Tuesday, December 16, 2008

More Mousecapades...

The vermin situation has reached a new low (or maybe high--depending on how you look at it?).

This morning I came downstairs to discover that Don had shirked his vermin-checking duties and left for work with the traps (that's traps plural.) and possible trapped vermin still in my kitchen cabinet.

Unfortunately, I heard some tell-tale clanking from the cabinet which made me think we had another half-caught vermin--which I can't deal with. I called Don in a panic and he said to get Teddy on the case.

I asked Teddy to check on the vermin situation and he reported that the the vermin appeared to be deceased in one trap and that the other trap was empty. I decided to wait for Don to come home to deal with it.

So I went on with my day--Target, present-wrapping, Starbucks drinking...

Later in the afternoon, I heard more verminous activity and I figured there was now a vermin in the other trap too. Since there was quite a lot of racket, Gooser and I decided to be brave and try to free the vermin.

Wearing one football glove and one gardening glove and armed with two pair of barbecue tongs, I approached the cabinet.

What I discovered was one unfortunate vermin caught in both traps at the same time. His foot was in one and sort of his face was in the other. I managed to pick up both traps with the tongs and, with Gooser's help as doorman, move the whole operation outside.

I released the vermin who seemed surprisingly healthy after his ordeal and we watched him scamper under the frozen grill.

After a little while, Gooser wanted to go out and see if he was still there and I found him huddled between the grill and a frozen basketball. It is frigid, frigid cold here and I was worried that maybe he was in shock or something after the double-trapping and would freeze to death.

So I did what any normal person would do--I brought him back inside, placed him in a wicker wastebasket and fed him a luncheon of Cheez-Its.

I hear you laughing! Why are you laughing? That's normal, isn't it?

Anyway, he is a temporary pet. It's not supposed to be nearly as cold tomorrow and I'm hoping he'll be sufficiently rested and ready to go out on his own. His face is a little messed up, but I think he's ok.

Gooser and I made this sign for his basket:
And here is mousie:
I figure any mouse tough enough to survive a double-trapping deserves a second chance!!
Photobucket

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yup, with Gooser on patrol with you, would have been hard to despatch the little bugger. Loved Gooser's Mouse Hospital.

AV
http://netherregionoftheearthii.blogspot.com/
http://tomusarcanum.blogspot.com/

Ronda's Rants said...

Well, I am sure you have one confused little mouse on your hands! Why does he look so cute in your wicker basket and yet so damn disgusting under your sink...it is a mystery! But...I would be doing the same thing...God help me!
Have fun at the Fun House...I always do every time I visit!

Mimi said...

OMG, that is exactly what I would end up doing. After days of trying to get rid of it, feel sorry for it & save it, lol.

Have a great day & enjoy your new friend!

Rebecca Jo said...

Oh my gosh... that is hilarious that you ended up keeping him. Poor little guy- he probably doesnt know what to think!

Erin said...

That is so funny!!
That is a HUGE mouse!!

Kristin said...

Can we PLEASE have pictures of the releasing of the traps next time. I can't imagine how gorgeous you looked with the mismatched gloves and tongs. Please.

Susie said...

You are a better person than I am!!! I would have made sure the vermin reached its demise. I couldn't stand it!

Jennifer said...

OMG Jen- I'm cracking up!!
It is a cute little thing, though. =)

SouthernDogwoods said...

Oh my! You are SO much braver than I am!!!! I can not stand the sight of a mouse. When we caught one a few months back (and my husband forgot to check the trap too!) I had to call our little old neighbor to remove it!!!!

I have a lot of fears and mice is right up there!!!!

Heather said...

I'm with Susie; no WAY would I have brought that thing back inside. I'd have visions of all the germs (hanta virus, anyone?) and plagues that little critter might be carrying, and I'd say "Circle of Life" and close the door, leaving him huddled by the grill outside.

BTW, I don't think hairless cats bother folks with allergies, but they're rather WEIRD looking - think Dr. Evil in Austin Powers - so don't know if having a critter like THAT running around is much better than the vermin! :D

Jen said...

yup you heard right, I am so laughing. And you big softy you. He is kinda cute, though.

