0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.

RickH wrote:
0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into
the toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this
toilet is separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent
fixtures. I also figue it could not have crawled up to the second
story through vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in
through the street main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.

I do hope you helped it out.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

"RickH" wrote in message
ups.com...
0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.



I've never understood why women will scream about a mouse, but they're happy
to own a dog, an unpredictable animal that could kill them.

Rats can run thru plumbing holding the breath. Saw it on some show. I
don't know about mice.


"RickH" wrote in message
ups.com...
0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.

on 8/14/2007 11:05 AM JoeSpareBedroom said the following:
"RickH" wrote in message
ups.com...

0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.




I've never understood why women will scream about a mouse, but they're happy
to own a dog, an unpredictable animal that could kill them.

And mice clean themselves, like cats, both unlike dogs, who'll roll
themselves in deer, and other ****..

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 07:48:43 -0700, RickH
wrote Re Field mouse in toilet:

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

That's it.

Seems like a very brave and talented mouse. What did you do with it?
--
To email me directly, remove CLUTTER.

"willshak" wrote in message
...
on 8/14/2007 11:05 AM JoeSpareBedroom said the following:
"RickH" wrote in message
ups.com...

0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.




I've never understood why women will scream about a mouse, but they're
happy to own a dog, an unpredictable animal that could kill them.

And mice clean themselves, like cats, both unlike dogs, who'll roll
themselves in deer, and other ****..

.....and then try and lick your face.

On Aug 14, 9:48 am, RickH wrote:
crossposted to alt.consumers.pest-control
0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.

I don't know how it might have climbed the vent stack... and I would
wonder if the toilet lid were up or down...

Chances are best that if you have seen one mouse, there are more.
Generally, they're practically an infestation before the homeowner
notices.

I'd advise getting a few packs of rat sized glue traps and baiting
them with a couple cotton balls (and/or pistachios) about an inch from
the edge and placing them in a corner or under the sinks on each
floor.
-----

- gpsman

On Aug 14, 11:30 am, Vic Dura wrote:
On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 07:48:43 -0700, RickH
wrote Re Field mouse in toilet:

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

That's it.

Seems like a very brave and talented mouse. What did you do with it?
--
To email me directly, remove CLUTTER.

I picked it up by the tail and, uh, suffocated it in a zip lock bag
tied in another plastic bag, today just happened to be garbage pickup
day

I have never seen a mouse in the house previously, but I'll put out
some glue traps anyway just to prove to myself it did not get in any
way other than the roof vent. The second story of my house is sealed
tight and the only way up here is the staircase if he got through a
wall at ground level. And even if he got in at ground level hole then
the mouse should wind up in the basement as the ground floor is about
18 inches above grade. No other explanation other than the roof vent
makes any sense to me.

RickH wrote in
ups.com:

0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.


Nice. A mouse in the toilet.

As to how - I have seen mice jump several feet in the air into a small
crack in the wall. They can squeeze through holes much smaller than
the diameter of their body. I would assume he go it the toilet from
the bathroom by squeezing under the seat - now how he got in the
bathroom, for a mouse there are probably a hundred ways.

I'll bet he was really surprised when he fell in the water and
couldn't get out - poor thing.

I recommend catch and release for this one (if it's not too late!).

kpg

On Aug 14, 11:43 am, gpsman wrote:
On Aug 14, 9:48 am, RickH wrote:
crossposted to alt.consumers.pest-control





0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.

I don't know how it might have climbed the vent stack... and I would
wonder if the toilet lid were up or down...

Chances are best that if you have seen one mouse, there are more.
Generally, they're practically an infestation before the homeowner
notices.

I'd advise getting a few packs of rat sized glue traps and baiting
them with a couple cotton balls (and/or pistachios) about an inch from
the edge and placing them in a corner or under the sinks on each
floor.
-----

- gpsman- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I'll keep you posted if there are more. Seat was up but a small mouse
could not possibly climb an inverted slope porcelain bowl, just like
he could not climb out of same bowl. No other "climbing fixtures" are
near this toilet for him to make a swan dive into the toilet either.

On Aug 14, 12:01 pm, RickH wrote:
On Aug 14, 11:43 am, gpsman wrote:





On Aug 14, 9:48 am, RickH wrote:
crossposted to alt.consumers.pest-control

0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.

I don't know how it might have climbed the vent stack... and I would
wonder if the toilet lid were up or down...

Chances are best that if you have seen one mouse, there are more.
Generally, they're practically an infestation before the homeowner
notices.

