On Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:19:26 -0800, Lin >
wrote:

>Obviously, the mousetraps aren't fine! Oh, are you reusing them? You
>shouldn't. Mice can smell the death and that might be why they are
>avoiding the traps.

I've never had a problem with reusing traps to trap mice. It's the
rats that figure out what a trap is for and avoid them. All you can
do with rats is hope your house cat makes life uncomfortable enough
for them that they move out as soon as spring arrives.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

sf wrote:

> I've never had a problem with reusing traps to trap mice. It's the
> rats that figure out what a trap is for and avoid them. All you can
> do with rats is hope your house cat makes life uncomfortable enough
> for them that they move out as soon as spring arrives.

Back in the day, IF I could get to a trap right after the *snap* and
there wasn't any brain gooage I'd re-use them. But, most of the time I
wouldn't discover their lifeless carcasses till the next day.

Good thing that the rodents are fairly seasonal with their home invasions.

--Lin

On Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:15:44 -0800, Lin >
wrote:

>Good thing that the rodents are fairly seasonal with their home invasions.

I'll second *that*. Fortunately, I haven't had an invasion in a few
years... I find that doors open for hours invite rodents in - we've
found and closed all the other gaps that they used in the past. The
open door situation happens when we have contractors working on the
house. We've closed all the other gaps rodents took to the kitchen.
We haven't experienced them in other parts of the house either, so we
must not be very enticing to mice now.

sf
who remembers a rather bold mouse running over my forehead in the
middle of the night (*many* years ago). It had cold feet.

Yes, eeeew.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

sf wrote:

> sf
> who remembers a rather bold mouse running over my forehead in the
> middle of the night (*many* years ago). It had cold feet.

Something similar for me, but it was my daughter's escaped hamster ...
"Chubs" had been on the lam again and was captured as he decided that
running across my face at 3 a.m. was a smart decision.

--Lin

On Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:33:03 -0800, Lin >
wrote:

>sf wrote:
>
>> sf
>> who remembers a rather bold mouse running over my forehead in the
>> middle of the night (*many* years ago). It had cold feet.
>
>Something similar for me, but it was my daughter's escaped hamster ...
>"Chubs" had been on the lam again and was captured as he decided that
>running across my face at 3 a.m. was a smart decision.
>
LOL! The only escaped hamster we had that we couldn't find
immediately was found 3 days later in the cold air duct at a bend that
already had a "trap door" cut in it... after I finally figured out
where that weird rhythmic scraping sound came from. So I concluded
that escaped hamsters in the cold air duct were not completely unknown
in the past.

His name was Harry, btw.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

sf wrote:

> I'll second *that*. Fortunately, I haven't had an invasion in a few
> years... I find that doors open for hours invite rodents in - we've
> found and closed all the other gaps that they used in the past. The
> open door situation happens when we have contractors working on the
> house. We've closed all the other gaps rodents took to the kitchen.
> We haven't experienced them in other parts of the house either, so we
> must not be very enticing to mice now.

We started setting traps in the garage, since I think that was
their preferred entry point. Have not have a problem, never
mind an invasion, in a few years now.

The worst year was after I had a bathroom renovated, and
found out the insulation around a pipe leaving the wall had
been knocked out. Mouse highway until it was discovered.

> who remembers a rather bold mouse running over my forehead in the
> middle of the night (*many* years ago). It had cold feet.
>
> Yes, eeeew.

Oh, yuck. It's up there with finding a mouse turd in an upturned
spoon in the flatware drawer. There is no food in there you
disgusting thing!

nancy

Nancy Young said...

> Oh, yuck. It's up there with finding a mouse turd in an upturned
> spoon in the flatware drawer. There is no food in there you
> disgusting thing!


nancy,

HA!!!

When ya gotta go, ya gotta go!

As mice, we'd be happily sexually active for an instant or something. Then
we'll be challenged as parents... great... great-great... grand-parents,
before long, babysitting!

I'll shoot me first!!!

Andy
Country mouse

On Tue, 3 Mar 2009 07:13:29 -0500, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

>We started setting traps in the garage, since I think that was
>their preferred entry point. Have not have a problem, never
>mind an invasion, in a few years now.

Come to think of it, the new garage door is a lot tighter than the old
one and it's been in for a few years now.
>
>The worst year was after I had a bathroom renovated, and
>found out the insulation around a pipe leaving the wall had
>been knocked out. Mouse highway until it was discovered.
>
They had two ways in. One through the garage and the other was a gap
around the old kitchen vent duct (which was inside an upper
cabinet)... but I don't think we have mice in the attic anymore
either.




