Mice!

[Faith]

I live in Edinburgh, where it's pretty much impossible not to have mice. I live in a neighbourhood where it's especially difficult, given the style of the buildings. Since we moved in, there was always the odd sighting of mice here and there. It's like there's a family of mice for the whole block, so they're only spotted an odd time, and aren't a huge problem. I lay traps, but they rarely catch anything (more often than not, the mice manage to just lick the peanut butter off). I live in fear of seeing a mouse in my room. While I can tolerate them without freaking out too much in the rest of the flat, if they were in my room, I'd die.

They're in my room.

I sleep really lightly here, always on the alert for the sound of them. Occasionally I'll hear them in the wall, and that's upsetting enough. Tonight, I woke up about an hour ago to the sound of them. I was really freaked out, but tried to forget it. Then I heard it again. And again. After a while, I became convinced one was in my room. I put the light on, but couldn't see anything. I turned on music up loud, left the light on, and tried to go back to sleep. Then something fell over on my desk. I looked over, and there was a mouse, on my desk. My first instinct was to try and kill it, my second to run. I ran. Now I'm in the living room, cowering, just waiting for the sun to rise, praying it won't come in here...

[DHBH]

haha excellent post vicky! brilliant!

well are you afriad of small animals in general? like i have a hamster and id rather have 20 rat let loose on me than her. shes vicious, sham picked her and she killed the one i picked although they were in separate cages. anyhow whats the fear, small animals in general or just small "wild" animals.

i was on phone at home a few weeks ago and this teeny tiny mouse ran past me at super speed and squeaked. it was dotey. i told my brother which was a mistake as he went into full platoon mode then.
if its really bothering you and you have a fear of them on your stuff and the likes and traps arent working get one them plugs that emit the supersonic frequencies and they should scatter fairly quickly.
i have heard these can be bad for doggies hearing tho so when you think the problem solved low amounts and low usage can be used to deter future infestations.

[Faith]

I wouldn't describe myself as afraid of them, they just freak me out. Mostly it's because of how fast they run, and you never know what they're going to do. Sometimes they run away, sometimes they run at you. My friend was in her kitchen last week, minding her own business, doing the washing up, and one ran up her leg! They're also so unhygienic.

I love pets. I love hamsters and things like that, even pet mice. It's just when they're wild and diseased and gross and possibly in my bed, that I'm not happy. I had one of the plugs, but it didn't work. While last night was the first time I actually saw a mouse in my room, I've seen mouse poo in there on an odd occasion. I unplugged it due to a lack of socket space, but I might put it back in tonight.

What REALLY irritates me is I can't figure out how they're getting in. I have every single point of entry I can find blocked up with steel wool.

[ciaran]

Very hard to block up all the entrances particularly in an old house, they can squeeze into any space at all, even a quarter of an inch under a door.

Mice arrived in a house I was in once -- I moved out about a week later! Mind you I was moving anyway

[Faith]

Yeah, I know. There's a box room just used for storage in my flat, and a hall closet. There's loads of entry points in those rooms, but I've just blocked up under the doors with steel wool! I should post up a picture of my fridge... It's completely surrounded by steel wool!

[the evil belly]

get a cat? there's nowt wrong with mouses though

[Faith]

I've seriously considered getting a cat, but there'd be noone around to look after it during holidays and it'd be too difficult having to fly it back to Ireland with me.

[the evil belly]

sure there's plenty of mice to keep it going by the sound of things. maybe get one in new year?

[DHBH]

do what my housemates grandfather does. put a cat in the attic with the light on for the first day, then turn off the light. the cat will find them then. cruel bastard but its how he tell them.

"we'll give rambo there an ould head start with the light on, woowhoo ya boi ya"

[the evil belly]

it's fair funny with the hand gestures to go with it

[happy joy joy]

had an encounter with a rat last night while out for a walk with the misses down central park road. was a funny little guy but she was not too please as we where siting on the low wall he was running along towards us on. i spoted him and kinda said "emm dont look now, but there is a rat about 10 foot away coming our way" she got up and move very fast :P

[George1932]

Hello Faith, Just a couple of suggestion re your mice problem. 1. Buy a cat I can recommend some that have been crossed with Rottweilers and they will solve your problem.2. Buy some good quality headphones Bang and Olafsun do a great pair they cost around £100 but you will not hear a thing.3.Try and concentrate on something to take your mind of the mice for example:-Have aliens landed near Edinburgh? Will you have snow on christmas day 2008 or will George W. Bush invade Scotland next
However do not watch any Tom and Jerry cartoons as Jerry always comes out on top!!