An Oncidium Mouse Rant Story...

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by Ray

True enough. We see all sorts of snakes down here. Found a 4' timber rattler on my patio a couple of autumns ago. Made a noose, grabbed him and dropped him into the intracoastal waterway. Two days later he showed up at my neighbor's doorstep, where he was summarily dispatched.

If it wasn't eaten I have a real problem with that. Timbers are shy, retiring animals that rarely bite unless disturbed. They often don't even rattle when closely approached, preferring to rely on their cryptic camouflage to avoid detection. On a camping trip in World's End state park many years ago one of my campmates discovered one coiled up alongside a trail adjacent to our campsite. We had walked by it repeatedly, within striking distance and it never moved a muscle.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer370

Oh, my! I was sympathizing with your story of having mice in your house. We have them occasionally. We get rid of them. They've never bothered the orchids that I can tell. I did find a little tree frog in one of the orchid saucers one time. I captured it carefully and returned it to the outdoors.

But snakes in the house! Now that's another thing all together. I am absolutely not someone who is afraid of snakes (except for a healthy respect for poisonous ones), but I'm pretty sure I would not want to come across one anywhere inside my house.

Old house, stuff sometimes happens with a stone foundation. Never seen one other than hiding in basement. Last one was dispatched by guys delivering a new water heater. They were excitable. I AM afraid of snakes. But they eat mice. Mice carry disease. Thus, we occasionally co-exist as long as I don't see them.

---------- Post added at 01:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:27 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Ah yes, but which black snake, a racer or a ratsnake? If you can't tell on sight, just grab it. A racer will bite you 3 or 4 times before you can blink, the ratsnake will probably only get you once or twice in the same period of time!

Western black rat snake. I know the difference. And touching one, let alone grabbing one, is a hard NO! Ain't happening. I scream and run like a little girl.

And if a rattlesnake showed up knocking at my door, or canvassing the neighborhood as Ray's appeared to be doing, I would never answer the door again.

[WaterWitchin]

Brilliant new idea!!!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Brilliant new idea!!!

Barbecued mouse! How droll...

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Brilliant new idea!!!

This forum could definitely use a "Love this post" button!

[WaterWitchin]

Right?!? Saw this on a different venue today, and thought to self... Hmmmmmmm. Frankly, still haven't decided if my skill set is good enough to go forward. But sure thinkin about it.

The 5 gallon bucket that spins at top was a semi-fail. Meanwhile, we're having best luck with the ol' tried and true mouse trap. Go figure.

On it!

[SundayGardener]

This mouse story is unacceptable. 100% German here, never mind the state of my household, it's an OLD household (old for the midwest) and mice come with the deed to the house.

Just to preemptive rant: So far no plant damage AND THERE HAD BEST NOT BE. As if the bugs and fungi and bacteria aren't enough.

Our cats are fantastic at catching mice, transporting them to all areas of the house, and showing them off. They have no interest whatsoever in killing them.

We also have mice, or perhaps voles, at work. These burrowed in any potted plants that people had brought to work, but turned up their mousie noses at peanut butter, donuts, roasted nuts and crackers. They did go for a small potato that I partially buried in dirt.

Maybe I will encircle the orchids with a protective ring of potatoes.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by SundayGardener

This mouse story is unacceptable. 100% German here, never mind the state of my household, it's an OLD household (old for the midwest) and mice come with the deed to the house.

Just to preemptive rant: So far no plant damage AND THERE HAD BEST NOT BE. As if the bugs and fungi and bacteria aren't enough.

Our cats are fantastic at catching mice, transporting them to all areas of the house, and showing them off. They have no interest whatsoever in killing them.

We also have mice, or perhaps voles, at work. These burrowed in any potted plants that people had brought to work, but turned up their mousie noses at peanut butter, donuts, roasted nuts and crackers. They did go for a small potato that I partially buried in dirt.

Maybe I will encircle the orchids with a protective ring of potatoes.

Voles eat plant roots, and I'm thrilled that my cats are extremely interested in killing them!

[SundayGardener]

You have good cats! I can't believe that with three, there isn't a one that knows how to deliver the merciful killing blow

[Diane56Victor]

You have my sympathy.
Its time for some out of the box thinking for this rodent! It seems smarter than the average, just chewing out the back of the pbulb.
What about one of those glass domes or maybe an upside down glass vase to place over this precious plant overnight? If you can find one large enough, it looks like a tall plant!
It would be worth setting up a camera to get the rodents reaction when it tries to leap onto the pot for another go at the pbulb....lol

---------- Post added at 05:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:12 AM ----------

Originally Posted by SundayGardener

Maybe I will encircle the orchids with a protective ring of potatoes.

Well that is certainly out of the box thinking!