Non-Lethal Mouse Deterrents?

[USSRGirl]

The mighty Temulin needs YOUR help! There's a mouse living under my stove (probably went in there because it's been so cold out lately) and I need to find a way to get it out of my house. So, I'm looking for all non-lethal deterrents, traps, and home remedies for getting the little bugger out. One thing you should know - the mighty Temulin absolutely adores all forms, types, and breeds of rodent and will personally spork your entrails out if you suggest anything cruel or deadly. However, as wild mice and rats often carry disease, I can't have him in my kitchen. >.< At the moment all I have at my disposal is completely useless cat, some dog food (using it as bait to lure the mouse out), and a flashlight (they're nocturnal so maybe light would spook him?). Open to any and all suggestions!

[ashfire]

You maybe able to get a mouse trap that when the mouse goes into it it will trip the door to drop into place and lock the mouse inside. It works on a tipping operation. If a store has them they would look like a little box with a door on the front. Its not a flat box. It tips when the mouse tries to get to the bait and that causes the door to drop. I bought mine at a home improvement store many years ago.
I used one at work. I caught one time and took it outside and released it. I had forgot one time to check it and one day open it and found the poor thing had been in there for a while. Yuck.
The thing would be to check it often.

[Nia-chan]

Play some whiny protest songs from the 60s right next to the stove.

Or try and make a trail of food that leads to a trap. As in, get a container of some kind and put something against it to make a ramp. Make the trail lead up the ramp and put some food inside the container as well. The mouse will hopefully go in, but can't get out. At least, that's what I did with my hamster D:

[Technomancer]

Personally, I'd recommend a proper mouse trap that does the job quickly. Failing that, if you decide to catch it, you'll have to move the mouse pretty fa away. Remember, it came into your house from the outside, and will know how to get back in again.

[Ingemar]

Try resurrecting the spirit of Anna Laetitia Barbauld to befriend the mouse and set it free. But I'm not sure if that's a good idea since generally this forvm frowns upon necromancy, thread or otherwise.

[USSRGirl]

I'm going to look for one of those closing door traps today and maybe use some dog food as bait. Hmm hippy protest songs would deter just about anything.

......... >__O

:: Tears Technomancer's lungs out with a spork :::

[mitsuki lover]

First are you certain that there is just the one mouse around.Second are you sure
that you don't want to find a more permanent way of dealing with your problem.
I am all for getting a good mouser since if there is one there are probably more.
If you don't want to do anything so deadly than go and hire an exterminator to take a look around your place to be on the safe side.Ask him or her what they would suggest you do.

[USSRGirl]

Well, thanks for the suggestions guys. I'm actually going to be moving in about a month so a long term solution isn't a problem for me... just for my poor landlord. Mawhahaha. Anyway, I bought an ultrasonic mouse-away device at the store today. Supposedly it sends out a high frequency noise that mice don't like so they'll stay away. Kinda like one of those invisible fence things for dogs. Hmmm... hope it works!

[Ingemar]

So when unseen destruction lurks,
Which men like mice may share,
May some kind angel clear thy path,
And break the hidden snare.

[Kaligraphic]

Obtain a small amount of holy water.

Place earplugs into your ears and those of anyone you care about, then read the following poem in a loud voice.

[spoiler]Oh freddled gruntbuggly,
Thy micturations are to me
As plurdled gabbleblotchits
On a lurgid bee.
Groop, I implore thee, my foonting turlingdromes
And hooptiously drangle me
With crinkly bindlewurdles,
Or I will rend thee in the gobberwarts with my blurglecruncheon,
See if I don't![/spoiler]

Use holy water to cleanse your eyes from the horror.

This should drive any mice far, far away.

(note that this would probably count as cruelty...)

[soul alive]

We had the same problem in the off-campus dorm I live in. We had a mouse take up residence in, of all places, the bathroom. Apparently under/behind one of the toilets, since he's disappeared behind them... >.< Haven't seen him in a while though.

Good luck with your mouse capture mission. I don't have any advice other than to say that I've heard that a mouse can't find its way back in if you take it over a body of [moving] water before releasing it. I'm from a very rural family, so you don't want to hear capture methods from me... ^^

[Headkicker9000]

"Hello Mrs. Mouse, have you met Mr. Hammer? I think you have a SMASHING good time!"

[Ratrace]

Are you sure your "useless" cat didn't bring it in? As the former caretaker of many cats I can vouch that some leave the mice once they're in the house.

[ashfire]

I found a news article. Mouse Steals Man's Dentures. Its true.
Waterville, Maine Mr Bill Exner had tried to capture a mouse three times in his house. The mouse got away everytime. The last time the mouse took his lower dentures off the nightstand and pull them inside the wall. With help from family members he took down the wall and recovered his denture and boiled them in peroxide and use anything he could think to disinfect it.
The mouse is not finished. He comes out and stares at the man and his wife. The wife says the mouse is taunting him.

[USSRGirl]

O.o Yeesh. Good thing I don't wear dentures.

No, pretty sure my cat didn't bring it in as she doesn't go outside at all. Besides, she's a pascifist. She shares my philosophy on killing rodents. She mostly just sits around meditating all day and occassionally stops to drink out of the toilet.


Hmm... well I haven't seen anything of my mousey friend here, so it looks like the electronic mouse-away thing is working. If he comes back I'll considering buying some holy water, garlic, and a large crucifix from my local priest. O.o Although I hear that only works on vampire bats.

[mitsuki lover]

You can always sell him to the local college science department if you ever catch him.

[USSRGirl]

O_____O

So they can test lipstick on him?!!!!!! (Man, if it's a 'him' that'd be extra cruel).

I THINK NOT!!!!!!!!

:: Sporks out Mitsuki's lower intestine ::

[Kaligraphic]

You know, if you put it on your spork, you have to eat it.

[Reba]

I'll catch it

[Ratrace]

I thought it was probably an indoor cat. Outdoor cats normaly show off by leaving anything they catch on your doorstep, the end of your bed or (if its alive) in you shoes.

[ashfire]

Well I guess its a Happy Ending
The man in Maine that had the mouse which turned into two mice that took his bottom denture caught them and now has them sitting in a cage on his table. Now he gets to stare at them. I guess he is keeping them as pets.