Eeeek! We've Got Mice!

[PPI Brian]

My wife told me she saw a gray mouse in the garden the other day, and she saw it again this morning, so I set two traps -- one a humane "catch and release" trap, and one shall we say, less than humane trap. Caught one in the humane trap this afternoon, and after we let it go in a canyon a loooong way away from our house, we caught another in the other trap.

That's two traps, and two catches in one day. Very disturbing considering the recent rise in hantavirus in San Diego County:

SAN DIEGO-- A harvest mouse trapped in an open space near Fairbanks Ranch tested positive for hantavirus, county health officials said Monday.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jun/28/trapped-mouse-tests-positive-for-hantavirus/

Here's a link to the County of San Diego website that documents over 100 confirmed cases of hantavirus this year!

http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/deh/pests/hantavirus/hantavirus_casesbyzip.html

So tonight, during my routine brown widow hunt, I set four mouse traps in the garden. I posted this thread to raise public awareness, because Fall is just around the corner, and that means a whole bunch of critters will begin looking for a warm place to spend the winter. Let's make sure they don't set up house keeping in our homes this winter. 

[PPI Debra]

Brian,
Can you have cats? There are mice at our condo village, but cats seem to keep them somewhat at bay.
A new critter has moved into the tree near my patio: a black squirrel. I have never seen one in my entire life. They somewhat rare. I will try to photograph it, but he's quick!

[PPI Brian]

Brian,
Can you have cats? There are mice at our condo village, but cats seem to keep them somewhat at bay.
A new critter has moved into the tree near my patio: a black squirrel. I have never seen one in my entire life. They Jsomewhat rare. I will try to photograph it, but he's quick!

Hi Debra,
We have a cat, but she's an indoor cat and not a good mouser. She can't get enough traction on the wood floor to catch them. We had mice in the house twice since we bought the place. We've been mouse free for nearly three years. Our neighborhood cats prowl our yard, but these guys managed to avoid them.

[PPI Debra]

Hi Debra,
We have a cat, but she's an indoor cat and not a good mouser. She can't get enough traction on the wood floor to catch them. We had mice in the house twice since we bought the place. We've been mouse free for nearly three years. Our neighborhood cats prowl our yard, but these guys managed to avoid them.

Ahh... the new, improved, cat resistant, mutant, super-mice.

[PPI Tracy]

*squeek...squeek*

sorry.....that's not funny

[PPI Brian]

*squeek...squeek*

sorry.....that's not funny

LOL! Yes, it was funny. I set four traps yesterday and didn't catch anything today. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[PPI Debra]

Lilah, our cat, brought me 5 mice from outside yesterday. She has lived here 1 yr and a half and has only caught 1 butterfly (unharmed & released) and 1 scorpion tail. 5 mice , suddenly, seems alarming to me.
:o   

[ljiljanac]

Good grief!

[PPI Brian]

Lilah, our cat, brought me 5 mice from outside yesterday. She has lived here 1 yr and a half and has only caught 1 butterfly (unharmed & released) and 1 scorpion tail. 5 mice , suddenly, seems alarming to me.
:o   

The pacific pocket mouse population has been on the increase since the 2006 drought. The wet winter and cool summer seems to have provided them the perfect opportunity to rebound. As the weather gets cooler they will be looking for a warm place to live, but you should expect the population to crash a little over the next month or so. I don't like killing native animals, but if they pose a threat to my family or my family's health, I have less reservations. Pocket mice carry hanta virus, and I am not willing to take a chance of exposure. Be careful how you handle dead mice, but thank Lilah for protecting you. 

