Top 10 Reasons Why NOT to be Scared of Mice!
89An Elephant's Worst Nightmare...
Why So Scared, Fraidy Cat?
Phobia (noun): 'a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it.'
There was no one more chuffed than me when I got my first mice. I’d wanted them ever since I could remember, having always loved anything small and fluffy. But it soon sprang to my attention (when my Nanna almost literally jumped out of her skin at the sight of my mice) that not all people are of the same opinion. Of course, the next question which sprung to mind was: “But why?”
So as I sat holding my most prized possessions – Diddle and Minstrel – in my hand, I couldn’t imagine why anyone would ever be afraid of these harmless little fur balls. Spiders? Okay, I can understand that. Boy, can I! They’re black; they're hairy; they're shifty; they have eight legs; (sometimes poisonous) fangs; millions of eyes; they make me shudder just at the thought of them. But mice? They’re small, soft, cuddly, friendly, not poisonous, playful and apparently terrifying for all the above reasons!
SO HERE'S 10 REASONS WHY I BELIEVE YOU SHOULDN'T BE SCARED OF MICE!
1. YOU SAY: “They’re vermin.”
I SAY: "They're a credit to nature". Aim to admire and respect their amazing ability to survive, instead of being disgusted by it. Compare their species to ours and see how many things we have in common with them: the functions of the body; basic animalistic needs; conveying emotion... it's all there. If you study a mouse's behaviour closely, you'll see that they're actually very clean animals that build nests, have maternal instincts (just like us) and arrange their habitat to suit their needs accordingly. There is more to these creatures than apparently just 'spreading disease' and 'chewing wires'. After someone commented about the mess they leave behind, I feel it relevant to add that mice can be potty-trained. I successfully trained my mice to wee in an old jam jar which helped keep their cage clean. Clever little things.
2. YOU SAY: “They’re vicious little things, full of disease and they spread it by biting you.”
I SAY: First thing's first, it’s rats that carry the diseases. People are sadly mislead about mice.
Mice will only bite to defend themselves, in the same way a human would fight back if they were attacked. As a kick boxer, I am more than aware of this instinct! It's only fair that something as small and helpless as a mouse needs at least one way of defending itself to give it half a fighting chance, right?
So how does one avoid being bitten? The answer is simple: don't give them reason to bite you. That is, don't scream, bang about, throw things at them or make them distressed. In the worst case senario, their teeth are barely big enough to do any damage, so don't worry too much about being bitten - it's overrated!
3. YOU SAY: “I feel like they’re out to get me!”
I SAY: "We're the ones out to get them". You’ve heard it before but I’ll say it anyway: they’re more scared of you than you are of them. To them you are a giant who takes huge, thundering steps with a booming voice, and they are a 4 inch long critter that can barely be heard even at the quietest of times. When they bolt, it's out of fear, not because they're trying to get to you or find the quickest way possible to chew through the TV wires. They are trying to get away from you. If you just keep still, they're more likely to note your position in the room and run as far in the opposite direction as possible, as quickly as possible.
4. YOU SAY: “They don’t have feelings.”
I SAY: "If this is true, I sure have been lucky to have 17 mice who have all gone against this stereotype!" Hard as this is to believe, you can actually develop a connection with mice, just like with cats and dogs; they become your friend; they get excited by the sound of your voice and smell of your skin; they get 'sad' when you leave. I'm sure you can see from the picture of Lady and I that there is more to having a pet mouse than just cleaning out dirty sawdust every day!
5. YOU SAY: “Mice aren't a proper pet.”
I SAY: "Mice make a brilliant pet!" I beg to differ. Just like with rabbits, they need a lot of taking care of; they need to have fresh sawdust and bedding every day, they need feeding and regular cuddles. They love trying new things to eat, like bread and milk or broccoli and carrots, and playing in any new toys you might buy them, even if it's something as simple as a toilet role tube! Mice can be so much fun! I used to love the way Diddle hung upside down on the bars in the cage clambering about like an acrobat - it entertained me for hours!
