This morning several of us spotted our newest mouse friend again, and the trap was sprung. So I set it again and waited to see if the mouse would go for the bit of pepperoni still stuck in the trap from last time.

After impatiently waiting for a bit, Miguel went and checked the trap to see if the mouse was in it. After examining it closely, Miguel came and found me.

“Mama, I think the trap would work good if you would put some food IN it and then the mouse might take it and get caught.”

I smiled as I explained that there was a little bit of pepperoni still in the trap, and that would probably be sufficient, but I would be happy to make the bait more attractive if Miguel thought it was a good idea. He said that since the mice were attracted to birdseed, perhaps we could put some of that in the trap. I told him that I would come help put some peanut butter and birdseed in the trap soon.

Before too much longer, we had a very attractive pile of bait on the trap. There was a glob of peanut butter, and on top of that rested a kernel of corn and a bird food pellet. We slid the trap back under the sink, and Miguel pulled a stool up to the sink doors to watch and wait. I insisted that he close the cabinet door, telling him the mouse would never come out if the doors were open.

A short time later Miguel checked the trap, and the food was gone! Of course, the trap was still set. But the hungry mouse had cleaned off the whole peanut butter-corn-pellet combo. So I again set the trap, this time with a sunflower seed and another seed stuck into the grip of the trap, and a little peanut butter on top to lure the mouse in. As you have probably already guessed, the mouse again licked off the peanut butter and left the trap set.  For our next tactic, Miguel and I decided we would tie a bit of thread onto the claw of the trap, and maybe that would make the mouse tug a little more on the bait. We got it all set up, and then left it alone.

Amazingly, we forgot about the trap for a while. Then after lunch I suddenly remembered it. I peered under the sink and was astonished to see that we had indeed caught the mouse! I hollered for Miguel and all the kids came running. Miguel reached into the cabinet and picked up the trap gingerly. The little mouse hung limply there, so perfect and somehow beautiful despite being dead. We admired her whiskers, her tiny feet, her very soft fur and her funny tail. Isaac bemoaned the fact that he hadn’t been allowed to catch her alive, and he begged me to let him set a different trap that would catch the animal alive next time.

Eventually we released the mouse out of the trap and dropped it into the trash can. I probably should set the trap again, just in case any more mouse friends have come for a visit. But for now I’m basking in the satisfaction that it only took me four tries to catch the mouse this time around.