Thursday, January 29, 2009

Mouse Party III: Hostages

The mousetrap arrived yesterday. It's a little green thing.
The mouse sneaks and triggers a mechanism that locks him in.
I caught Clyde last night and Bonnie this morning. Both were caught in the cupboard- I just stuck it on the counter for the photo. Then I realized there was only a few millimeters between my kitchen counter and whatever diseases he might be carrying. D'oh! Where'd I put the bleach?


Here's their holding tank. Bedding and snacks were included so they wouldn't notice they were in a plastic jar and could chew their way out.




I freed them in a vacant lot several blocks away. A third mouse* is still at large has since been apprehended.

When I returned from mouse deportation I heard chattering. I opened the back door. This squirrel stared me down a few feet away from the fence. I think he's their lawyer.

*A bunch of them probably either live under the foundation or in nearby overgrown shrubbery.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congrats! How good and humane of you to catch and release them this way.

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Thanks, stray. I caught and released a fourth rascal this morning. Funny how the little pests can be so revolting and so cute at the same time.
I suppose I'm a sucker for the "they didn't know they were doing anything wrong" school of thought. That being said, had they gone anywhere near my bedroom where my bird lives, things may have gotten ugly,

BillGoat said...

They ARE so cute! But the long tails on the kitchen counter - *shudder*!!
Your blog is so great! Diverse, personal, and filled with great art!
Thanks, Namowal!!

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Thanks for swinging by, Billsey.
To give them credit, they've only lurked in the cupboard and the floor. I put the trap on the counter to take a picture (then got mad at myself for putting a box 'o vermin on my counter).
Thanks for calling my artwork "great."
:D

Linda Davick said...

I love you, Namo.

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Thanks, Linda,
It's funny how different mice behaved in the holding tank. Mouse #1 went exploring. Mouse #3 kept jumping, even though he often bonked his head on the top. Mouse #4 got comfortable and took a nap. Mouse #5 (the latest) seemed terrified.
Each one seemed excited about being turned loose- they flew from the jar like a bullet each time.

Sally said...

Congratulations on your great mouse adventure. That's an amazing trap-- often mice won't go in after the first one gets nabbed.

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Thanks, Sally.
I'm not sure why I've caught so many suckers but I have. Maybe because the trap shuts with a modest click (as opposed to a metal door slamming down), so they don't associate loud scary noises with it.

booda baby said...

Hahaha! I love the squirrely lawyer. Or the rodent.

Those are some mighty long tails.

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Thanks, BoodaBaby.
The squirrel "lawyer" managed to bungle his way into the operation recently. More about him tomorrow.