SNAP. SNAP. Two mice snapped in traps. Dead. In an upstairs bedroom closet. One caught yesterday during the day, the other overnight. And then a third caught in a live trap in the garage overnight, the second mouse snared in the garage in two days.
I am assuredly relieved, but also a tad freaked out by the presence of multiple mice, especially in our house. I won’t share details, but suffice to say Randy thinks more mice may have moved in. The trap has been set for a third time in the closet.
Meanwhile in the basement, the peanut butter baited trap remains untouched. There have been no additional live mice sightings since the first mouse we spotted running into our living room and then into the kitchen before vanishing Sunday evening. How did it find its way upstairs? Don’t even answer that question.
I just want them caught. All of them. I am not a welcoming landlord. I want them out, evicted. Gone for good.
The interesting thing here is that I suggested to Randy on Sunday evening that he set a trap in the upstairs closet because we have, on occasion, caught mice in that space. He didn’t listen. Not initially. But before he left for work Tuesday morning, I asked him to please remove the trap from the kitchen. My fear was that a mouse would be caught there while he was gone. I don’t have the mental capacity to deal with a mouse, dead or alive. I am terrified of mice.
And so the waiting continues with hopes that soon, very soon, all of the mice in this house will have been eradicated. Because I am truly sick of them.
P.S. Sorry, no photos with this post. No way will I photograph a mouse, dead or alive.
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I commiserate with you ! After a spree of four mice caught in the house by our resident mouser aka our cat, Paloma, all is now quiet. Knock on wood.
Here’s hoping that soon those furry little varmints no longer visit your home!
Kathleen, thank you for understanding how I feel about mice. Glad yours are now gone thanks to Paloma.
To be plagued by a creature that strikes fear in your heart. It’s like a gothic horror story. They’re probably heading upstairs because it’s warmer up there. You may have to call in a professional exterminator. 😕
This is a bit of a horror story for sure. We’ve dealt with mice many times in our 40 years living in this old house. I don’t know if a professional could possibly find and seal all entry points. For now we will continue setting traps. I mean Randy will continue setting traps and removing dead mice.
Of Mice and Men Snakes and cakes.
LOL, My wife and 2 daughters have hearts softer than fresh Twinkies towards God’s creatures. This, however does not placate their fear of these critters! They even went so far as to get no-kill (humanitarian?) mouse traps. These things looked to be humane but in reality they were barbaric! Once these creatures were caught, their cries could be heard leaving the women folk weeping for them in their struggles. The end result was me, the hubby / father to deal whatever plight these creatures found themselves in. These creatures go from the cute mice to big rats! None of which anyone wants as a house pet (except Gerbils – why is that?). My wife once found a snake – and all I can say in a microsecond she was across the deck, through the house across a sizable front lawn, across the street across another lawn, into the house to raise the alarm with a neighbor. Such are the duties cast to the human male species!
I am rolling with laughter, Gunny. Your stories are entertaining and absolutely relatable. I am deeply thankful for this work you guys do for us women, or at least this woman and your wife and daughters. 🙂
Glad you enjoy the stories.
Your stories are THE BEST.
Soon your house will be mouse-free, and your peace restored. (Thank you for not adding any photos!)
I hope you’re right, Rose. You are welcome re no photos. 🙂
I’m sorry my friend! I too have had to deal with the little unwelcome rodents! Not at my home in Rochester, but an occasional visit in the cabin after we leave in the fall. They are looking for warmth and found a way in. I think it was only once, but that’s enough for me to be on guard. I hope you get them all soon!
I’m not surprised about your cabin mouse. Seems logical that they would seek out a cabin in the depths of a Minnesota winter. Yup, I hope I’m rid of the mice soon.
Ugh!! Sure hope this does the trick!
Ugh is right. And, yes, I hope soon they are all caught and GONE from my house.
that’s such a tough situation, you are just waiting to see when out of the corner of your eye. here’s hoping for a resolution, sooner rather than later-
Caught a fourth mouse overnight in the upstairs bedroom closet. At this point we figure a mother mouse gave birth to babies in the space under the eaves. Now they are coming into the closet area due to the peanut butter on the traps. For now the plan is to continue setting traps until we are no longer catching mice in this location. Then it will be a full out effort to clean up and see if we can determine their entry point.
good luck on your ongoing battle. what about having a ‘critter control’ person come in to help to find entry point and maybe take care of it before there are even more babies? if not, it sounds like you have a plan in place –
We did discuss that option this morning. For now, we will continue with our trapping plan. There are so many possible entry points in this old house. I really don’t know how anyone could possibly find all of them. The thing is, we rarely get a mouse anywhere but in the basement. So this truly is an anomaly.
yes, and hopefully it will work itself out over time. my old house was over 100 years old, so there were all sorts of unexpected entry points. )
Good news! More than 24 hours have passed without another mouse caught in the upstairs bedroom closet. I’m hopeful that we’ve caught all of them. Randy is currently removing items from under the eaves and the closet and vacuuming. No mice have scurried out. I opted to do laundry and make a peach crisp.
I was talking to a friend last evening and she said it’s been a horrible summer for mice in their old house also, including this week. At least now I don’t feel so alone, like it’s just an isolated problem.
sounds like you need a cat or three.
I wonder what this winter has in store? Early winter? The kids have removed a field mouse from a basement window well multiple times over the last few days. They swear it was the same one every time, and maybe they are right.
Yeah, I wonder what winter will bring also in terms of weather, creatures seeking shelter inside, etc. Your kids are braver than me to remove that mouse.
no chance of me doing it either. They like to catch and release
I’m on team helbling!
Thank you!
Unfortunately it is that time of year when they are moving homes to warmer habitats. My friend has a bat in her house and she is freaking out. Bats are worse than mice in my opinion but I don’t want any in my house either. Good luck!
Unfortunately, mice enter our house year-round, but definitely more so in the winter. We had bats many decades ago and ended up hiring a professional to bat-proof our house. It worked. I feel for your friend.