This means war.

[aggravatedfarmer]

Been getting cooler here as of late. I smoke in the garage now since we are expecting a little one here in January. It's a one and a half garage with the half bay being my workshop for furniture, beekeeping, pipes, and man cave. I have a radio in there and a nice comfy chair to sit and relax for pipe smoking. I bought a package of cotton balls for pipe cleaning and refurbishing. The other day I go in to light a pipe and knock around for a bit. Then, I saw the destruction. Apparently a mouse has made its way in earlier then expected and nibbled it's way into my cotton balls. Gentlemen, this means war.

 

[deathmetal]

Anything smaller than a .45 is a varmint rifle.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Soak a couple of the cotton balls in peppermint oil, and lay them around your smoking area. I've read that they really hate the smell.

 

[ray47]

Even a mouse needs a soft bed :lol:. If you don't want to share then mouse traps seem to work fine for me.

 

[fitzy]

cotton balls in peppermint oil

Just what any mouse would want. A peppermint scented soft bed made of cotton balls. ::

 

[shanelktown]

I thought peppermint repelled spiders.

 

[sthbkr77]

carve a really small pipe for it, you have a smoking buddy now.

 

[fitzy]

carve a really small pipe for it, you have a smoking buddy now.

That is the best suggestion. Maybe he would like some Penzance.

 

[Chasing Embers]

The mouse read that thread about latakia smelling like cheese.

 

[huntertrw]

Of course you know this means war!

 

[mso489]

Maybe it's time to cat-sit for a weekend. Borrow the litter box with the cat of course. The best hunter I ever knew was a male, but generally the females are more efficient, probably because they have to hunt for themselves and their litters, and they have to teach the litters how to hunt. They just sit in ambush. Not much movement. When the mouse feels safe enough to move, bam. The male mojo hunter was de-clawed no less (by a previous owner) and he hunted everything, some adult squirrels and rabbits. In the morning, the front yard looked like a battlefield. Very sweet natured with people, and dominant with large dogs and other dogs. He really had the mental game down pat. Never met a cat or other animal just like him.

 

[peteguy]

I pulled 10 out of my shed last month in preparation for winter smoking. Those old fashioned mouse traps still rule.

 

[papipeguy]

I bought this for my garage and it seems to work.
http://www.amazon.com/Victor-M792-Heavy-Duty-PestChaser-available/dp/B001B1OI0A/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1447453271&sr=8-21&keywords=rodent+repeller&pebp=1447453288135&perid=02MCW0QJJJW7682C1HA9

 

[pappymac]

At least is was just your cotton balls.

I'd go with the mousetrap idea myself.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Peppermint works well. I set out some plugs of peppermint to grow around my old house and they just left. So, either it works, or the mice starved to death in my pantry.

I also grow it around my fruits to keep the mice off my fruit trees, kiwis, and strawberries.

 

[mustanggt]

I've got rat poison pellets everywhere in my garage. Sticky traps are set in likely travel routes. They all work.

 

[jkrug]

DO NOT...I REPEAT...DO NOT LET THAT MOUSE MESS WITH YOUR BALLS!!! :D

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I use sticky traps, but they work best when you know exactly where the mice travel.

 

[prairiedruid]

My cats have a generous nature; after playing with a mouse til it is dead instead of eating it about 1/3 of the time they'll bring it to me to "share". Not only mice but the occasional squirrel, gopher, and once a small woodchuck. My big male weighs 18 pounds and will go outside and just wait by a gopher hole until his "playmate" shows up.

 

[mso489]

Cats are all about protein and are mostly carnivorous. They have short digestive tracts and can't process most plant materials, although they do eat some grass and plants to scour out their insides. People, dogs, apes, bears and others have a much wider array of food sources (are omnivorous) and have a much more adaptable menu. Despite this limitation, cats have been around for many millions of years in approximately the same form, except their fangs have gotten a little smaller (in the case of the saber tooth ancestors). Large felines like lions used to live nearly everywhere on earth that wasn't covered with ice, including Europe and the Americas. The instinct to hunt meat is so strong, that feeding a cat doesn't diminish its hunting but rather makes it more of a hunter, apparently for entertainment. When they hunt for all their food they have to be economical and not use too many calories on missed or long-shot chances, whereas if they are fed well, they seem to enjoy hunting for sport. That's why they bring their prey to us and want to share it, to keep their people happy and busy bringing them regular food.