A Strange Awakening

I will wager none of you has ever arisen as promptly as I following my strange wake-up call! It happened only a few nights after our return to Borrego following a two week vacation. The moon was full and brightly shining into the bedroom ...normally a sound sleeper, something must have bothered me. A noise? An odd sensation? Something strange, for sure. I woke up and immediately KNEW that something was on my arm. I flicked my arm away from the bed and actually SAW A MOUSE fly over the bed and land on the floor! I opened my mouth and shrieked, shrieked, shrieked, waking the household. The mouse ran under the closet door with the dog close behind. The time? 3:18 a.m. We looked and looked, in shoes, behind luggage, under the bed , around the room. No mouse. The dog was certain it was in the room but it had found a safe haven and is probably still in the house. Just another adventure in the desert.


LET ME IN, LET ME IN!
Can't blame the mouse for wanting to come in and take a look around. It had happened in the past, when children had left the door open all night. Another time, the screen came out of the drier vent and they again gained entry. Both times, more than one was present so, now, if we see one, we assume their brothers and sisters are also inside. Anyone who has had a mouse in the house knows how fast they are. They seem to only run along the sides of a room, along baseboards. Often you see them but deny your sighting. If you are watching TV, reading or are otherwise occupied, you just think you've seen a shadow or imagined seeing something. That's how fast they are.


LOLA ALWAYS KNOWS
However, THE DOG ALWAYS KNOWS! She jumps up , sniffing and wagging her tail and on the hunt. She has caught mice before, but the only way we have devised to get rid of them is the Have a Heart live traps. The animal enters, lives and can be put back in the yard, unharmed. Our trap has had a lot of use and when the small creature within looks at you with his tiny black shining eyes,you are so happy you did not resort to poison or sticky glue traps! Once, the trap captured more than we had barganed for-a female had given birth during the night to four little babies! The release is always a satisfying activity and makes us feel good.

LIVE TRAPS AND ULTRA SOUND EMITTERS
Mice, squirrels and other rodents can ruin a house. I am reminded of a snow-bird's house in DeAnza which hosted squirrels during their absence. Upholstered furniture was completely destroyed. Tiny rodents can enter through an opening the size of a nickle. Vents should be screened and checked frequently, as should cracks under doors. Garages also should be checked...look for scat to detect habitants. We have found the ultra sound emitters to work well in our garage.

We consider living close to desert wildlife a great privilege. The sights, surprises and close encounters make desert living irresistible!