I absolutely love living on my own (and alone:)

[beelikej]

Honestly, I don't know how people with pets and/or partners do it. I seriously can not deal with another living creature living in my house, doing things I have no control over....
Remember when I posted about the mouse droppings two weeks ago? I thought the mouse had gone, but on Monday night when I was hanging on the couch, I noticed something moving under the coffee table. Eeeep! The tiniest mouse I'd ever seen ran under the couch and disappeared there.


Before I tell you where the mouse went, let me show some evidence of the its bad behavior;)


Here are the droppings I found on Saturday, August 17 and more behind the upside down couch during my great clean up a week later.


I also discovered the mouse had travelled from one toilet to the other through the back of my book case.


I'm glad the mouse didn't seem to have any interest in my books. It only nibbled on the bottom of the small desk in the backroom.

Nevertheless I planned to buy a mousetrap as soon as possible, but unfortunately didn't have time on Monday with work being crazy busy. When I went to the petshop on Tuesday, they only had those killing traps which I didn't want to use (yet).

That evening the mouse greeted me from under the radiator and later that night -when I was watching The Great British Bake Off Breadweek- it showed up behind the tv, sniffing around on the windowsill.
Upon investigation I discovered a big gap in the wall there, so I also put wall filler on my shoppinglist.


On Wednesday evening the mouse was very restless, I managed to take a couple of photos before it hid behind the wall again.


To get the mouse to not be suspicious about offered food and to hopefully keep it away from other areas in my house, I had set up a plastic jar with some cruesli and raisins.

After doing the dishes I treated myself to some computer time until all of a sudden the mouse surprised me from behind the printer. Then I kind of turned into Caesar, the exterminator from The MouseHunt;)


I finally found a shop with animal friendly mouse traps on Thursday. I put a big juicy raisin dipped in peanutbutter in there, but the mouse managed to grab it without setting the mechanism off. Hrmpf.


Tried it again yesterday evening, and lo and behold: this morning I found a sulky mouse trapped in the little cage. \o/


I didn't waste any time taking a shower or having breakfast. I drank some orange juice, quickly put some clothes on and got on my bike to find the mouse a new home far away from mine.


I had put the cage in a plastic container to transport it in my bikebag.


I cycled to a nice area, at least 1 kilometer from my house... (I'm not revealing the exact location;)


... and after saying goodbye...


I set the mouse free in the grass.

I then took a long way home, not because I feared he'd follow me (what?) but to make a stop at the DIY center for that wall filler.

At home I cleaned out the house again. Vacuuming all over and then I was ready to stuff that gap in the wall.


Unfortunately that's when I discovered it was not just a few centimeters deep hole to support the windowsill, but a huge space in between the outer and innerwall, which is impossible to close. :(


The only thing I could do was fasten the windowsill securely on top again and I put a thin plastic sheet in front of the gap, hoping there weren't any other openings to let mouses in. *sighs*


The end. (I hope;)

So how was your week?

Comments

[calystarose]

Oh my goodness that was such an adorable mouse! I'm glad you were able to safely catch and release him. :D

[beelikej]

I was surprised that such a cute little thing could cause me that much stress;)

[bflyw.livejournal.com]

You are bothered by an uninvited mouse, and keep being scared to death by an uninvited cat - shall we introduce our uninvited pets to each other? LOL
God - mice, they are cute, but yuck, I didn't want one in my house!

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely not suited for sharing my space with another creature, but if the mouse returns, you can send that cat my way;)

[tmn1966.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness! You found him! What an adventure - I'm glad you were able to trap and relocate him. I certainly hope you don't get bothered by an uninvited guest again.

I do like being 'lord and master' over my own apartment. If I have insomnia I can get up and watch TV or play on the computer or clean if I feel like it. The advantage of having a roommate, however, would be that I could save some money and also live in a place where I could have a washer and dryer in the apartment.

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

It was a very exciting week:)

I'm so happy I can afford a place of my own. I treasure my privacy like a true hermit *grins* No roommates, pets or partners for me!

[rabidfan.livejournal.com]

can you caulk around the edges of your sill and wall? That may "deter" the odd adventurous mouse. If not? You'd best get a good handyman in to handle the repair for you. Mouse poop? Not good to breathe. JS.

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

I'm checking options to prevent re-entry of the mouse or other creatures. Thanks for the advice!

[sillie]

Go you for catching it! What a cheeky little bugger though, showing him/herself while you where right there.

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Heh, that mouse was moping when I found it in the cage, grumpy little thing. (S)He had it coming though, freaking me out like that: I jumped off my chair when (s)he suddenly appeared from behind my printer. Pfff. *clutches chest* Let's hope (s)he won't find its way back.

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

Blargh. I cannot stand mice. D: (Oddly enough, I've kept hamsters and rats as pets -- I love rats! -- but mice give me the heebie-jeebies. And to spot one running across the floor? Yikes!)

I'm amused that it was bold enough to not run away as you photographed it.

As someone said above, mouse poo (and pee) is not good for you. You've already seen how much they poop, but they pee EVERYWHERE, leaving a trail for them to follow. So yay on you for humanely getting rid of the thing. May no further mice darken your door.

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Appropriate icon! The pets in my childhood were always my brother's department, even though he didn't care that much more about them than I did. (Hamster, guinny pig, birds, turtles, etc.)

The photos were taken from a (safe) distance; as long as I pretended to lounge on the couch, the mouse didn't suspect a thing;) - Can you tell I have a fancy new camera with a pretty good zoomlens? \o/

I've sprayed cleaner all along its tracks, so hopefully I got rid of all the yuck.

[meesasometimes.livejournal.com]

I loved this little mouse travelogue...I'm a little sad there was no photo of him riding in a tiny mouse sized impala, lol. I have a photographer friend Jordan (his egotist father takes all the credit but does NONE of the work), he did this adorable photo book of a mouse in their home...http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8075010-tedric-the-house-mouse

Big money idea!!! There is still time for you to get that mouse back and re-infest your apartment...maybe a pair of mice, a city mouse/country mouse thing :)

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I have a toy racingcar that's just the right size; I can't tell if he played with it, but it was parked near his hidingplace behind the bookcase *grins*

I don't think I'd have the patience to follow it around for good photos, although that is a lovely idea! Maybe I'll consider it, should the mouse make another appearence.

[tanisafan.livejournal.com]

Omg that mouse was not shy, haha! I am super impressed that you caught the mouse and set it free, you're my heeero! Hopefully the plastic sheet will do the trick at keeping out further unwelcome guests - I'm always impressed by how handy you are around the house. Come do my house, next ;)!

In conclusion, too much excitement for you, I'm sure, but the pictorial timeline is most excellent ;)! \o/

[beelikej.livejournal.com]

I was very pleased with myself too *grins*

The thin plastic sheet is a place holder for a more professional solution; I already acquired a thicker white plate to put up there. Unfortunately for you, I only do DIY work in my own house, since I'm too worried to fuck up in anyone else's place;)

I made loads more photos of that mouse, I have to get comfortable with my new fancy camera. (There will be a post about that at some point in the future;)