Do Mice Have Legs? (Garden Fertilisers, Pest Control and Herbicides in general)

Member Name: aefra

Product:	Garden Fertilisers, Pest Control and Herbicides in general
Date:	13/09/02 (298 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Humane, Clean, Inexpensive

Disadvantages: **

My favourite four year old put her pony into Daisy's loosebox and then wandered over as I mucked out my own.

"Val".
"Yes Brie"
"Do mice have legs?"
"Yes Brie. Why do you ask?"
"Well. I've never seen their legs."

I realised what she meant as a tiny live object shot up the stable wall in a brown blur. The mice in the stableyard, when disturbed, move so fast that I haven't seen their legs either. We are all so used to them that we would miss the little mites if they were eradicated. They are not a problem since we keep our feed in bins and any droppings would be swept up with loose hay and straw. Even my jack russell terrier, Jody, just ignores them and the horses are not in danger of infection as, I suppose, mice are just a natural part of the countryside.

However, my reaction to mice in the home would be another thing entirely. Until recently I had a young friend staying with me as her parents had moved and she did not want to interrupt her A level studies. Zoe is perfect in all ways. Beautiful to look at, exceptionally bright, well-mannered and loved by all who know her. She is also fastidious if you don't count the fact that this was her first excursion into the self-sufficient adult world. Staying with me was a first step in this direction before she went to University. She had two rooms upstairs, including a study and cooked for herself. Having "lost" most of my cutlery and crockery, I finally went in search of them in Zoe's domain. I found stacks of plates with sauces stuck to them and scattered with mouse droppings. After a gentle lesson on basic housekeeping and a reminder that washing up was not something I minded, I had to get down to the job of mouse removal. Oh Yes! I now had mice!

Here was more than the usual problem, as my house and garden are not a slaughterhouse, rather a haven for wild life. There are
exceptions to all things and the little grey house mouse is definitely one of them. Fortunately I had the answer hidden deep among the long- lost bits and pieces in my garden shed. This was a couple of humane mouse traps.

There are various inexpensive versions of this kindly method of disposal and mine is particularly effective. It consists of a clear brown box 7" long x 1.5"x1.5". The end 2.5" is detachable and the bait is placed within, then slid back onto the body. Contrary to popular belief mice prefer some biscuit, cake or a little fat to cheese. The entrance to the trap is a moveable flap left flush inside the box. As a mouse enters and moves down to the bait, a plastic lever is sprung, the flap drops and the little pest cannot escape. I placed 2 at a time in a kitchen cupboard and left them. Sure enough, on inspection, the flaps were down and the boxes were occupied by patiently waiting rodents. I am informed that they should not be left more than about 8 hours if not to start becoming distressed. It goes without saying that they must not be forgotten. The good thing is that the bait keeps them from going hungry. I know! But many of you will know that I am a little daft about these things. Anyway, who wants to remove a body off a spike?

The next stage is important if you don't wish to have your unwelcome guests return. They must be taken a distance from your home, the flap lifted and the occupants released. I could be seen early in the morning crossing the road and walking a short way down a lane with a brown box in my hand. A few glances over my shoulder, a dive into the hedgerow, and all is satisfactory for both myself and my little visitor. I caught 6 altogether and have not seen evidence of a mouse for some months now. I think they got the message.

My trap is called Trip-Trap and is made by Maurice Juggins of Manchester. It is inexpensive and this, or similar, can be fou
nd in hardware stores. Mine have been easily cleaned and had scalding water run through them to sterilise, before returning to a corner of the shed, once more to gather dust.

Summary: