The Mouse that Broke Me
No matter what I do, I just can’t keep mice from taking up lodgings in our shed. Even the stem-to-stern cleaning two summers ago couldn’t keep them out forever. And can you blame the little buggers? Why tough it out in the cruel and frigid wild when there’s a dry and relatively warm shed at their disposal? From December to April, that shed is a strictly human-free zone – the perfect place for a young, ambitious rodent family to try to gain a foothold on life and get ahead in this callous and uncaring world.
But unlike, say, California, where squatters have more rights than landowners, the rodents that occupy my shed do not enjoy such governmental protections. Come springtime, the Eviction Squad (that’d be me) moves in and eradicates the vermin with remorseless efficiency. What was once a quiet paradise for the squeaky little nibblers becomes the Hotel Snappy-Snap.
Oh look, cheese…
SNAP!
Problem solved in one or two nights.
This year, the Eviction Squad got a late start. Over the weekend, I set traps in all the rodent hot spots in the shed. In two nights, I had dispatched two mice. The traps have lain unsprung ever since.
Problem solved.
Yesterday afternoon, I went into the shed to return some tools I’d been using to plant hostas around the pool. As I was putting my gloves away on the far wall, I thought I heard a little squeak.
Could it be..?
Nah, probably just a bird outside the shed.
I placed the gloves in the glove bin and turned back towards the door. I took two steps, and then my eye caught a little shape in the threshold between the two rooms of the shed.
It was a small mouse. Why was he out here in the open in the daylight?
I froze, so he wouldn’t get spooked. I approached slowly, and again stopped as I hovered over him.
He stood stock-still, perhaps hoping that I wouldn’t notice him.
I wasn’t fooled by his ploy. This wasn’t the first time I’d been in a standoff with a mouse.
The other times ended badly.
For me.
The mice always got the jump on me and skedaddled before I had a chance to get my wits about me and take offensive actions.
Perhaps not this time, though. Perhaps this time I’d get my man rodent.
I stooped over ever-so-slowly, closing the distance between us.
He remained still, rooted in place.
He faced away from me, so I lowered my right hand towards him from behind. I extended my left hand in front of him to keep him distracted as my right hand closed in for the capture.
Mere centimeters away, and still he stood. My fingers wrapped around his tiny body and lifted him up.
It was too easy! He made no effort to escape! BAH! No matter – I have him!
I walked out of the shed and called to Handan, “Hey babes, I caught him with my bare hands!” I flashed my prize and flexed my muscles for her.
I’m quite sure she was overcome with pride and overjoyed that she had married such a fine specimen of a man.
Though I may be a mouse-catching superstar, I had to draw the line at taking its life at this point. It’s a fine line, I know, and some may not see the distinction, but there’s a big difference between killing them in traps and doing them in with my bare hands.
Besides, this one was so small. He wasn’t a newborn, but neither was he an adult.
“I’m going to take him out to the wood pile and let him go.” I said to Handan.
She agreed. She hates the little things far more than I do (at least in the abstract sense, as they are filthy vermin that have no place in or around a home), but neither can she just wantonly kill them.
I carried him outside the fence and made my way to a big pile of uncut logs that sits on the edge of our property. I figured there’d be plenty of little crevices for him to start a new life.
Up until this point, I had him cradled in my right hand and covered with my left so he wouldn’t escape. As I placed him on the log, I got my first really good look at him.
He clung to the log, but didn’t move.
He didn’t run.
He didn’t hide.
He wavered back and forth, and his eyes closed.
It was just then that an idea…
a thought…
a realization…
rose up in the back of my mind and exploded to the front with the fury of a thousand suns.
out in the daylight…
didn’t try to run…
two mice killed over the weekend…
I understood just then that I had killed this wretched thing’s parents a few days ago, and it had been living alone in the shed since then, wondering what the hell had happened to its world. Hunger and fear must have finally driven it from its warm and cozy nest. Perhaps the sounds of my rustling had lured it out in the hopes that it would be his parents.
I felt like I’d been punched in the gut by a wrecking ball.
I picked him up, cradled him against my shirt and walked back into the yard.
The guilt at what I’d done was pounding me like storm-driven waves against an unprotected shore.
My vision blurred as water filled my eyes.
I walked towards Handan.
She turned to me and saw the look on my face.
“My babes, what’s wrong?” She said. She was worried.
But I couldn’t speak. I tried to get the words out, but they wouldn’t come.
When I was finally able to push them out of my mouth, tears erupted down my cheeks.
“I know why he was there.” I said. “I know why he didn’t run.”
I was blubbering like a baby then, as the understanding really hit home. “I killed his parents.”
Good lord, I was inconsolable. Over a stupid mouse! This wasn’t a reaction I had anticipated or planned for.
Handan couldn’t bear to see me in such a state.
“My babes, my babes, it’s okay! We’ll keep him. We’ll take care of him, okay?” She said, hugging me.
“Okay, my babes. Thank you.”
*****
We brought the little creature inside, and Handan raced to the basement to find the terrarium that she had picked up at Put & Take last year. She also found a huge bag of pine shavings that she had found at Put & Take three years ago. She put some pine shavings in the terrarium, and we put the mouse inside.
I filled a jar cap with cream and a little bowl with water and placed them inside. I also put a little hunk of cheese in there, in case he wanted something a little more substantial.
As he explored his new environment, Handan named him.
“I want to call him, Milo.” She said. “That was Jim Carey’s dog in The Mask.”
I barely remember watching that movie a long long time ago, so I certainly didn’t remember the dog, but the name was good and it fits the mouse.
“Milo, it is, my babes. It’s an excellent name.”
We covered the terrarium with a bath towel, figuring that Milo was used to darker environs.
A little later in the evening, we found Milo slurping away at the cream. That’s when we knew he’d be okay.
*****
A note about hentavirus.
Though not common in this part of the country, hantavirus is still a risk and must be considered. Hantavirus is a deadly rodent-borne virus that is transmitted through mouse droppings, urine and saliva. The pictures of me holding Milo with bare hands were followed by deep washing and disinfecting. From today on, I wear latex gloves when handling him. I’ll also be finding a vet or other agency that can test Milo for hantavirus. Until then, we will keep our precautions up, even though the risk is minuscule.
Oh, my. What a lucky little guy! And, what a great way to take care of Mother Nature’s creature. Also, I commend you for sharing your emotional experience. It takes a big man to do that! I love a man who’s not afraid to cry. Bless you!
Thank you so much, Audrey! We’re all emotional beings, even the toughest among us.
I saw you tease this on Facebook… was half-dreading what the story would be. So glad you’re trying to do right by the little guy, and I have two words for you for the future… “live trap” – actually make that 3 words “live trap, release” – yes they come back, yes they can be pest, but it’s much less draining to step out to the woods with catch box than to go through the heartbreak you just had. I figure that the universe evolved in all it’s complexity for some good reason, even the mice have a role to play. You’re a good man and it’s a credit that you felt so strongly about it, and even more of a credit that you shared it with the rest of us. Thank you!
I will be switching to a plug-in deterrent and live traps. 🙂
Good stuff sir, so pleased to hear that 🙂
Thank you, Suzie!
I’m bawling my eyes out. Poor little thing. I don’t mean to make you feel worse Greg, I’m so sorry, but I cry every time our purr babies catch a mouse and bring it to me so I can admire their hunting skills and damnit you write so well. UGH, my makeup is all smudged now. I hope Milo grows big and strong and doesn’t have that herpeshentomouse virus thingy so he can live happily ever after in Navageland
Thank you, Michelle! I’m sure he’s going to be just fine! 🙂
Love, lovely story. I have a hard time killing any rodent or bug. I capture and release.
Thank you, Lynnette! I’ve always been catch and release with bugs. I’ll start it with mice now too.
ewww ewww ewww no way jose ewwww xx
LOLOLOL!! 🙂
Aw Greg you big softie thanks to you and Handan fir looking after the little critter, i would have done the same.
Thanks, Catherine! 🙂
❤️?
Thank you, Dawn!
Hi Greg, at first I didn’t want to read the post as i figured it ended in the demise of all rodents and I happen to like rodents. I’m a live trap and release kinda gal…even my cats did that. They would bring the mouse to me and I’d put them in the tub, where they would release the mouse and then I’d capture and relocate them. Don’t ask me how my cats knew to do this, I’m just happy that they did.
Thanks so much for sharing your story! My faith in humanity has been restored!!
Thank you, Martina! I’ll be trap and release from now on, too!
Be still my heart! Love this story, love the way you write. Thanks for sharing and please keep us posted with pics of Milo!
Thank you so much, Viki, I will!
Just a thought… there is likely more than one in a litter. Might be nice to put a have-a-heart trap with food/water in your shed… Good luck.
Will do, Jean. Thanks for the tip!
Such a good man you are. You are proof there is still kindness in the world. I have those plug in electric things in my house and it keeps the little guys out. Also balsam and peppermint keep them out of the garage. No more feeling bad when my well fed cats play tiger with the little mice.
Amanda, I will be installing those in the garage and the shed. Thank you for the excellent tip! 🙂
I felt your pain when I read your story. I did the same with a little mouse. I cried and cried over a little mouse. Anyway, FYI, One of the leading epidemiologists in our country (now retired) happens to be a friend. He told me that Hantavirus can become airborne. You can catch it by direct contact with infected bodily fluids, however, you can also catch it by breathing it in if you have stirred up the mouse droppings or if you are cleaning up mouse urine. You should wear gloves and a mask.
Yup, already there, Dawn – just forgot to mention it in the post! 🙂
You are so kind for that baby. I totally understand, we lived in Big Bear and once a mouse was hit in the tail with the trap. Bang Bang Bang!!! I thought someone was playing ice hockey in my kitchen. I begged my husband to take the mouse and open the trap to release the tail and let him go.
He did and he ran FAST!!!! Keep us updated with this little soul you saved.
Mice are also a carrier of Lyme disease. Even if little Milo tests negative for Hantavirus, I still wouldn’t handle him with bare hands – as cute as he is 🙂
Oh wow to both you and Handan. HOw many folks would do this? I notice no one has been ugly in their comments, so it seems you have a pleasant base of folks on your blog. My hubs cannot kill anything, except spiders and ants and flies. and roaches, but thankfully we dont encounter them here, to my knowledge. Yes..a tiny orphan..and Handan is a wonder. I have friends who freak out at a mouse. Nicely done , humans!
Yes, Bernice, we have awesome folks on here! Handan and I have noticed that our readers and commenters always keep things nice and civil.
I could feel the tears in my eyes swell up. I’ve been in the exact position you were in. You did the right thing for now. Hopefully as he grows he’ll be released into the wild when he grows older. I’m sending a cyber-pat on the back to you. Good job! Keep us up on the adventures of Milo.
Thank you, Debbye! 🙂
I’ve captured 22 mice in my house within a couple of days, of course, this is before we got the remodel done. Before that it was 12 at a time summer and spring. The last 22 I caught all but 5 then read on the Internet about getting Irish Spring soap, cutting it up into squares and putting it around in the rooms of our house. Well the last 5 disappeared and never saw them again. That was over a year ago. Have had one mouse since, didn’t have Irish Spring down so got some, put it down and lo and behold the little bugger was gone. Now we pick up the old Irish Spring in the Spring and put down new. So far have had no mice at all this year. Made me feel good because I hated to kill them.
I love that idea! I’ll be picking up some Irish Spring to try this weekend. Thank you, Sally!
So you got suckered in by the cute little guy. We have trapped and released tons of them. My husband takes them for a “road trip” and he gone a really long time, so I don’t think they make it all the way back. I had mice as pets and if you are going to keep him, I would get him a wheel so he can keep you up at night.
Yeah, he suckered us, big time! 🙂
I knew the minute I saw the picture! I love you, friend Greg, your mercy and your honesty! And God gave you the perfect life partner! Rock on Greg and Handan! <3!
Aw, thank you so much, Derry!! 🙂
This has been my favorite blog for quite sometime. Now y’all are Officially My Very Favorite! Loved this post. Hope little Milo does well. Good job, guys!
Wow, that is awesome! Handan and I are humbled! 🙂
Aww! I would have done the same. There was one staring me down in the shed the other day. I just shut the door and left him. I couldn’t hurt him. Glad to know there are still good people in the world.
Thank you, Mary!
Awww! I look forward to more Milo posts! Good on ya Greg!!
Thanks, Robin! 🙂
Great post, as always, and thank you for detailing hantavirus. Several people have died in our area so the little buggers scare the everlovin’ out of me. Our cat thinks they’re her pets so they’re safe when around her. They are tossed out the door if they dare to come in the house! They can find their own abode. 🙂
Yes, it certainly needs to be addressed! Wildlife rescues always come with a catch!
I live in the Uk and so I perhaps don’t understand ‘mouse’ problems for you but couldn’t you try humane traps and let the mice live – but away from your property? Here in Britain we have an ideal solution to keeping mice out of the shed – ferret poo!! I used to run a rescue and had several farmers come to me for ferret poo to keep the rodents out of their barns – and it works. I know in California you don’t have that option (unless you can obtain some on the ‘black market’ LOL) but I am glad you rescued Milo and let him live with you and perhaps you could think about those humane traps??
Hi Jayne, we’ll be moving to deterrents and live traps from now on! 🙂
Awww, you are doing exactly what I did years ago. We rescued a baby (who lived far longer than normal life expectancy). He lived in a fish tank in my son’s room and had a wheel for exercise. We couldn’t hold him, but he loved to be petted on the head. He was a sweet little guy and he gave us much enjoyment. Have fun with Milo!
p.s., they love peanut butter on crackers and sunflower seeds.
Thank you, Jennifer! We hope for the same with Milo, and thanks for the snack tip!
Awwww Greg, that was such a beautiful story. It’s so nice to hear that some people do have a heart for our 4 legged friends on this earth! I myself had an experience years ago. I had several mice coming into my apartment. I had traps set under my kitchen sink, because that’s where the activity was, and one day I heard all this clanking. I checked, and this poor little guy had just his front leg caught in the trap. I called him my little buddy, as I carried him outside to let him go, and talking to him. I told him not to come back, that he may not be so lucky next time…lol I know, silly me!! So I took him out to the edge of the woods and let him go. I said goodbye little friend, as he scurried off, seeming ok. Well, weeks later, I caught one, and I noticed that his one front leg had a shriveled up paw, and I knew it was my little buddy again. He was not as lucky this time, and I was so sad for him. I cried like a baby! I wrapped him up in a rag, and took him outside. I made a little grave for him, and laid him to rest, saying a prayer over him. I will never forget that little guy, or the sadness it made me feel. I was never familiar with live traps, and regret that now, but will look for them from now on. Thank you for being the kind man that you are, and showing compassion for our little critters. I too like a man that is not afraid to cry. It only means that he is sensitive, and there’s nothing wrong with that! Bless you dear man!!! 🙂
Thank you so much, Gwen! I’m sorry to hear about your little mouse. I think we’ll both be switching to live traps now! 🙂
What a good story. Hats off to you for showing your feelings. Milo is one lucky mouse, except for losing his parents. Sorry. I love you two!!!
Thank you, Marcia!
You two are something else! Your account had me tear up! Great story with a great ending, but no way in hell that I would ever keep that thing in my home. I wouldn’t kill a soul either. Thank you for sharing that side of you Greg!
Thanks, Revital! Yeah, I’m lucky Handan thinks he’s cute, lol!
I was dreading the ending of this story but I’m so glad it turned out the way it did and that you rescued this poor little baby. ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, Lissette!
What a man!!
Thank you, Suzanne! 🙂
Love the story, your story is so engaging. My husband is a commercial pilot and one flight the attendants found a mouse in the galley. No one was willing to capture it so they called the captain to do the deed. Being tough, he did so with his bare hands and it bit him. That night, Christmas Eve, he brought it home in a glass jar because he was worried about rabies. But before he could state his fears, our boys had it out of the jar and it was running around on them. They jokingly named her Killer and she lives for several years in a mansion as a beloved pet. I hope yours does the same.
That’s an awesome story, Karen! Thank you for sharing it!
It’s always the big, tough guys who are the biggest softies! (If you could hear me say that, you’d know it was a compliment) Looking forward to hearing more about your new mascot.
Thanks, Susan! 🙂
Do you have any updates on Milo? Peppermint oil will keep them out of the shed, we used it for years in our trailer we winterize here in CT.
Hi Melissa, Milo has left us for the Great Shed in the Sky. But we honored his memory by buying three gerbils! Turned out that one was pregnant, so now we honor him with NINE gerbils, lol!
If your cat traps one under the kitchen stove you can fill a coffee can lid with water and slide it under the stove in case the mouse gets thirsty. just saying
That’s a great idea!
What a story! How long did Milo live?
Sadly, little Milo didn’t live very long, Jaime. But because of him, we went our and bought gerbils! https://www.thenavagepatch.com/meet-the-gerbils/