--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Mon, 2 Mar 2009 18:39:32 -0500, cybercat wrote:

> "Ms P" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>
>>
>> My very large, long haired black cat prefers not to kill them. They're
>> toys that play back. She was really upset the one time the toy died. I
>> have to take them away from her still alive. She will carry them around
>> *very carefully* in her mouth and she doesn't use her claws anymore when
>> she lets them go and catches them again. Poor mice die of heart failure
>> before she gets done playing.
>>
>
> That's the scary part of cats. Sometimes they are operating on pure, cold
> instinct. It moves, get it. And repeat. It doesn't jibe with the way they
> are with people, at all.

even cats are smart enough to realize that people are bigger than they are.

your pal,
blake

Andy wrote:
>
> You don't break mice in half. Everybody knows that.

Yep. Including my cats - blech.

Ever considered getting a cat (or two)?

Cats = no more mice (well, at least around here).

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

sf wrote:

> LOL! The only escaped hamster we had that we couldn't find
> immediately was found 3 days later in the cold air duct at a bend that
> already had a "trap door" cut in it... after I finally figured out
> where that weird rhythmic scraping sound came from. So I concluded
> that escaped hamsters in the cold air duct were not completely unknown
> in the past.
>
> His name was Harry, btw.

My friend's son had a hampster named Harry, for the same
reason.

nancy

ChattyCathy wrote:
> Andy wrote:
>
>> You don't break mice in half. Everybody knows that.
>>
>
> Yep. Including my cats - blech.
>
> Ever considered getting a cat (or two)?
>
> Cats = no more mice (well, at least around here).

Our neighbors are surprised at the number of rats that my cat finds.
Some of these neighbors have lived here for 20 years and they have never
seen a rat or a mouse. The golf course is adjacent to our back yard and
you can hear the owls hooting. What are the owls looking for? Vermin
al fresco.

Becca

Becca wrote:

> Our neighbors are surprised at the number of rats that my cat finds.
> Some of these neighbors have lived here for 20 years and they have
> never seen a rat or a mouse. The golf course is adjacent to our back
> yard and you can hear the owls hooting. What are the owls looking
> for? Vermin al fresco.

Country rats are very shy, chances are you would never see them.
I found out about them when one started knawing on my house.
That is a chilling sound, let me tell you. Since I walk at night, I
actually glimpsed it twice, it amazed the rat lady from the township.
She set a trap for it.

If you live in a suburb, don't be too shocked to find out you have
critters like rats and skunks even though you see no evidence.

nancy

On Tue 03 Mar 2009 05:53:41p, Nancy Young told us...

> Becca wrote:
>
>> Our neighbors are surprised at the number of rats that my cat finds.
>> Some of these neighbors have lived here for 20 years and they have
>> never seen a rat or a mouse. The golf course is adjacent to our back
>> yard and you can hear the owls hooting. What are the owls looking
>> for? Vermin al fresco.
>
> Country rats are very shy, chances are you would never see them.
> I found out about them when one started knawing on my house.
> That is a chilling sound, let me tell you. Since I walk at night, I
> actually glimpsed it twice, it amazed the rat lady from the township.
> She set a trap for it.
>
> If you live in a suburb, don't be too shocked to find out you have
> critters like rats and skunks even though you see no evidence.
>
> nancy
>
>

Although we never had a critter in the house, in the last house we lived in
Ohio, there were rats, mice, possums, skunks, raccoons, and even deer. We
rarely saw any of them. We were in the outermost suburb and literally in
the woods. We did have a family of raccoons living in the hollow of a big
tree, but saw them only once when the babies were big enough to venture
out.

--
Wayne Boatwright

"One man's meat is another man's poison"
- Oswald Dykes, English writer, 1709.

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> On Tue 03 Mar 2009 05:53:41p, Nancy Young told us...

>> Country rats are very shy, chances are you would never see them.
>> I found out about them when one started knawing on my house.

It was gnawing, too! Heh.

>> If you live in a suburb, don't be too shocked to find out you have
>> critters like rats and skunks even though you see no evidence.

> Although we never had a critter in the house, in the last house we
> lived in Ohio, there were rats, mice, possums, skunks, raccoons, and
> even deer. We rarely saw any of them. We were in the outermost
> suburb and literally in the woods. We did have a family of raccoons
> living in the hollow of a big tree, but saw them only once when the
> babies were big enough to venture out.

It's hard to think where they hide, yet once in a while, there they
are! Like when I tried to trap a groundhog and whoops, there
was an opposum. I know these animals are out there but you
just don't see them.

A friend of mine had this big house with three stories. Right on
a river, so no surprise she'd have who knows what. One time
she was working on the third floor and just could not shake the
feeling she was being watched. Finally she looked out the
window and there, straddling a tree branch just watching what she
was doing, was a raccoon. She said it was funny, its little arms
crossed over the branch, just looking.

So long as they stay out there, I'm okay with that.

nancy

On Mar 3, 1:51*pm, "Nancy Young" > wrote:
> sf wrote:
> > LOL! *The only escaped hamster we had that we couldn't find
> > immediately was found 3 days later in the cold air duct at a bend that
> > already had a "trap door" cut in it... after I finally figured out
> > where that weird rhythmic scraping sound came from. *So I concluded
> > that escaped hamsters in the cold air duct were not completely unknown
> > in the past.
>
> > His name was Harry, btw.
>
> My friend's son had a hampster named Harry, for the same
> reason.
>
> nancy

My friend's kid's hamster's name was M. C.
(M C Hamster)
Lynn in Fargo

On Tue, 3 Mar 2009 18:08:55 -0800 (PST), Lynn from Fargo Ografmorffig
> wrote:

>My friend's kid's hamster's name was M. C.
>(M C Hamster)

<SNORK> *That's* FUNNY!


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

Becca said...

> ChattyCathy wrote:
>> Andy wrote:
>>
>>> You don't break mice in half. Everybody knows that.
>>>
>>
>> Yep. Including my cats - blech.
>>
>> Ever considered getting a cat (or two)?
>>
>> Cats = no more mice (well, at least around here).
>
> Our neighbors are surprised at the number of rats that my cat finds.
> Some of these neighbors have lived here for 20 years and they have never
> seen a rat or a mouse. The golf course is adjacent to our back yard and
> you can hear the owls hooting. What are the owls looking for? Vermin
> al fresco.
>
> Becca


Owls are good listeners. They can hear what they can't see with pinpoint
accuracy (sonar, if you will). Their eyes are fixed so they have to turn to
look around. That actually benefits them in flight as they can fly at any
angle and keep their eyes level, targeted on prey. Of course that goes for
all birds.

Look for heavy white turd trails high up on tree trunks and you'll find an
owl's nest above it.

They aren't without their predators. A friend and I walked to his house
after school. When we walked up to his front door there was an owl that was
shredded to smithereens by his cat. Feathers everywhere. A total massacre
of the bird. Very sad. C'est la vie!

I had Albert, a great horned owl for 10 years or so. We'd hoot at each
other all the time, before sun up (his bedtime). One time we were hooting
when a second owl joined in the hoots. I knew right then I'd lost my friend
to another. I think I hear Albert Jr. every so often.

Between my owl and foxes, they keep the chipmunk, vole, etc. populations in
check.

Best,

Andy

"Andy" > wrote in message ...
> Becca said...
>
>> ChattyCathy wrote:
>>> Andy wrote:
>>>
>>>> You don't break mice in half. Everybody knows that.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Yep. Including my cats - blech.
>>>
>>> Ever considered getting a cat (or two)?
>>>
>>> Cats = no more mice (well, at least around here).
>>
>> Our neighbors are surprised at the number of rats that my cat finds.
>> Some of these neighbors have lived here for 20 years and they have never
>> seen a rat or a mouse. The golf course is adjacent to our back yard and
>> you can hear the owls hooting. What are the owls looking for? Vermin
>> al fresco.
>>
>> Becca
>
>
> Owls are good listeners. They can hear what they can't see with pinpoint
> accuracy (sonar, if you will). Their eyes are fixed so they have to turn
> to
> look around. That actually benefits them in flight as they can fly at any
> angle and keep their eyes level, targeted on prey. Of course that goes for
> all birds.
>
> Look for heavy white turd trails high up on tree trunks and you'll find an
> owl's nest above it.
>
> They aren't without their predators. A friend and I walked to his house
> after school. When we walked up to his front door there was an owl that
> was
> shredded to smithereens by his cat. Feathers everywhere. A total massacre
> of the bird. Very sad. C'est la vie!
>
> I had Albert, a great horned owl for 10 years or so. We'd hoot at each
> other all the time, before sun up (his bedtime). One time we were hooting
> when a second owl joined in the hoots. I knew right then I'd lost my
> friend
> to another. I think I hear Albert Jr. every so often.
>
> Between my owl and foxes, they keep the chipmunk, vole, etc. populations
> in
> check.
>

You need a cat, Andy. A girly cat. A tabby rescue. I'm telling you. You
should trust me on this. Turn off the alarm system.

On Wed, 4 Mar 2009 01:52:48 -0500, "cybercat" >
wrote:
>
>"Andy" > wrote in message ...
>
>>
>> Between my owl and foxes, they keep the chipmunk, vole, etc. populations
>> in check.
>>
>
>You need a cat, Andy. A girly cat. A tabby rescue. I'm telling you. You
>should trust me on this. Turn off the alarm system.
>

Turn off the alarm and risk a mouse house invasion?
Are you daft, woman?


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

sf said...