6. YOU SAY: “They’re so ugly!”
I SAY: "They're beautiful!" When you look past the initial fear, you will find that healthy mice are actually very beautiful creatures. Each mouse has its own unique markings - like freckles on a human - that make it pretty in its own way. Its fur is smooth to the touch and glossy in texture. The whiskers are finer than the silk woven by a spider. Learn to appreciate their delicacy and vulnerability rather than hate the wire-nibbling, foul-smelling stereotype of which we hear so much today.
7. YOU SAY: “I just hate the things!”
I SAY: "I love the things." When you've been given strict instructions by Mum not to feed the dog those extra tit-bits and he goes and settles himself patiently in front of you with those big brown puppy-dog eyes just staring at you saying, "Pleeeease, I've been ever so good and not barked once today!", you find yourself asking the question: "Aww, who can resist that little face?!" Try doing the same with mice. You might find that soon that scatty little rodent actually turns into a sweet little animal with sparkly eyes, a pink, twitching nose and beautiful, glossy fur.
8. YOU SAY: “I hate the noises they make.”
I SAY: The assumption that mice squeak all the time is an over-exaggerated characteristic that has been picked up on over the years and blown way out of proportion. It is true that the mouse itself does often make squeaking noises, but most of which are much too high pitched for the human ear to pick up on. We only hear a squeak every so often. And the squeaking we hear is in fact a highly developed means of communication.
The sound of mice scurrying around is often something that freaks people out. Try to imagine this sound as the same as any other living animal moving about, like a floor-board creaking when someone moves about upstairs, or the sound of dogs paws trotting happily down the hall way.
9. YOU SAY: “Eww, I hate their tails!”
I SAY: "Their tails are one of my favourite features". Whether it be the fact that it wraps around your finger when you touch it or just the look of the tail itself, a mouse's tail seems to cause problems for people. It's actually very similar to a cat’s tail, just without as much fur, in that they use their tails for balance, feel and grip, which, in my opinion, is pretty amazing. Fascination is the best cure for fear; turn your fear into fascination!
10. YOU SAY: “It’s the way they move!”
I SAY: "If I ever learn to move with that much agility and ease, I will be a happy girl". Mice need to be able to run fast to try and escape from predators in the wild, such as owls and cats. If a mouse feels threatened by you, as I said earlier, it will bolt because it sees you as a predator. If you make very slow movements, use a soothing tone of voice when speaking in its presence, you will find the mouse becomes much calmer and more trusting, enabling you to - as much as I hate to say this - catch it (in a humane way, of course!) and release it into the wild where it belongs.
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ONE FINAL NOTE:
Every species has its flaws. No one is perfect - we all know that. Look at humans, for example. We pollute the Earth. We kill our own species. We betray one another. We hunt other animals and destroy their habitats. So how can we criticise a mouse for chewing a wire or making a nest where you were planning on putting your new TV when the things we do are one hundred times worse?
So next time you come across a mouse - wherever it may be - take a deep breath, look at it for what it really is – a helpless little animal just searching for some food or a warm place to live – and just smile and move on. You can learn to love them. And besides, it’s one less thing to be unnecessarily afraid of!
By Daniella Wood
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Hi Mezo. Yes, it's not the first time I've heard of that - people disliking mice just because they look like rats! And no offence taken, I totally repect others' views - I merely want to show people that mice aren't all bad! And hamsters are cute too - I love anything small, cute and fluffy :)
I had a pet hamster years ago. he was so cute. Good information and Good Hub
Thanks for your comment, Coolmon2009. Aww, I love hamsters. I had loads of them while I was growing up. They make great pets!
i like your sarcasm
I have them the wild ones crawled in my rooms i hate them because they scare me alot its no offence i hate them im affraid they will bite me because i actually now go in there with rubber boots and huge gloves because i have to clean my room and closet the're in my closet and made a nest so ....EWWW im scared pets are fine wild ones not so much.
im a guy! i just saw a mice a few minutes ago and i freakin got so scared. like im 15 yars old scared of a mouse! thats pathetic! i need help overcoming the fear of mice.
