Mouse Trap Shenanigans!!
Discussion
So I've just got in from setting a second mouse trap . . . for the same baby mouse!!
Earlier this afternoon it caught its right rear leg in the first one and managed to drag itself and the trap behind my tv/hifi rack, so this evening I set a second trap, flush against the wall and facing where the mouse is hiding, surely it should do the job. . .
I've been out and just got back in. You can imagine what has now happened! I have no idea how it has managed to manoeuvre itself in to the appropriate position, but yes it has somehow now caught its other rear leg in the second trap and dragged itself and two traps behind stuff!!! Yes really. What are the odds?!
I freely admit to being a wuss and squeamish, but I've never killed an animal before with my own bare hands. Think of it as similar to all these PHers scared of spiders. ironically I'm sort of ok at trapping a spider with a glass, but this has me stumped (no pun intended!)
Guess I'll have to set a third trap, undoubtedly I'll discover it with a front leg now trapped and an exceedingly plaintive look in its eyes.
Any suggestions?
Methinks I'm going to swallow my pride and ask a neighbour to do the deed. Ugh!
Earlier this afternoon it caught its right rear leg in the first one and managed to drag itself and the trap behind my tv/hifi rack, so this evening I set a second trap, flush against the wall and facing where the mouse is hiding, surely it should do the job. . .
I've been out and just got back in. You can imagine what has now happened! I have no idea how it has managed to manoeuvre itself in to the appropriate position, but yes it has somehow now caught its other rear leg in the second trap and dragged itself and two traps behind stuff!!! Yes really. What are the odds?!
I freely admit to being a wuss and squeamish, but I've never killed an animal before with my own bare hands. Think of it as similar to all these PHers scared of spiders. ironically I'm sort of ok at trapping a spider with a glass, but this has me stumped (no pun intended!)
Guess I'll have to set a third trap, undoubtedly I'll discover it with a front leg now trapped and an exceedingly plaintive look in its eyes.
Any suggestions?
Methinks I'm going to swallow my pride and ask a neighbour to do the deed. Ugh!
Poor thing (the mouse not you )
I would've have said catch it and take to a vets for humane euthanasia but not really practical this time of night.
So leave it suffering (not good) or hit it very hard on the head with a shovel or similar to kill outright.
I would've have said catch it and take to a vets for humane euthanasia but not really practical this time of night.
So leave it suffering (not good) or hit it very hard on the head with a shovel or similar to kill outright.
Edited by bexVN on Wednesday 7th August 23:09
Phew thank god that's over!
Somehow managed to free one leg, then picked up other trap with mouse still attached (or it would run away) put both in a largish salad spinner, freed other leg, removed trap and drove baby mouse to a vet and they will do the deed later on tonight.
They were more than happy to take it Bex
Sorry Croyde I didn't have the guts to kill it myself, never done that before.
Somehow managed to free one leg, then picked up other trap with mouse still attached (or it would run away) put both in a largish salad spinner, freed other leg, removed trap and drove baby mouse to a vet and they will do the deed later on tonight.
They were more than happy to take it Bex
Sorry Croyde I didn't have the guts to kill it myself, never done that before.
It's always worst the first time.
Last summer, Bob brought in a mouse and was torturing it. Squeaking pathetically, it limped under the stairs with a broken leg.
At that moment, I didn't know what else to do other than boff it on the head with an empty wine bottle. Thankfully there were 'a few' to hand.
Last summer, Bob brought in a mouse and was torturing it. Squeaking pathetically, it limped under the stairs with a broken leg.
At that moment, I didn't know what else to do other than boff it on the head with an empty wine bottle. Thankfully there were 'a few' to hand.
You did the right thing by taking it to a vet.
(They probably boffed it on the head.)
In old buildings it can be difficult to stop mice coming in. Central London is full of them.
Plug up any gaps around pipe conduits / skirtings etc with tin foil, keep all surfaces scrupulously clear of crumbs, and keep anything mice could conceivably be attracted by in 'Lock 'n' Lock' containers.
(They probably boffed it on the head.)
In old buildings it can be difficult to stop mice coming in. Central London is full of them.
Plug up any gaps around pipe conduits / skirtings etc with tin foil, keep all surfaces scrupulously clear of crumbs, and keep anything mice could conceivably be attracted by in 'Lock 'n' Lock' containers.
Simpo Two said:
You left it with one broken leg still in the trap and then set a second trap hoping it would stagger into it? And then when the poor bd did, you thought about setting a third trap? You may not have the guts to finish what you started but you'd certainly qualify for Gestapo training.
Christ some of you lot. It was a fricking mouse for goodness sake. ^^The op feels bad, they didn't set out to kill the mouse in this way, it should have been an instant death so ideally when the first trap maimed but didn't kill it should've been taken to the vets then. We all live and learn but even 'just a mouse' doesn't deserve having 2 back legs broken one at a time then be forced to drag those traps around!! Surely anyone can see that isn't right for ANY creature??
bexVN said:
^^The op feels bad, they didn't set out to kill the mouse in this way, it should have been an instant death so ideally when the first trap maimed but didn't kill it should've been taken to the vets then. We all live and learn but even 'just a mouse' doesn't deserve having 2 back legs broken one at a time then be forced to drag those traps around!! Surely anyone can see that isn't right for ANY creature??
Absolutely, but comparing the OP to the Gestapo under the Nazi's seems to me to indicate a total lack of connection with reality/ any ability to think of things proportionately. He'd go mental if he heard what I do to slugs.....drowned in a Jam jar of beer or fed poisonous pellets.....the poor things. I also cut a worm in half last week digging my veg patch. Terrible.
prand said:
I've stopped using traps like this as I was getting a bit tired of having to dispatch the poor buggers (I'd drown them), and the mess they would make. They get baited traps now instead which seem to be more effective.
I assume you also mean humane traps, where you release them a mile or two away? If it comes to it this is what I will do in the future. Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff