Traps O'Death were already being deployed at the time of the writing of that last post. That is, the serious no-more-messing-around-you-little-bastards-neck snappers and the poison snacks were deposited at strategic mouse-favoured locations. Well out of the reach of even the most intrepid of Botanies, I might add. I tried various baits, although it turned out we were out of peanut butter. After nearly a week with no results (and more mouse antics in the night), I broke down and got out the mothballs.
Someone wise suggested that if I used mothballs my house would stink like old, incontinent people. Forever. I laughed when I read that comment and chuckled a bit more when I first opened the package, because damn! These really are some whiffy little items. Then I winced a bit as I strew the smelly things about the flat, silently chanting "Beloved grandmother's attic. This reminds me of my beloved grandmother's attic".
When Knox arrived, he wrinkled his nose as soon as he walked in the door and said, "Phew. It smells like old, incontinent people in here." At which point even I had to concede that it simply reeked. Oh well, I said, we can try it for one night.
You would have thought I had put down the equivalent of mouse catnip, because that night, they came and cavorted about the bedroom like never before. Well, I was actually sound asleep, but Knox lay awake, witnessing the whole thing. The mouse came in, tapdanced around the shoes for a bit (where I had most liberally placed the mothballs), scampered up and down the length before ascending into my laundry basket.
Then, he reported incredulously in the morning, the mouse leapt straight out of the basket and clung on to that nice blue woolen scarf I have hanging on a hook on the back of the door. There it swayed, suspended above the floor, presumably trying to work out how to scale the Everest proportions of the wardrobe itself to reach the nappy bag on top, before dropping off and running away to feast on whatever crumbs Botany had dropped under her highchair.
It was like the Mouse Olympics, Knox said, shuddering. I would not have believed him about the scarf on the door thing, but Knox is not prone to making stuff like that up.
So, in the morning, the mothballs were removed and all windows opened to try to clear the stench. Fortunately, since it was only one night, it doesn't seem the odour was permanent, although amazingly hard to get rid of the smell despite the relatively short length of time. You have been warned, ye who would consider mothballs.
As far as the ongoing mouse problem, I decided the solution was to remove all the shoe storage boxes (leaving nowhere to hide) and to relocate the laundry basket in a less mouse friendly location and to pull the wardrobe out from wall making it less of a desirable place to hang out, all the more so with poison and Trap of Death at either end (to be removed in the day time from botanical reach). That night, we spotted the mouse in the kitchen, obviously looking for a new home. We sealed up the room that night, apart from the hole in the back of the refrigerator where they are obviously coming and going, and in the morning we took the bold step of sealing that hole as well, in the hope that the mouse had gone there rather than say, behind the cooker.
Since then, it's been a mouse free zone in my room- so far, anyway- and we're hoping the rest of the flat is similarly cleared, although I am less optimistic about that.
I was just breathing a sigh of relief as I stood by the bedroom window sill, folding my laundry, when a gigantic spider ran out from behind Knox's underpants and sat there glowering at me while I freaked out elaborately.
Next time, I promise: less rodents and more wedding chat! I believe I owe you a story about the ring.
they love Mars bars... try a little piece of that in your traps. Also butter. Also, a cat is a great thing... my kitten has had 4 or 5 of the buggers in the house recently. I think they have permanently moved out now.
Posted by: victoria | June 18, 2009 at 10:01 PM
I am vindicated! You kids, you just never listen. Glad to hear your house was cleared of the stench. Or maybe you've just gotten used to it.
Posted by: spoiledonlychild | June 19, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Do we get a picture of the ring (but don't want to see the mice!).
Posted by: Toni | June 20, 2009 at 02:32 AM
My poor uncle, who spent the last 10 months at my aunt side in the hospital, has a chipmunk in his house. Since the house is virtually unoccupied right now (he sleeps in a recliner next to my aunt's bed), he put out mouse poison to help avoid visitors from moving in. Well, the chipmunk apparently ate the poison and pooped all over the house. Ick. He called my father, who I was on vaction with me, to recruit him in the chipmunk evacuations (or probable death). You are not alone on the pesky vermon issues.
Posted by: Val | June 23, 2009 at 09:20 PM
It could be worse. Although we are not similarly afflicted, I have a friend who conducts nightly scorpion hunts complete with blacklights and enthusiastic 8-year old boys. My own 8-year old spent the night once and reported three actual kills, with gruesome glee. A pest that gives me the heebie-geebies and can seriously wound small children. YIKES!
Be glad you're among the haggis and thisle. So, you got that going for you.
And yes, more wedding rings, flower girl dresses and info on soon to be wedded bliss, please!
Posted by: Christa | June 24, 2009 at 01:38 AM
1jVceK http://gok9ejqnFfglrk63mdg.org
Posted by: samanta | September 19, 2009 at 03:48 PM