saved two mice D:

Started by EmoFox, June 11, 2011, 05:54:38 PM

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EmoFox

so the pest control guy my building goes through uses glue traps for mice. D: Our eighbours across the hall have a mice phobia apparetly, so when a couple of mice got caught in said glue trap, they asked Jesters and I to dispose of them for them.

But the poor things were still alive. ;.; the first one struggled to the point that his one foot is torn up and bleeding, and his tail looks like it's broken in 3 places. When we got there, he was stuck all down one side. I managed to free him with some olive oil and q-tips. The second one struggled to the point that for a second i though he had torn his torso open, D: I cried. Turned out it was just his forearm, and it looks like its just raw skin, so he should be okay. I had to place a clear cup over him while i worked the glue around his feet with the olive oil, he was struggling so much. :(

I didn't have the heart to just set them free while they're injured like that, so we picked up a small cage and we'll let them get better before letting them go. anyone have any experience with mice? We only plan on housing them until their injuries heal.
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way you're right.
Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Cry, and the world laughs harder.

zenia

T_____T I hate glue traps SO MUCH. I would let them stay with you until they heal up and then take them somewhere away from people and free them.

Dinsu

Oh bless you for your kindness ;-; <3

As for keeping mice, they're easy.. For food you can use a mouse block at any old pet store. vegetarian or low-protein senior dog food also work great as a temporary solution, and pet stores give out sample bags for free! But kibble costs money so if they're only gonna be with you for a few weeks you can make them a blend of veggies, seeds/nuts and dry brown rice. Dark leafy greens (but not spinach or chard as they contain enzyme inhibitors) will help with a speedy recovery. A lot of sites say to feed them meat but they don't need it. Also make sure there's somewhere in the cage for them to hide like a re purposed little box- don't use metal coffee cans as some rodents are silly enough to nibble them and get sick. As for bedding a great temporary solution is to just run some white paper through a shredder and use that, or you can buy stuff of course. Aspen is good. Don't use cedar or pine.

That's all I really know. I'm sure other people have tips to add too!

Awesome work! Insta karma boosts for you!

EmoFox

#3
just the sight of the little guys struggling for their lives made me cry. Jesters wasn't sure we'd be able to get them off the traps, it was terrible. I'm pretty sure the one guy has a broken foot; he's been moving around the cage and seems to be dragging it behind him, :(

They look pretty small, like they might be juveniles, too. I read somewhere that male mice ted to have pretty prominent testicles, and these two don't, but i guess if they're juveniles then they wouldn't have fully mature sexual organs, would they?

thanks for the tips though, :) i'll probably give them a little bit of kibble(we actually have a dog so it's not a big deal) for now. see how they're doing tomorrow. I'll be so upset if they don't survive the night, D:
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way you're right.
Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Cry, and the world laughs harder.

EmoFox

oh noes, one of them escaped! D:
Well, I guess that means he's healthy enough to survive. I just hope he gets past the cats.
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way you're right.
Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Cry, and the world laughs harder.

Pat The Fox

#5
If you're having a mouse problem and do find yourself requiring a way to humanely capture the fuzzballs, I would suggest one of these:

http://www.homehardware.ca/en/rec/index.htm/Outdoor-Living/Yard-Maintenance/Insect-Animal-Cntrls/Animal-Controls/Traps/TRAP-MOUSE-TIP/_/N-2pqfZ67l/Ne-67n/Ntk-All_EN/R-I5442078?Ntt=tip+trap

They work on an incredibly ironic system of capturing the mice, using their own weight to trap them. Food (peanut butter with some sesame seeds is a good pick) is put at the very back of the tilted part. When the mouse goes in, the door swings down and the legs move under the trap, causing them to be pinned beneath the trap by the mouse's own weight if it runs toward the exit.

I've used them in the past and they have been effective in removing my mouse troubles.
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*earperks*

EmoFox

oh no, we don't have mice problems. Its the people across the hall. mice are scared of our apartment, we have three cats and a dog. unfortunately we don't have a say in how the pest control guy deals with them. But even those spring loaded traps that snap their necks are more humane. at least they die quickly in those, instead of tearing themselves apart trying to get free, and slowly starving.
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way you're right.
Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Cry, and the world laughs harder.

Pat The Fox

I usually checked my traps every day, and usually the amount of peanut butter used was more than a mouse could consume in that amount of time, so I would argue about the humane aspect if the traps are properly monitored. Humane traps are not ones you place and forget; they need proper observation.
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*earperks*

EmoFox

no i meant the spring loaded traps are more humane than the glue traps. If you're going to kill an animal at least have the decency to do it as quickly as possible.

The mouse that hasn't escaped looks like it might just be a juvenile; it's pretty tiny. would fit in a teaspoon with no problems. If it survives the week, I don't know if it'll heal well enough to be set free again. his foot's in really bad shape, :/ if I could get him to sit still log eough i sight i'd post pics. poor little guy. ;.;
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way you're right.
Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Cry, and the world laughs harder.

spuug

I've had a field mouse or two for the last couple of years.  They got into my apartment, so I trapped them and got an enclosure for them.  They seemed to like my oatmeal when they got into my cupboard, so that's what I feed them mostly.  Mice eat seeds in the wild, for the most part.
- Spuug -

JestersKing

We named the little guy "Socrates" ;D
Love's the only engine of survival

H u nn Y

Awww, poor babies! D: I would have done the same thing, too Q.Q hope they get better soon D: post pics! post pics! and lol, that's cute :D
~ Veterinary Assistant Student ~
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~ Stay-at-home Chef/Cooking Enthusiast ~
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:3

GarryL

It's a surprise these fucking hideous things aren't illegal already, with the multitude of more humane methods available.

I do not think there is any worse cruelty pertaining to animals than a glue trap with a live animal stuck on it for a long period of time. It's in fear, it shits itself, rips itself to pieces and eventually starves to death.

And this is how people kill animals? Find it acceptable to do something so unnecessary and barbaric?

What a sick world we live in. I hate people.

You should raise hell with your neighbours, tell them calmly and rationally how bad those traps are, and to convince that idiot pest controller to use a more humane method of extermination. Failing that, you can tell them to go fuck themselves and have better time to spend than with sub-human filth.

EmoFox

I'd have to take up the issues with the building manager & company, as they're the ones who hired the pest control. Also, I don't think there's a calm ad rational way to "raise hell" :p

Unfortunately, Socrates got out of the cage late last night (around 4 am -- I was catching up on Doctor who,) and Rain's cat got him. :/ judging from the wounds, it was quick and relatively painless, especially when compared to his ordeal on the glue trap. I laid him to rest under one of the roots of the tree outside our patio. At least his foot isn't i pain anymore. I'm not sure he would've gotten better in the long run anyhow, as his tail was pretty badly messed up. I got a pretty good look at it after retrieving him from the cat.

:'( poor little mices.
Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, either way you're right.
Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Cry, and the world laughs harder.

Zythren

Quote from: GarryL on June 12, 2011, 11:11:07 AM
It's a surprise these fucking hideous things aren't illegal already, with the multitude of more humane methods available.

I do not think there is any worse cruelty pertaining to animals than a glue trap with a live animal stuck on it for a long period of time. It's in fear, it shits itself, rips itself to pieces and eventually starves to death.

And this is how people kill animals? Find it acceptable to do something so unnecessary and barbaric?

What a sick world we live in. I hate people.
Was just going to say this. Glue traps are the worst way to do "pest" control. >:C
I've said and done things I regret here, so I just don't do anything instead.