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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to sleep in a room where I’ve just seen a mouse?

50 replies

HelpMouse · 01/04/2021 00:09

Help, I sleep downstairs and have just seen a mouse! It’s disappeared under some furniture now. How do I find it/get it out? Don’t want to be chasing it all over the room, I especially do not want to wake the children and have them frightened. No partner.

My room is next to the conservatory and I leave the internal door open to get air. Of course the external door has been open today so that’s how it will have got in.

Don’t know what I do tonight, also don’t know what I do going forward, if I want air.

But please help me tonight!

I have never seen evidence of mice in here before so am hoping it’s a very rare occurrence. No food in here although occasionally there is. Do they go for fruit?

OP posts:
AramintaLee · 01/04/2021 00:13

I have cats and they often bring live mice in as gifts to me. I'm quite handy with the jam jar these days. I have a good rate of catching them and releasing them to the wild.

If you haven't got a cat, I would suggest leaving it alone. It will probably make it's own way out the same way it made it's way in. They're pretty harmless (as long as it's just the one!)

I have to say I've grown quite fond of them having jam jarred so many. They're adorable up close with their twitchy noses and whiskers and tiny little hands.

Original poster
HelpMouse · 01/04/2021 00:14

Thanks that’s kind of reassuring.... not sure I’ll be able to sleep though

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wishing3 · 01/04/2021 00:16

Oh no! Can you sleep in one of the kids’ rooms tonight ?

AramintaLee · 01/04/2021 00:17

@HelpMouse

Thanks that’s kind of reassuring.... not sure I’ll be able to sleep though
I totally understand. Some people are scared of mice, I just happen not to be. I grew up with pet rats and hamsters so I like rodents.

In all the years my cats have brought in mice, they have never come close to me. They usually just hide away and quietly sneak out when they think its safe.

Remember, to the mouse you're this scary giant. It's probably terrified of you. When you go to sleep is probably when it will make a run for it.

Clappingforjoy · 01/04/2021 00:19

Been through this and couldnt relax all night however the fear went away eventually and I forgot about it.

LostInABlizzard · 01/04/2021 00:26

The mouse won't come near you. Just make sure you wash any plates etc that have been left out or on the top of stacks in cupboards as mice have no bladder...

Original poster
HelpMouse · 01/04/2021 00:27

Thanks. Have put peanut butter on saucer in conservatory in hope of luring it back into there.

Am wondering how much it would cost to completely replace big sliding internal glass door with one that has an opener at the top so I can feel safe in future!
Aargh I hear movement....

OP posts:
shatteredmama · 01/04/2021 00:31

I feel for you, we have mice, it’s horrible. Just for the sake of relaxing enough to get a good sleep I’d sleep in another room tonight, hop in with one of the dc’s perhaps and tackle the mouse issue in the morning.

You really do need to nip things in the bud, first thing tomorrow put lots of traps down, all food put away, sealed containers if possible, hopefully it is just the one random mouse from outside, but just in case you have more than one, you really do want them caught before they reproduce.

MrsWildermac · 01/04/2021 00:42

If you want to 'get rid' of it, get a bucket, spread peanut butter a couple of inches below the rim on the inside. Put some water in the bottom. The mouse will smell the PB, overbalance trying to get it and fall into bucket.

safariboot · 01/04/2021 00:46

Mice are germy but one little mouse won't hurt you. But I know you'll probably still be scared.

Set traps tomorrow.

SionnachGlic · 01/04/2021 00:46

Mice love crispy rashers too...if you are trying to trap him...

Original poster
HelpMouse · 01/04/2021 00:46

Have now lost the peanut butter (on a small plastic lid).... am I going mad (possible) or could the mouse have gone for it (and therefore into conservatory, hooray!) and pushed it into a corner to feast? That suggests a scary level of dexterity and planning though.

Am hoping it’s exited my room. Wish I knew as am not sure whether to leave internal door open in case it hasn’t.

Glazed doors turn out to be very expensive....

OP posts:
Original poster
HelpMouse · 01/04/2021 00:53

I know, I know, I probably just ended up putting somewhere different from where I thought. Definitely mad!
Goodnight and thanks all. Going to try and sleep.

OP posts:
Original poster
HelpMouse · 01/04/2021 00:54

Veggie household I’m afraid @SionnachGlic

OP posts:
relaxingforme · 01/04/2021 01:06

Can you set several traps?
buy pre baited plastic traps.
Mine was living in the bottom drawers in two bedrooms luckily I found the droppings .
I have even used baiting for outdoors surrounding the house😫 you could too.
Do you have compost outside? I don't for the rodent problems

Hidinginstaircupboard · 01/04/2021 01:10

It's a mouse, a tiny mouse that couldn't hurt you even if he had ninja mouse dolls with his minuscule paws

It's not a cockroach..,
Do what you need to but don't let a tiny mouse whose more scared of you then him, deter you

Hidinginstaircupboard · 01/04/2021 01:10

Ninja mouse skills not dolls 🤣

Starrylight · 01/04/2021 01:20

How have you now lost the peanut butter baited saucer? 😂 I had a garden mouse that came in the house. It ended up in the wardrobe, the dog quickly followed, as she was a bit hefty the clothes rail collapsed on her and the mouse.Two days later it ran across the living room floor squeaking. Hefty doggo then inadvertently trod on it, squished it, then sat on it to hide the evidence. I then not only had to dispose of squished mouse, but also wash dead mouse off the dog's bum 🙄. Hope Reepicheep has now exited your room OP.

MoonlightFlitwick · 01/04/2021 08:11

They love chocolate.
Hope you got through the night OK

Ameanstreakamilewide · 01/04/2021 08:18

@HelpMouse

Veggie household I’m afraid *@SionnachGlic*
Mice don't like mint, because it interferes with their 'communication network' of their constant weeing.

So you could try some peppermint mint oil (just a little dibble of it will do) around the places you think they're coming and going. They should soon bugger off.🤞🏻

Original poster
HelpMouse · 01/04/2021 09:05

I survived, but woke early then fell back to sleep and had horrid dreams about infestations of rats, and my ex being no use!

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GravityFalls · 01/04/2021 09:07

Ugh. My sympathies. I am VERY scared of mice. I know they can’t hurt me, rationally there’s nothing to worry about but if I’ve ever seen one in my house (which sadly I have a few times) I get so scared I can’t even go back in the room for ages, or if I really can’t avoid it I spend the least amount of time possible in there, and it takes a long time to subside. I’m not scared of anything else at all so it even surprises me how physical and deep the reaction is.

LostInABlizzard · 01/04/2021 12:19

Personally I recommend trapping him; this one is probably a scout for the rest of the mouse clan.
They are very cute but you can't have them pissing all over your house.

Original poster
HelpMouse · 01/04/2021 12:41

Feel a lot more laid back about it now. Thanks for the support all!

Haven’t had time to move everything yet, but have looked in a few places in here and conservatory and can see no droppings or nibbled stuff.

OP posts:
Original poster
HelpMouse · 01/04/2021 15:58

Have now delved about more in the conservatory and found the lid with the remnants of peanut butter on! Proving I hadn’t gone mad , and that the creature moved it 😬. Also that it left my room, am choosing to believe it stayed out!

Have rung local glazing firm to ask for a visit to quote on a replacement internal door with a separate opened at the top. Think this is the only thing which will make me really sleep soundly in future!
Now for the big ‘mouse traces’ / holes hunt, moving furniture.

OP posts: