Mice Infestation?

Mice Infestation?

October 3, 2015

In response to my email message yesterday, I got this:

I’ll get some mouse traps today.

Thanks,

S came in the afternoon.  He put rat food on the two glue traps he bought with him and put the two traps in the attic at its very entrance from the garage.

He said the food smell was so strong, rats, if present in the attic, will be attracted to the trap.  He will come back on Tuesday to see if he got any mice in the trap.  If not, he will move the traps farther inside the attic, right above our bedroom.

Let's see how it works out.

BTW, I did not hear any mice activity our bedroom this morning.

A bright, sunny Saturday morning...ruled by a mild fear of rodents

A bright, sunny Saturday morning...ruled by a mild fear of rodents
October 3, 2015
The rodent saga continues.

This message went today:
Now that you have kindly trimmed the tree branches I can bet there are mice in the attic.  This morning I could hear them chewing on stuff in the attic, above the bedroom.
In hindsight, I think the dropping Hina discovered the first day, outside the garage toilet, could be from a rodent.
Please help.

Five year time capsule post

Five year time capsule post

October 2, 2015

Rodent Infestation Averted?

Wonder what it would be like one year from now.  Most probably we won't be living here.

I sent the following message to S:

A couple of days ago we were talking to Brenda, neighbor to the right, when we found out she is trying to solve her rodent infestation problem; she mentioned that her neighbor on the other side also has the same problem.  Subsequent to that conversation I started paying more attention to any noise coming from our attic.  Can't tell if I am being paranoid, but I do hear some rustling in attic late at night.  There is a tree in front that has its branches touching the roof surface.  Yesterday, when the gardeners came I talked to them about the possibility of trimming the tree branches; they said I'd have to talk to the owner (you). Thought I should bring all this to your attention, before this rodent problem really surfaces here.

S was here today.  He trimmed the tree branches.  He said in the last twenty-five years the rodent problem came up only twice and he was able to take care of it.  He said as a precaution he will put a few mouse traps, with peanut butter in them, in the attic.  He also thought what I heard late at night might be the neighbor's cats walking on our roof.

5-Year Time Capsule Post

9/30/15—Wednesday morning.  It is raining!  Before moving here rain or no rain was not such a big issue.  But now it is.  We are supposed to keep the lawns at this rental house green, and that means using water.  Water is expensive.  We want to cut down on our burn rate.  We have turned off the automatic sprinkler system.  We collect our used water in buckets and then use that water for the plants.  At the same time we are afraid that the owner will come unannounced—he has one garage opener—and will find out that we have the sprinkler system turned off; he won’t like it.  So, during the day I turn the system on, even when it is scheduled to water the landscaping around 3 am.  Also, since we are not that good in covering every corner of the front and backyard grass with the recycled water, we can see patches of brown grass.  Now that it is raining, hopefully those patches will turn green too.  Rain is great.  It has given me the best joy of this day.

Photo is from this summer.  Leaving Sydney for Auckland.