Thanks very much for all your comments.
Deontrez, it's quite normal to be afraid of certain things and fear is different for everyone. The only way to defeat your fear, I'm sorry to say, is to face it! Next time you see a mouse and your heart starts racing, stand still, drop your shoulders, take slow and deep breaths from your stomach counting to 7 with each breath, letting your stomach inflate when you inhale and deflate when you exhale. Your heart rate should slow and you'll soon learn to become relaxed in a mouse's presence. Hope this helps!
Great Hub - I love mice
Just sow a mice in my living room. i looked at it and after a second i screamed. then it ran off in the direction of my bedroom and my daughters....Scared its hidding under my bed or hers....but also it did run in the direction of my front door. would it run to my room or out the front door?!?!? and when i do see it how do i catch it without it running away from me??
My biggest problem with mice in my house is that they can carry diseases and parasites. I’ve been looking for a hygienic mousetrap that’s safe to use around my family. I just found the Kill and Seal Mouse Trap by Victor that’s perfect, because it seals the mouse within the trap, basically trapping its diseases and parasites.
Here's the trap I'm talking about:
jennysteadman what an inappropriate comment for this post! I have checked the posts that you have commented on and it all seems to be about rodent control and killing only. Are you some kind of exterminator? Why don't you stick to the posts that actually call for comments on killing "pests"? Daniella here is trying to present a different picture of creatures we call pests and tolerance for them, I doubt she is soliciting advice on how to kill the creatures she is trying to promote! And if anyone is having problems, like I am, a more acceptable method (in tune with this post) is http://www.victorpest.com/store/rodent-control/m00 Trap and release a mile from your home. So far it has worked for me. I am at a loss as to why you would post your comment here. Did you read the post at all? Mice carry as many diseases as your cat and dog do, maybe less. Humans harbor more parasites than you would know. So far, even though I have a mice problem for a few months, and just discovered it, no illnesses for me or my pets have come our way. It is opinions like yours that this writer was trying to change. Have you any idea how much food contaminated with mice droppings and urine you might have ingested and it has yet to kill you? Grains we eat, fruits, nuts, etc have traces of acceptable insect parts and other unknowns in them.
Daniella, sorry for the rant, I found your article humorous and sensitive, and even though I am not happy about the damage to the wall in my closet by the critters,and the tons of droppings left behind by them, I do find them extremely cute and adorable. I wish I could cohabitate with them, but I can't, I am afraid of them chewing electric wires and starting a fire in the future. I really don't want to kill the visitors in the process of ridding the house of them. They are amazing and smart, resourceful and adaptable, so hopefully they will survive outside the house.
IvetteB, thank you for backing me up here!
Jennysteadman, I found your comment rather disheartening as you completely ignored what I wrote about. I understand that rodents can cause problems if they get into the house, but there are humane ways to deal with these things, as you say IvetteB. Why kill?
In any case, this hub is about combatting FEAR of mice, not combatting mice, so I feel, jennysteadman, you may have missed the point of this hub.
But thank you all for your inputs - they really are much appreciated. And IvetteB, your 'rant' was brilliant, you made some excellent points! Thanks again, Daniella.
There is the cutest little mouse living under my couch. Every night he comes out and runs around. He has a little routine where he runs behind the TV, back under the couch, under the other couch and etc. I think he is great and besides my floor has never been cleaner. He happily eats any spilled crumbs on the floor. He is such a cutie.
Aww he sounds adorable! And how lovely to find someone that just lets him be :) Thanks for the uplifting comment Cindy!
There is mice in my room at uni. I havent been able to sleep there for the past three days cos i'm absolutely terrified of it and i appreciate your sentiments about them, I'd prefer to have my bedroom back where i can sleep peacefully, than keep dreaming about a mice jumping on my bed.
I know this has been posted for a while, bit I just had to comment!
I love how much feeling is in this post! You clearly love mice!!
