Evicted.

Recently I discovered that I had a wee, sleekit, cowr'in, tim'rous houseguest. At some point, a mouse had decided to become my roommate of sorts.

I discovered him, when he ran part of the way into my TV room, looked at me, then ran back out and down my hall. Seriously freaked my ass out a little bit as it was most unexpected.

I named him "Philippe".

Now, I'm not too afraid of mice- but that doesn't mean that I want him living in my house, chewing up my walls, and running across my feet when I least expect it. I wanted Philippe gone.

But I also couldn't kill him.

I don't do 'death'. I never kill things on purpose if I can avoid it (exception: roaches and those nasty jumping crickets). In my house, spiders and all manner of other creatures experience a 'live and let live' attitude. Many times I'll catch my visitors and release them outside.

So I went to Lowes and purchased one of the 'live catch' traps. I was skeptical as to whether it would work-- with the spring loaded metal trap door contraption, etc it looked complicated and somewhat doubtful that a mouse would enter it.

I baited the trap and placed it in my living room (adjacent to my kitchen) and waited. I checked the trap for 3 days and nothing.

And then yesterday afternoon I got home, was getting ready to go work out and I thought, "hey, i'd better check the trap." I picked it up and lo! Philippe was inside!

So I walked the trap outdoors, away from my house to a wooded area in my neighborhood, and then slid the cover back. Phillippe was naturally scared (and stinky!) but with a little shake of the box he sprang out of there like his tail was on fire and his ass was catching!

I do feel a bit guilty now- as I am imagining Philippe moving from a nice, safe environment to 'the wild' where owls and other predators can get him. But I really didn't want him in my house.

Oh, and I've reset the trap- just in case there is a Philippe II.