And it has started…
The annual vermin invasion migration.
The time of year when all the creepy crawlies start to come into your house, or mine at least, and set up housekeeping for winter.
So far it’s been mice and spiders that have decided they are going to share my living space. And it’s really freaking early for them to be doing so. I hope this does not mean we are looking at an early and hard winter this year. I’m not so sure I’m up to that again.
The past 4 days alone I’ve gotten 10 mice in the various traps I have set out. I don’t put out bait bars due to all the other animals around and they have no need to get into one of those and create a big problem.
These dang mice do a heck of a number on my food too. I keep almost everything in plastic or glass containers they can’t chew thru, or in the fridge/freezer for the same reason. Somehow, they always manage to find one thing I miss and have a craving for.
There is no way I could ever find all the ways they have gotten into the house. Living in a 100+ year old place. it has way more holes in it than I will ever find and plug up.
Plus I think they just create a new way in out of spite. They seem vindictive that way, ya know?
They seem to be sassier this year also. One of them had the audacity to stare at me from the kitchen floor, like I had the nerve to be in it’s space. Uppity thing!
The spiders made their presence known by waking me up at 1am by crawling down my back. At first I thought it was my hair tickling me in the breeze from the fan, but no. I move my hair and the damn tickle runs down my back to my butt!!
I was reaching back swiping at that thing until luck let me scoop the bastard up and fling it against the wall.
Needless to say I had the squickies for the next hour. Every itch felt like another spider out to get me.
I have nothing against spiders as long as they live outside. They have their place in keeping other vermin down and I appreciate their help. I have a beautiful cat faced orb weaver, who is huge and eating very well, living right outside my back door. I just don’t want them in here with me. And I sure don’t want them crawling down my back at 1am.
I am watching for signs of impending winter, along with the vermin invasion. So far Brandy horse is not putting on any kind of thicker coat. Matter of fact, she is shedding out again. Dogs are not getting any fluffier either. I did see one tree in town that looked to be changing it’s colors already. No geese or sand hill cranes flying yet. I have not seen a wooly bear caterpillar either.
I am looking forward to cooler weather, snuggling in hoodies, and comfort foods like soup and stew. I can do without the repeat of -52 degree wind chills, and I suspect the critters here agree with me on that point.
I suppose I will have to wait and see how it’s all going to play out.
Ah, the trap just snapped off. Make that 11 mice.
Blessed Be
A constant battle, it sounds like.
I’m getting inundated too. I think part of our problem is the weeds have gotten so high the mice have lots of cover, but I’m planning on changing that tomorrow afternoon. I’ll be refreshing the zap traps in the well house while I’m at it. I can deal with the spiders (especially the cat faced ones) but I am flat over the mice!