Jen said...

OMG! You are way too funny! I agree, 100%... after all that, he definitely deserves a second chance!

Shannon said...

Sorry... I was laughing, too!

Hope the mouse enjoys his one day of luxury before going back to the wild tomorrow :)

CaraBee said...

I have to tell you, as sorry as I would have felt for the little guy, I wouldn't have brought him back in. One time I caught a mouse and so he couldn't find his way back into my house, I took him all the way to the park down the street. He was probably like "Wait a minute, I'm a city mouse, what's all this green stuff?"

Unknown said...

I SO would have done the same thing!
He'll make a fine pet so long as you know where he is at ALL times, and if you befriend him he may very well put out a message to everyone else in his community to back off.
Well, either that or send for his family and you'll soon be running a retreat for wayward vermin.

Sandi said...

This is why I love you!

Kori said...

Yes, yes, you here ME laughing, anyway! but in a nice way because you are so sweet and funny and cute.

Jenny and the Princess Peonies said...

You are brave!

I wouldn't even have come close to that thing!

Mice freak me out.

Allison said...

Wow, you've got guts!!! I just commented on your previous blog, and then read this one!

I can't believe *I* am saying this, but the mouse does look kinda sweet all cuddled up in the basket. But, I NEVER would have brought him back in, granted that is because I wouldn't have checked on him in the first place! LOL

Allison said...

Oh, and I just noticed your profile picture...hahaha!

KJ said...

Oh my god, that is COMPLETELY hilarious! What a cute little busted-face mousie...

Ashley said...

OMG! I can't believe the 'vermin' is now your pet! What a change of events!! You know - he is actually quite cute. You can't let him go now. You have to keep him! Haha! That would make for some good blogging.

Annikke said...

Ok, NOW that is disgusting. I would never welcome the icky little vermin BACK into the house! EW

Anonymous said...

Well so much for thinking this was going to be another installment of the Fun House Verminator series.

I about choked on my Coke whilst reading the bit about the salad tongs. When I can find it, I'll link you to my own vermin story. Mine was morbid from the beginning. Oiy!

That poor mouse probably thinks you are all whacked out of your gourds...trapping him one minute, cozying up to him the next! *lol* Of course, you know you could always KEEP him. He could be The Fun House blog mascot.

Maybe?

No?

Hmmmmf!

oº˚ Homeschool Mom˚ºo said...

No mice! I am scared to death of those things.

Hugs,
Anissa

Anonymous said...

Awwww.....good for you and Gooser!!! You all have big hearts. I used to have pet mice....they really aren't that bad. I don't want them pooping around my house and chewing up all the furniture...but they aren't as nasty as everyone makes them out to be. Poor little mouse....you are right...after all he went through today he deserves a 2nd chance. :)

Jo-Jo said...

I would have NOT been able to do that! We had one here a couple of months back in our laundry room...I about had a heart attack!

Jenni said...

Eeeeeeeek! Meeces!

Jane In The Jungle said...

OMG, only you Jennifer, ROFL...If I could make those letters bigger I would cause I am dying over here and oh yeah, you can definitly hear me laughing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Jen-OMG...OMG...you are such a good person becuase I would have smashed the double trapped with a shovel. You know you are setting free the same mice that you keep trapping! OMG you are releasing them only to come back in. You are too good.

Anonymous said...

Jennifer, I got to thinking about that mouse... he's got to be undergoing some sort of identity crisis right this minute "vermin or cute" or "becoming cute is a painful process" kinda be like waxing your legs... I guess. LOL

AV

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

You are such a tender heart! I love animals, but mice don't count. I hate those little things!

Anonymous said...

Hey-

i just read on another blog that dousing some cottonballs with peppermint oil and placed in the areas they are coming in send the vermin running in the other direction. Not extract but oil, I guess you can probably get it at drug store or the body shop or health food store, I don't know. Maybe it's worth a try.