[PPI Debra]

Lilah, our cat, brought me 5 mice from outside yesterday. She has lived here 1 yr and a half and has only caught 1 butterfly (unharmed & released) and 1 scorpion tail. 5 mice , suddenly, seems alarming to me.
:o   

The pacific pocket mouse population has been on the increase since the 2006 drought. The wet winter and cool summer seems to have provided them the perfect opportunity to rebound. As the weather gets cooler they will be looking for a warm place to live, but you should expect the population to crash a little over the next month or so. I don't like killing native animals, but if they pose a threat to my family or my family's health, I have less reservations. Pocket mice carry hanta virus, and I am not willing to take a chance of exposure. Be careful how you handle dead mice, but thank Lilah for protecting you. 

Thanks Brian. I had plastic bags on my hands when handling them. One poorfellow died in my hands.
:-(
I reported it all to the Property Management since hanta virus threatens humans and is air born.

[PPI Debra]

The Department of Agriculture is coming out tomorrow to survey the grounds and evaluate the mouse situation.

[PPI Brian]

The Department of Agriculture is coming out tomorrow to survey the grounds and evaluate the mouse situation.

Cool. Let us know the results of their investigation, okay? 

[PPI Debra]

Will do.

[PPI Tracy]

I had pet mouse when I was in high school.  Gray, cute little girl.  I guess that's why they don't scare me.  Now rats on the other hand......yyyysh.

Anyway, we have seen one (hopefully just one) little mousie on our back porch over the last few days.  How do you tell the difference between a Field Mouse and a Pacific Pocket Mouse...or any other type mouse?  Which ones are harmless and which ones aren't? (i guess that could be derived from the diseases they are known to carry.  jeez...i'm smart.  ::|  )

[Brigham]

Wikipedia just lists "rodents" as the transmission vector for hanta. I would guess this would include pretty much any kind of mouse, rat, or other. Is there anyone who knows or has a more authoritative and thorough source?

[PPI Debra]

Wikipedia just lists "rodents" as the transmission vector for hanta. I would guess this would include pretty much any kind of mouse, rat, or other. Is there anyone who knows or has a more authoritative and thorough source?

I used Brian's links to the SD County website. They did mention specific breeds, but didn't cancel any breed out.

[PPI Tracy]

The Department of Agriculture is coming out tomorrow to survey the grounds and evaluate the mouse situation.

How did it go, Deb?

[PPI Debra]

The Department of Agriculture is coming out tomorrow to survey the grounds and evaluate the mouse situation.

How did it go, Deb?

They didn't tell us anything. We have to wait for the paperwork to arrive at the property manager's office. He'll then present it at the next HOA meeting.
This is government... sigh.... it may take 5 weeks to know anything.

[PPI Tracy]

The Department of Agriculture is coming out tomorrow to survey the grounds and evaluate the mouse situation.

How did it go, Deb?

They didn't tell us anything. We have to wait for the paperwork to arrive at the property manager's office. He'll then present it at the next HOA meeting.
This is government... sigh.... it may take 5 weeks to know anything.

Well, that's no good. 

[PPI Debra]

The Department of Agriculture is coming out tomorrow to survey the grounds and evaluate the mouse situation.

How did it go, Deb?

They didn't tell us anything. We have to wait for the paperwork to arrive at the property manager's office. He'll then present it at the next HOA meeting.
This is government... sigh.... it may take 5 weeks to know anything.

Well, that's no good. 

I agree.

[ljiljanac]

Not even a "You're safe...not to worry" or a "RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!"   ?     Hmmmm......I wonder if that's how clients feel after we tell them that we have to review evidence first before we discuss our findings, etc.   lol   Sorry it didn't go better, my friend.  Just remember......we're PASSING on the Hanta virus.....we're letting it go.....we are not interested.....we're PASSING on the experience.   

[PPI Debra]

Not even a "You're safe...not to worry" or a "RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!"   ?     Hmmmm......I wonder if that's how clients feel after we tell them that we have to review evidence first before we discuss our findings, etc.   lol   Sorry it didn't go better, my friend.  Just remember......we're PASSING on the Hanta virus.....we're letting it go.....we are not interested.....we're PASSING on the experience.   

Besides, I have bigger problems!!!  :o

[ljiljanac]

Good grief!!!!