Ive got two beautiful fancy mice girls, Chucky and cheese, and I totally agree! I've never kept actual mice before, sure, I've kept rats, hamsters, guinea pigs rabbits, gerbils the lot, but I've never known any animal to be as loving and playful as my mice.
It's a weird thing, I know, I bring friends over for drinks and it's like "here's my mice". They're repulsed, and they also think it's really feminine and girly, it may be, but I don't really care. :-p
Thank you Danielle for what you have written about your mice. I have a little critter living in my air conditioner in my bedroom above my head and it freaks me out. I think mice are cute when they are outside. The noise above my head at night makes me very anxious. I will try to love the mouse in my house - but just the same I hope it will go on vacation soon! Thank you - my anxiety is a bit better thanks to your article!
mice freeeeeaaaaak me out! they just pop out and say BOO!...im scared :(
While I can appreciate your sentiments about PET mice, I do not think they coincide with facts about house mice, deer mice, etc. These mice are pests and they spread diseases such as the hantavirus and cause upper respiratory problems for people. I don't think there is anything wrong with having a pet mouse but I do not want a wild mouse in my home. They scare the living day lights out of me. I would have no problem with them if they stayed outside and I'm actually not afraid of pet store mice or wild mice seen OUTSIDE. There is a real risk of disease with mice that come into your home however and they do need to be erradicated or removed from the home ASAP. Mice also contaminate food when running freely in the home and pee on everything. I wish they just stayed outside.
What about house mice? every month new comer mice was immigrant to our house. My parent use those sticking glue to catch them. As you know once they get caught they will die with pain of starving. I hate this? i wish there is a machine to kill them instantly.. so they won't suffer much pain...
BTW i'm scare when they pop out no where and it does scare me... My parent laugh at me for been so huge and still scare a little mice.
Okay so I'm like a girl who's not scared of anything, I'm usually really really brave. But when it comes to mice, not so brave! So right now its 4 am, I was lying in my room, watching some t.v., half sleep. Bit I hear like a little buzzing noise,or so I thought. I looked around thinking it was a wasp, but in the corner of my room , behind me I hear a little scratch noise, I heard it before and knew it was a mouse, I dare not look back, so I got up and quickly ran into the living and curled up on the couch, so I got on the internet on my phone and looked up this mice thing, and when reading this I shivered and now I feel so paranoid. Do you think I have a phobia of mice.? I won't even be in the same house that has mice.!! I'm so tempted to just got out and sleep in my car. Sorry but this article thingy didn't help at all.
It's always great to have feedback on your hubs, so thanks a bunch guys!
Finn! Your mice sound adorable! And I definitely know the feeling of wanting to show your mice off to your friends and then being screamed at for it haha. I guess people just need time to adapt their points of views and see that nothing bad can happen to them if they go near a mouse.
I'm sorry that I was unable to help you very much, Darien, but, sadly, you seem to have misunderstood the message of my article. The aim of this hub is to bring one's attention to the negative stereotypes people hold about mice and show them that these stereotypes are perhaps not the correct ones, more than cure short term panic attacks.
Thank you all again for your comments - keep 'em coming!
Daniella
Personally I don't like killing the cute little things. I agree that they should be handled in a more humaine way. Unfortunately, due to risk of total home infestation, catch and release methods and cohabitation are not realistic options especially when you have children. We live in a society where it is not only a rsponsibility to practice pest control but also an obligation to your neibors and community. I live with my family in an apartment building and I would be pissed if I had a neibor that just let mice populate out of control because he felt they were cute and cuddly. I believe that anyone on this site would have to agree with me that social services would remove any children living in a home with an infestation of mice because the parents felt that they were too cute to be delt with. All gods creatures have the right to live, just not together unless in a controlled enviornment. Unwnanted mice in your home is not controlled. My advise is to get the mouse situation eliminated as soon a.s.a.p. so you harm as few mice as possible. I would like to thank Daniella for this article. It will put alot of people at ease with their fears of these crearures that are just trying to survive like the rest of us.
