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No, not by aliens.
By mice.
I've lived here for about five years, and before now I have never seen one or evidence of one. Now, they've all but declared war.
I woke up last Friday and noticed that there were mouse droppings on my kitchen counter. Utterly disgusting, especially to me since I have what some have called a minor obsession with sanitation. I quickly cleaned up the disease-ridden droppings, which surely contained strains of bacteria that would send the Asian bird flu running scared.
I set a non-lethal trap. I consider this to be my first mistake, and in retrospect I could actually use this as an anecdote for some of our current political situations -- maybe some other time. I intended to capture the rodent and release him elsewhere, and then go about my merry life.
I woke up the next morning, and there he was, a peanut butter covered mouse shaking in the plexiglass tube. I released him in the park, about one half mile from my apartment. I set the trap again, just to ensure that he was raiding my kitchen alone, and without help.
When I woke up the following morning, another mouse was in the trap, covered with peanut butter -- shaking. My pity was rapidly fading. I released him in the same spot.
The following morning -- well, you can see where this is going. I'm not alltogether sure it isn't the same mouse, making that half mile trek back for the peanut butter. In fact, I have even found myself wondering if he isn't reutrning, entering the trap knowingly, eating his fill, and then waiting for me to release him the next morning.
He will die. His friends will die.
I tore apart my kitchen, ripped every pot and pan, every glass, every fork knife and spoon, from the cupboards where they were kept. I found "mouse toilets" in two cupboards, and also behind my microwave. I have spent the last two days of my vacation (yes, my VACATION!) cleaning and sanitizing every item in my kitchen that could have come in contact with the foul things.
Now, I've restocked my shelves and cabinets and duct taped them shut to prevent any unwanted entry. I've located two areas where they may be entering, and I've filled them with spray foam insulation. I know this will only keep them out temporarily.
I'm leaving on Thursday morning and will not be back until Sunday night. I picked up 12 glue traps. I plan to place them around the kitchen before I leave, and I fully expect to return to a scene of mouse carnage that would give your average PETA member a heart attack right then and there, on the spot.
I guess what I'm looking for is tips from people here who may have the same problem. Is there any way to keep these things out for good?
By mice.
I've lived here for about five years, and before now I have never seen one or evidence of one. Now, they've all but declared war.
I woke up last Friday and noticed that there were mouse droppings on my kitchen counter. Utterly disgusting, especially to me since I have what some have called a minor obsession with sanitation. I quickly cleaned up the disease-ridden droppings, which surely contained strains of bacteria that would send the Asian bird flu running scared.
I set a non-lethal trap. I consider this to be my first mistake, and in retrospect I could actually use this as an anecdote for some of our current political situations -- maybe some other time. I intended to capture the rodent and release him elsewhere, and then go about my merry life.
I woke up the next morning, and there he was, a peanut butter covered mouse shaking in the plexiglass tube. I released him in the park, about one half mile from my apartment. I set the trap again, just to ensure that he was raiding my kitchen alone, and without help.
When I woke up the following morning, another mouse was in the trap, covered with peanut butter -- shaking. My pity was rapidly fading. I released him in the same spot.
The following morning -- well, you can see where this is going. I'm not alltogether sure it isn't the same mouse, making that half mile trek back for the peanut butter. In fact, I have even found myself wondering if he isn't reutrning, entering the trap knowingly, eating his fill, and then waiting for me to release him the next morning.
He will die. His friends will die.
I tore apart my kitchen, ripped every pot and pan, every glass, every fork knife and spoon, from the cupboards where they were kept. I found "mouse toilets" in two cupboards, and also behind my microwave. I have spent the last two days of my vacation (yes, my VACATION!) cleaning and sanitizing every item in my kitchen that could have come in contact with the foul things.
Now, I've restocked my shelves and cabinets and duct taped them shut to prevent any unwanted entry. I've located two areas where they may be entering, and I've filled them with spray foam insulation. I know this will only keep them out temporarily.
I'm leaving on Thursday morning and will not be back until Sunday night. I picked up 12 glue traps. I plan to place them around the kitchen before I leave, and I fully expect to return to a scene of mouse carnage that would give your average PETA member a heart attack right then and there, on the spot.
I guess what I'm looking for is tips from people here who may have the same problem. Is there any way to keep these things out for good?
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