A Mouse In The House!

Today, after returning home from running errands, I entered the garage to find Darth Vader (one of our cats) staring intently at the corner behind the dryer. Knowing that there should be nothing of interest back there I grew curious. I went over to have a peek. Once there, I noticed that the dryer vent tube had a hole in it. This was even more curious to me because I just purchased this vent tube last week to replace the last one that had a hole in it. The previous one had been in use for the last 8 years so when we found the hole we really didn't put much thought into it. We just assumed it was old and had somehow become damaged. But tonight, my suspicions were aroused. I pulled out both the dryer and the washer and found the tell tale signs of a mouse! EEK! At least I hope it is a mouse! A rat would be much worse!!! I did a thorough check around the rest of the garage, behind, under, inside everything, and saw no signs anywhere else. I am thinking that since the cat food bowls were conveniently located next to the dryer, along with occasional lint droppings, that the little critter is visiting for a bite to eat and some fresh nesting material. The boys were very excited over this little discovery of mine. God Bless little boys! I am sure they are the only ones who could ever be excited over a wild rodent in the home! Of course, My Honey is currently out of town so I was forced to act as the resident pest control expert. We headed back into town and returned 45 minutes later with snap traps and poison. I brought the cat food inside the house and locked the kitty door leading to the garage. Poor Darth is forlorn! He is just sitting by the kitty door crying to get out. I think he was very excited about his find and was thinking he was going to get his first taste of fresh kill. I am so sorry to disappoint him! I set up two snap traps and placed a bit of poison both behind the dryer and by the outside vent, where I can only assume the little critter made his entrance. I will have to check it closer tomorrow when the sun is up. The boys went to bed all a titter with excitement over seeing a mouse with "it's head cut off!" Their words, not mine. I would rather not see a decapitated rodent in my gargage, nor do I want to have to dispose of it. I can only hope that this little critter will show me mercy and simply take a bit of poison back to it's home and die quietly somewhere that I don't have to watch. Either way, I hope it happens quickly. I only like rodents when they are neatly caged in clear plastic boxes with brightly colored tubing connecting them. I will post again tomorrow with my pest control results. Wish me luck.