I'm 12 years old and I've had 15 mice over the course of 4 years. (Don't worry I didn't have so many because they died fast, some people think that when I tell them haha. I just owned a lot.) And I am a total mouse fan, I can't get over them, they are like my ultimate hobby and love making them fun obstacle courses or giving them peanut butter. From your typical jumpy mouse, to gentle ones, smart ones, Agressive ones, fat ones, you name it.
I just, whenever somebody makes a mouse "comment", I feel all uptight and like I need to prove them wrong or something.
Being afraid of mice I can understand totally, but unless something really dramatic has happened with mice like they ate your grandfather or something hating them drives me nuts. Gah. Sorry I just don't see D:
My 2 favorite mice were Sophie and Pipsqueak, and they were just as dear to me as my dog or cat. Maybe even more! When Pipsqueak died (it was very dramatic, long story) I was depressed for like a whole week.
Great article though, I loved it! May just have to save a few of these ;)
P.S. Anybody else have their pet mice constantly mistaken for rats or hamsters? -_-
Mice are gross... They are not pets and they carry disease and viruses. I prefer not to ever see one. I hate living in NY cause their infested with mice and rats... There is no real reason to have a mouse as a pet.. Sorry to sound harsh but it totally freaks me out that people pretend their these cute little house pets.
There is no real reason to have any sort of pet if you think about it. Why would you need a parakeet? A fish? A cat?
I can understand as they are often referenced similar to rats and *can* carry diseases, although its rare. They have diseases as often as any other wild animal in the area.
Sorry to rant, I just wish people would open their eyes to something new sometimes. That maybe something could be different than what they thought. I would wig out seeing somebody's beloved giant cockroach tribe "Oh and that's Scamper" but I do believe they could possibly be nice pets! /end rant
I have a problem. There is a mouse in my house and normally I'd be fine with that but I have both a cat and a dog and I'm worried he might get eaten. What to do catch and release?
I cant see the reason that someone would want to keep a mouse as a pet. For one, I am terrified of those things and for it to stay with me...NO MA'AM I don't think so because its nasty for one. Seems if there is a mouse its junkie somewhere. But I'm not junkie but that's the first impression u get when there a mouse right? Can't do it can't have them in the same place where I'm living and yes its the time of the year its getting cold that's why they are trying to find a place to keep warm but my place can not be the place.I'm sorry if I seem as a harsh person but........Have a beautiful day!!!
Jennysteadman that was a very helpful post....Esp tha video!!!THANX alot.....
People are not misled buy mice carrying sicknesses, just want to clear that up. If you don't believe me, look up hantavirus. It's a virus that is mostly carried by the deer mice, and it can kill you. It is spread through the mouses urine and feces. If you're going to write an article about something, you should research it properly because it is perfectly natural to fear something that can give you a virus that can kill you.
SHUT UP, THEY ARE UGLY CREEPY THINGS.
Alisa, thank you so much for your heartening comment! I see a great deal of myself in you. I was, and still am, just as passionate about mice as you, and loved building them obstacles and watching them scurry about! It's lovely to know that someone is actually reading the words I'm writing and not just clicking on this hub so they can slate me. It's always nice to see a young person swimming against the current and fighting for what she believes in without getting caught up in the down-hill spiral of negative thinking, something which has been so delicately displayed in many of the comments made here.
Treezap, if so many people around the world keep pets, maybe it is you who needs to open his eyes to something new?
Mmhm, I advise you to 'catch and release' as opposed to kill; I hate spiders but even then I catch them in a cup and put them outside. You can get friendly mouse traps which simply encage the animal so that it can be released into its natural habitat.
Savanah, I understand what you are saying but you seem to have misunderstood what I am saying. Maybe you should read an article properly before you accuse it of being incorrect? My article is about pet mice. Emphasis on the 'pet'. Not wild mice. Wild mice - much like any other creature of the animal kingdom, when living in its natural habitat - can indeed carry diseases due to lack of access to vaccinations and so on. Humans included. So your point is void.
John Travolta-Dules, thank you for such a kind, insightful comment. From your chosen login name, I can see that you are clearly an intellectual.
