It’s a cute - really is - field mouse that came in this past summer (I think as that is the only time I keep windows open) and it’s been roaming around the apartment.

It disappears for a few days at a time - perhaps visiting other units? Not sure. When I see it and it sees me seeing it, it zooms back under the cabinets. Am keeping my food well out of reach and the kitchen spotless so it’s got no reason to stick around.

What’s the comms ideas for the best, safest trap to catch and release - preferable something I can make with household items.

Much thanks to anyone with ideas!

Edited to add: Addndum, Jan 10th, 2026… I set out a bucket trap and the tan egg never re-apeared.

So either it got back out, died or on one of its other visits to a different part of the building, it fell into a trap.

Dunno. Haven’t seen it in weeks.

  • PhilipTheBucket@piefed.socialEnglish
    7·
    3 months ago

    Put peanut butter on the end of a yardstick. Put the yardstick on the edge of the counter or somewhere it goes, sticking out and just slightly balanced so that it stays on the counter with a little less than half sticking out. Put a tall kitchen trash can underneath it. The mouse walks out onto the yardstick, it tips down into the trash can, mouse + yardstick can be removed at leisure.

    You can also rig up the yardstick to pivot and then return to the initial position: Tape a pen crossways to the yardstick using a little ring of backwards tape on the inside so it can pivot, then tape the pen to the edge of the counter via the two parts that are sticking out crossways. That way is a little more professional, and maybe removes some theoretical chance that the mouse can climb back up on the yardstick or get hurt by having it fall on him or her. You can also put some peanut butter in the trash can at the bottom, so the mouse can still have a snack while he or she is waiting.