Comments on: Pero, The Luckiest Mouse Alive

By: Woody Schlom

Woody Schlom — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 03:58:55 +0000

Mouse-proofing:

You should consider using the fine copper mesh stuff specifically intended for mouse-proofing instead of steel wool.

The copper stuff lasts forever instead of rusting quickly. I’m not sure if there’s a danger of galvanic corrosion between the Airstream’s aluminum and steel wool or copper — but it’s worth looking into.

My sister has been using the special copper mesh stuff for years to mouse-proof her log house. It’s expensive, but seems to be well worth the expense.

Great photos!

By: webdoc

webdoc — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 21:00:30 +0000

I see their tunnels all the time in spring. And I’ve seen coyotes do just what your malamute did, diving headfirst into the snow. I had no idea their home range was so big! Wow. Or that they could travel home from such a great distance. Wow! again.

By: Bert Gildart

Bert Gildart — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:41:55 +0000

Tim, biologists in GNP once tagged mice and if my memory serves me correct, they can return over a distance of several miles. But here are a few other interesting facts about them. Because Pero has so many predators, he must be thoroughly familiar with all the details of the landscape in which he lives. Home range for these little guys can be as small as a backyard (probably my case), but it can also extend up to ten acres. Within their home range, they usually travel along the most convenient routes, which can be the trails of other animals or trails Pero may have created over time. As he and other of his kind travel, they may even trim the plants along their runways. And now that winter is upon us, you’ll often see his tracks on the snow. But more often, his runways are transformed into tunnels under layers of snow, and several years ago, we’d watch in fascination as our Malmute-like dog would cock its head, then pounce downward, front legs stiff, pinning some mouse-like creature beneath them. As you can tell, I’m fascinated by the little buggers, and in the spring, will look for their runways, which often form fascinating mazes. Well, that’s probably more than you wanted, but I appreciate your comments, Kimmy’s comments, and the comments of several others who simply dropped me emails.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:56:13 +0000

ha ha ha. Yes, I too perused web sites proffering live traps after your last post. I don’t like to kill the little buggers when they get in the house, even though they may be carrying Hantavirus.

I would say that the luckiest mouse alive is one that I caught in a traditional snap trap. Actually it would more aptly wear the title of the Toughest Mouse Alive, for it survived. I heard the snap and went to look and found the poor guy still struggling. So I opened the trap into a bucket, and the pitiful mouse hit the bottom with a thump and lay there feebly wiggling. I thought it was dying. But as I walked down the road to drop it off in the bushes somewhere, it got stronger, and by the time I tipped the bucket over to deposit it in the bushes, it was able to walk. I hope that there are little mouse chiropractors out there.

How far can they travel back home, do you know?

By: Kimmy

Kimmy — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:20:28 +0000

What a wonderful story! Your daughter will be proud.
And here my kids thought I was crazy when after first moving out here in ‘99, I bought a humane trap and caught on 2 different occasions, Pero’s cousins, and drove them 2 miles down the road to a nice cemetery they could call home. It just wasn’t in my heart to do it any other way.