Thanks for all your comments, folks. Keep 'em coming! x
when they run around your room they're not so cute anymore.
Whatever they do to my stuff, I still respect mice. They seem fantastically human!
Thanks David, I think so too!
I have a little brown mouse that seems to have taken residence in my room, i think it is cute and named it gustav (duno why but i did) i have no problem with it living in my room, i have no real friends so it keeps me company even though i never know were it will turn up in my room, but yesterday it ran under my bed, and has not come out, i know he is there becouse i can hear him hit the beads i have hanging over my bed ( they hit the floor) i am a paranoid person, and have no idea how to get gustav to come out. any sugestions?
Hi, I just read your post and I feel terrible. A little mouse has been in my house for the past month and my wife and kids were bugging me to take care of it. I reluctantly agreed and wanted to trap it and set it free. I couldn't find one at the pet store so I got some rat traps. I placed chocolate chips on it and he would take them with out getting trapped. Then I melted them and still he wiped it clean. Then I used peanut butter and again he wiped it clean. I really started to admire the little guy, and his craftyness. After all it's just a little creature wanting life just like us. I wasn't scared at all. I wanted it as a pet. Unfortunately I left the trap there without food on it and it came back to find it empty and was killed by it. I feel horrible about it. It was such a cute little thing. Evolution has been kind to them, and so should we. So if another comes around, I think I'll let him stay a while.
Claudia, I am so pleased to hear you're not panicking about the little mouse living in your room, so first off, a well done is in order! Secondly, rule number one: be as quiet and still as possible - any loud bangs, heavy vibrations on the floor (ie. footsteps, music etc) or puckering 'kissy-kissy' sounds will scare the little creature and he will back into a corner rather than come out. Try tempting Gustav with a trail of chocolate drops (not human chocolate though - mouse chocolate drops you get in pet shops) that lead from under the bed to the middle of your room into a ventilated box or something. If chocolate drops don't work, try sunflower seeds. If you speak, speak with a relaxed, soft tone and that will relax him, too. Hope this helps! Good luck!
Andy, I am sad to learn that the mouse was killed, but it's a positive sign to see that you recognise it may not have been the best thing to do.
Thanks for your comments - Daniella.
help please i read the article and cnt sleep at all i seen my first ever one 3 days ago cnt sleep i want them out of my house dnt want to kill them just out of my house want to get the plug in to get them out and hope its works really freaked out and its 3 in the morning i badly need sleep any advice think i might have a phoebia
Hi Aisling,
Yes, the feelings you're describing do suggest that you have a phobia. This may sound silly, but it is important, first and utmost, not to have a phobia of your phobia; that is, don't be afraid to be scared; don't fear your fear. Recognise that it is natural for a human to be scared of things. And in recognising this, you can realise that that's just it: you are human. And it is a mouse. It is physically not big enough or strong enough to harm you in any way. So now you're safe in the knowledge that your safety is not at risk, take some deep breaths, relax your shoulders and forehead and put it into perspective. You are the predator. Not it.
In terms of catching it, give the advice I gave to Claudia above a try. If that doesn't work, purchase a mouse-friendly 'trap' to enclose it in and get someone to release it outside for you. Please don't kill it, though. It means you no harm. Remember that it's terrified itself, too.
Hope this is of some help. Let me know how it goes. Daniella. x
There are shrews (they go hand in hand with mice I would assume) I am having a EXTREMELY difficult time not wanting to scream"OH MY GOD KILL IT KILL IT!!!!" but I try and remember having guinea pigs and it kind of helps but they are just so scary to me an I got up at 3am to pee and it ran across my bathroom 5x4 tight room and I screamed and cried all the way to my room and refused to use that bathroom till my boyfriend killed or got it out ANYTHING in the house and I can here them squeak and run under my heaters and it's just awful and feel bad to go to the store ad buy traps cause all I think is "I'm a murder in the process I don't do this to kitty why do would I do this Dx!?!" how can I help this fear and I was kinda tought to think they were nasty and diesead and little fillthy nasty bastards (mom and grandma) and I'm a germaphobe this is scary what helps????
