannon12866]

79. No, I cannot afford to get that attached

if I am going to let him go, since he is a wild mouse. I don't know if you read my earlier entries on this thread, but I did have a pet mouse as a kid. He was a terrific pet. His name was Franklin, named after FDR, my favorite president, LOL!:D

[JohnKleeb]

81. ok

yeah I saw that, hope you manage to let him go. How you doing too? I feeling ok, though I did have an emotional tearout recently.

[Rhiannon12866]

84. Hang in there, John. You will be okay, but I've been there

and understand. It's not easy, being 16.

As for the little mouse, I saw him in another room, tonight. And I was so close to getting him out the door last night. He left twice, but ran back in when I dared to move. So I set the have-a-heart trap with peanut butter, thanks to Hey Hey, but, so far, no luck. I just want to save him and send him back to mis mouse family, LOL!:D

[Hand]

83. Yike--don't use a peanut butter cup...

The chocolate and sugar will kill the little cutie. Plain peanut butter will work fine.

:hi:

[buddhamama]

80. this worked for me once

maybe you'll have success with it too.

Mice love containers, anything they can crawl into.

the last time i had a little visiter i put some bread and broken pieces of acorn into an empty coffee can and placed it on the floor in the pantry.
the mouse arrived three days later (i heard the noise the acorn was making in the can) i grabbed a cereal box (it was empty and broken down waiting to be recycled) placed it atop the can, and carried the little thing outside.

for the future, you might want to put some mint (preferably peppermint) plant or oil in your kitchen or wherever the mouse resides. mice have an aversion to mint. :shrug:

hope this helps.
Good Luck !!!

[Rhiannon12866]

86. Thanks! An excellent idea!

I am trying the have-a-heart trap, baited with peanut butter on bread, but have had little luck, so far. I will try this next.:hi:

[MAlibdem]

82. get a cat??

[Rhiannon12866]

85. My cat died on February 10th

I miss her a lot.;(

[Demonaut]

87. stir fried is good,

[Rhiannon12866]

88. Please. This is practically a pet, not an entree.

:shrug:

[FlaGranny]

89. Rhiannon

Once when my kids were young I found a little mouse on the kitchen counter and I actually did manage to catch him. The kids wanted to keep him and I foolishly agreed. We put him in an aquarium with food and water, but after a couple of days, he just died, probably from the shock of being captured. If you catch him, take him out into the woods somewhere and let him go. The kids were so sad he died that I had to go out and buy a pet mouse.

[Rhiannon12866]

90. My plan is to let him go. He needs to be with his mouse family,

wherever they are. I trust the little guy can find them. I, also, had a pet mouse, as a kid. But I bought him in a Grant's store and had him for several years. But he was black and white and lived in a cage with a little wheel and ate fruit and vegetables, as well as mouse food. He was not a wild thing. I posted, earlier, that I named him Franklin, after FDR, LOL! Thanks for the advice and sympathy.:-)

edited for punctuation