> On Wed, 4 Mar 2009 01:52:48 -0500, "cybercat" >
> wrote:
>>
>>"Andy" > wrote in message news:Xns9BC412275D20CCotD@
216.196.97.131...
>>
>>>
>>> Between my owl and foxes, they keep the chipmunk, vole, etc.
populations
>>> in check.
>>>
>>
>>You need a cat, Andy. A girly cat. A tabby rescue. I'm telling you. You
>>should trust me on this. Turn off the alarm system.
>>
>
> Turn off the alarm and risk a mouse house invasion?
> Are you daft, woman?


A mouse house invasion?... hmmm... HMMM!... maybe if I could bring
"Ratatouille" to life, in my kitchen, I wouldn't complain. Except about the
cost of food nowadays! <VBG>

Best,

Andy

Nancy Young said...

> A friend of mine had this big house with three stories. Right on
> a river, so no surprise she'd have who knows what. One time
> she was working on the third floor and just could not shake the
> feeling she was being watched. Finally she looked out the
> window and there, straddling a tree branch just watching what she
> was doing, was a raccoon. She said it was funny, its little arms
> crossed over the branch, just looking.


Raccoons are second in line in intelligence to humans.

They have opposable thumbs. I've seen them untie incredibly complex knots!

Andy

Gregory Morrow said...

>
> Andy wrote:
>
>> I had Albert, a great horned owl for 10 years or so. We'd hoot at each
>> other all the time, before sun up (his bedtime). One time we were
hooting
>> when a second owl joined in the hoots. I knew right then I'd lost my
> friend
>> to another. I think I hear Albert Jr. every so often.
>
>
> That's a cute story, Andy...in fact it's the "feel good" story of the
day!


Greg,

[bow]

I only wish we'd met! He was high above in the white pines canopy of trees,
out of my view.

Could've been a her! Which would've been especially cool.

Best,

Andy

Nancy Young wrote:
> Becca wrote:
>
>> Our neighbors are surprised at the number of rats that my cat finds.
>> Some of these neighbors have lived here for 20 years and they have
>> never seen a rat or a mouse. The golf course is adjacent to our back
>> yard and you can hear the owls hooting. What are the owls looking
>> for? Vermin al fresco.
>
> Country rats are very shy, chances are you would never see them.
> I found out about them when one started knawing on my house.
> That is a chilling sound, let me tell you. Since I walk at night, I
> actually glimpsed it twice, it amazed the rat lady from the township.
> She set a trap for it.
> If you live in a suburb, don't be too shocked to find out you have
> critters like rats and skunks even though you see no evidence.
> nancy

At night, we see skunks in the back yard. They dig tiny little holes
looking for worms. At first I thought it was an armadillo, because they
also dig holes.

Becca

Becca said...

> At night, we see skunks in the back yard. They dig tiny little holes
> looking for worms. At first I thought it was an armadillo, because they
> also dig holes.


One day driving home, there was a roadkill opossum I swerved around. The wife
asked "is it dead?" I replied "no it's just playing dead."

A few seconds later she punched me in the shoulder, half laughing/crying.

Must learn to mind my sense of humor!

Andy

Lin wrote:

> OBFood: I made another stock yesterday. Chicken based, but with lots of
> Maharajah curry and tumeric. The house smelled so good! I can't stand tofu
> (it's a texture thing), but I'm thinking that might be pretty good in this
> stock. Bob likes tofu and he has resigned himself to having it only when
> we have gone out to someplace that serves tofu. Should I brown the tofu
> before adding it to the stock and what would be the best type of tofu to
> use?

Well, the tofu will have to wait for another occasion. A couple nights ago I
cooked a couple bone-in chicken breasts in that stock, along with some
shredded unsweetened coconut and half a banana. When the chicken was cooked,
I removed it from the stock and let it cool. I puréed the stock along with
the coconut and banana, then shredded one of the chicken breasts back into
the soup, saving the other one for some other use. The final product was
fairly close to the America's Test Kitchen version of mulligatawny, so
that's what I'll call it.

I also had a couple lamb shanks, which I coated with a mixture of kosher
salt, coarse black pepper, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. They were
wrapped in aluminum foil and put into the oven to cook at 250°F for six
hours. In the last hour or so, I chopped up a couple bunches of chard
finely, and put it into a covered pan on the stovetop over medium-low heat
with a sliced onion, a tablespoon of minced garlic, and a good sprinkling of
salt.

We had other dinner plans for that night, so when everything was done, we
packed it all into the refrigerator until tonight. The chard mixture was put
into the blender along with some evaporated milk and blended to make an
almost-velvety sauce for the lamb. Lin made jasmine rice to go along with
everything. The soup was topped with a dollop of sour cream (since I
accidentally bought honey-flavored yogurt instead of the plain yogurt I had
intended to buy) and a big pinch of cilantro.

Soup, rice, and lamb: It was all very good.

Bob