After my last post I went to Albertsons grocery store and bought traps that don't kill. I put peanut butter in them and caught the whole family of them and set them free in some shrubbery near my house. It was actually kinda fun. In total I caught 6 or 7 more youngans. Now my house is free of those pesky little guys. And my conscience is clean knowing I didn't need to kill them. Oh btw, I got a cat so I don't think I'll be having that problem again.
Bambi (loving the username, by the way!), what I suggest is that you - as horrible as this may sound - expose yourself to the fear. Once you get used to being around them and practise breathing normally and controlling your thoughts in the presence of one, then it will sort of become second nature to you and you won't bat an eyelid next time you see one. This will be hard at first but I promise you will get there! As soon as a negative thought pops into your mind ("nasty little bastards!" etc), push it away and think, "I am in control here." You'll be fine :-)
Andy, great to know you made the effort to be humane! Lovely to hear your story had a happy ending! And you got the best of both worlds: no death and no pests either...win win situation! I'll just blow past the cat comment haha :p
Keep commenting people! Daniella x
saw one in my garage just now. Im so scared. I hate that I'm so fearful but I hate the:( I just put a sign on my door telling my family to use the front door until I can figure out how to kill it... Scared there could be more than 1!!!!! wish i was you right now as I honestly are afraid.
What about their poops all through our cupboards? Can you toilet train mice?
Daniella I really loved everything about your post, I loved your passion your a very skilled writer and it really helped me have compassion for the little critters ^_^ though I do have a question after I saw a comment above, can wild mice carry diseases at all?
Anda and Sian, it may surprise you to learn that you can indeed potty-train mice! I will add that bit of information to my hub now actually - thanks for bringing it up! I used to potty-train mine to pee in a jam jar so that their cage didn't get dirty.
Amber, that's so lovely of you to say - thank you very much for the encouragement! I'm glad to see my hub is having the desired effect on some people! In answer to your question, wild mice can - as any other species can - carry diseases. But then so can humans. So this is really not a factor we can use against mice when we ourselves experience the same problem.
Thanks all x
Aww I love your post.
I think mice are the cutest little things and I just can't understand what's to fear about them. I used to have a pet mouse named Squeaky and she was the sweetest little thing. I even love rats, they're one of my favorite animals! The rat I have now is so hyper and playful, but she can be quite shy. I've had pets rats and mice since I was a little girl. My mom always wanted them, too, but her parents didn't let her so when I wanted a pet of my own she thought she'd try them first and I loved them!
So great to find someone who shares the same passion as me, Chrissy. I wish more people saw what we see! Lovely to hear from you. Daniella x
I just saw a mouse on my mothers bed and I dont know what to do I'm paranoid to even step foot in her room. ;(
Just Keep Calm and Carry On! x
I just tried to save a mouse from a glue trap with oil and he took his last earthly breath in my hands. I hate those things(glue traps) and I hope like hell that when I get to heaven that I and all the creatures that have gone through the torture of these things will get to see the inventor get trapped on one of these. A mouse is not hard to get out of the house....I trapped one while I was in my bare feet with a box and a broom while my husband was yelling Kill It. And as far as them carrying disease , the worst parasites on earth are humans. I have a clean home and keep a clean home and if I handle a mouse I'll throw away the gloves. Think about it... when you go to the grocery, the have hand wipes when you go in,when you go on a cruise they have hand wipes and when you go to the Dr.'s office they have hand cleaner. Seems to me we have more to worry about other people.
I sleep on a air mattres and their is this mouse in my room and I'm afraid it will go on my bed and my dog keep looking for it cause it eats her food
I normally don't like Mice but after reading DaniellaWood article I don't want to kill them anymore
Mezo Level 1 Commenter 2 years ago
mmmm this is so sensitive! but I have to say that rats (the dirty ones living in the streets) made me hate anything similar to them, no offense...but cute little hamsters, i like watching them, never dare to touch!