Comments on: Eek! A mouse!

Question: Eek! A mouse!

Elsa — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:07:36 -0800

How do I get a mouse out of an ash-filled fireplace?

I’m housesitting in a somewhat posh home. A mouse, running to escape the cat, climbed with ridiculous speed up the firescreen and into the (unlit) fireplace, which is heaped with ash and soot. If the mouse comes out on its own, it will leave greasy little sooty footprints all over the rugs. More worrying still, the cat is keeping a vigilant watch; I’m a bit concerned she might charge and knock over the screen in her eagerness to get at the mouse, thus creating a still bigger mess.

I've tried scooping it up with the fireplace shovel, planning to drop it into a coffee can, slap on the lid, and release it outside. Every time I got it on the shovel, the mouse simply leapt off into the bed of ashes. It is now cowering under the andirons, and I cannot reach it.

I’m astonished and embarrassed to discover that I cannot bring myself to plunge my arm in and pick up the damn mouse. Every time I get close to snaring it, it clings to me with its terrified little mousy claws and I shriek and recoil. I’m mortified, but will admit my shame if it gets me help.

By: filmgeek

filmgeek — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:11:13 -0800

A shoebox is easier than a coffee can. Too bad Albums aren't as prevalent.

Scare him out, drop the shoebox.

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:14:13 -0800

Got a shop vac handy?

By: luriete

luriete — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:19:30 -0800

borrow a live trap from the local feed store or animal control

By: exogenous

exogenous — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:23:27 -0800

I vote to remove the screen and let the cat do her thing. I can't imagine the mess will be too bad.
You will have to tell us how this turns out.

By: firstdrop

firstdrop — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:26:14 -0800

Chill. Lock the cat in a separate room. Then go out to a movie. I can pretty much guarantee the mouse will be gone by the time you come back. And those tiny mouse paws won't leave much ashy evidence.

By: Elsa

Elsa — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:31:45 -0800

Got it!

I just had to take a deep breath and proceed with the shovel/coffee can approach. Once I'd dragged away the andirons and scraped away the ash, it went quite smoothly: scoop & drop. The real challenge was overcoming that visceral shudder long enough to steady my hand, and you all helped with that.

Thanks, everyone!

By: Atreides

Atreides — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:44:42 -0800

Congrats. And remember, only you can prevent mouse fires.

By: Postroad

Postroad — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 15:39:55 -0800

start nice roaring fire...cremation is a good method of disposal.

By: jerryg99

jerryg99 — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 20:04:19 -0800

For what it's worth, this is a great story on this episode of This American Life, on how this could have been much, much worse. Grant it, it was a squirrel. Congrats. Look for the story about the newbie cop.

By: crabintheocean

crabintheocean — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 21:00:43 -0800

I guess it's solved, but it's worth saying... Don't pick it up with your hand! I picked a mouse up (my cat put it on my bed one morning, it was cowering in terror) and it bit me. It hurt, and I had to get a tetanus shot. FWIW I dropped the mouse out of the window, I don't know if it lived.

By: Atreides

Atreides — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 07:46:47 -0800

You got a tetanus shot for a mouse bite? I stepped on an inch long roofing nail and received a tetanus, but I've never heard it required for animal bites.

By: KRS

KRS — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 19:42:24 -0800

For future incidents, mice have been found to hate cheese. It's the last thing they'll nibble on.

However, they can't resist chocolate.

I keep a Hershey bar in my freezer. When I get a mouse in my apartment, I put out a snap trap with a 1/4" cube of the bar on the bait holder. By the next morning, I've got Mr. Squeaky, 100% of the time.