I'd advise getting a few packs of rat sized glue traps and baiting
them with a couple cotton balls (and/or pistachios) about an inch from
the edge and placing them in a corner or under the sinks on each
floor.
-----

- gpsman- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I'll keep you posted if there are more. Seat was up but a small mouse
could not possibly climb an inverted slope porcelain bowl, just like
he could not climb out of same bowl. No other "climbing fixtures" are
near this toilet for him to make a swan dive into the toilet either.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Actually only the closer seat was up the ring seat was down.

willshak wrote:

And mice clean themselves, like cats, both unlike dogs, who'll roll
themselves in deer, and other ****..

As opposed to humans (males) who spray themselves with deer urine...

RickH wrote:
0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.

Two things to consider:

1. If a mouse can get in the toilet, other things can too. Rats. Snakes.

2. If you have a cat, perhaps the cat caught the mouse and put the mouse
somewhere for you to find it. The cat can't sit around all night with a
mouse in its beak waiting for two-leggers to get out of bed.

3. If you don't have a cat, get one.

On Aug 14, 1:59 pm, "HeyBub" wrote:
RickH wrote:
0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.

Two things to consider:

1. If a mouse can get in the toilet, other things can too. Rats. Snakes.


No rats anywhere near here, only harmless garden snakes that cant
climb the whole 2 story house to the roof stack.

2. If you have a cat, perhaps the cat caught the mouse and put the mouse
somewhere for you to find it. The cat can't sit around all night with a
mouse in its beak waiting for two-leggers to get out of bed.


No cat, just a dog who is afraid of its own shadow.

3. If you don't have a cat, get one.- Hide quoted text -


Allergies.

- Show quoted text -

I cant understand this, its a newer subdivision against the woods
built on old farmland. The critters mostly stay in the woods coyote,
deer, red fox, coons, woodchucks, gophers, field mice, toads, etc.
Never saw a "city rat" anywhere near here. The glue traps will tell
me if this is an isolated incident or if I have to start looking for a
hole somewhere.

On Aug 14, 9:48 am, RickH wrote:
0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.

I just though of something...

Many of my downspouts feed directly into perforated corrugated plastic
drain tile tubing that I assume just terminates under ground about 20
feet from the house. If some mice set up shop in that plastic drain
tile, then that would explain how one might be on my roof having
climbed through the downspout into the gutters. Last night we had a
severe thunderstorm front come in dumping a lot of rain suddenly.
Maybe this mouse got washed out of the gutter so he decided to look
for high ground on the roof, then entered the vent stack? Just a
theory but maybe plausible.

on 8/14/2007 3:32 PM RickH said the following:
On Aug 14, 9:48 am, RickH wrote:

0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.


I just though of something...

Many of my downspouts feed directly into perforated corrugated plastic
drain tile tubing that I assume just terminates under ground about 20
feet from the house. If some mice set up shop in that plastic drain
tile, then that would explain how one might be on my roof having
climbed through the downspout into the gutters. Last night we had a
severe thunderstorm front come in dumping a lot of rain suddenly.
Maybe this mouse got washed out of the gutter so he decided to look
for high ground on the roof, then entered the vent stack? Just a
theory but maybe plausible.

Then that would have been some talented mouse, to be able to climb down
to the toilet waste opening then swim through the water in the toilet
trap to the bowl. You should have kept him. He probably would have made
you a lot of money with those talents.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

RickH wrote:
0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet,

Consider yourself lucky. We were just starting to potty train one of
our kids when, while I was at work, the lid was lifted to find a squirrel
doing the breast stroke. By the time I hurried home the potty issue was
taken care of in a different bathroom and the squirrel was in a clothes
hamper with the top secured. After a trip to the vet our visitor was
released and must have told the others about it because no other has ever
tried it.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

RickH wrote:
0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.


You might take a quick look around in the upstairs rooms along the
baseboards, in the corners and behind the furniture to see if there has
been any on going activity. Rodents don't have control of their bowel
movements so there will be pellets along where they have traveled. I
don't think a mouse would have the vertical leap(they jump several feet
horizontally though) to get on the toilet seat but a baby rat would and
I do see people get the two mixed up all the time. The mouse's ears and
feet will be in proportion to the rest of the body where as a baby rat
will have over sized feet and ears. (I contend Mickey Mouse is actually
a rat). Also look above the toilet to make sure there isn't a missed
opening that they may of jumped from.

Lar

Don't be so big headed as to think your house is mouse proof. It's not. He
fell in there from inside. Mice can go anywhere.

steve


"RickH" wrote in message
ups.com...
0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.

why didn't you just flush the toilet.??? JEEEEZZZZEEEEE....


steve


"RickH" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Aug 14, 11:30 am, Vic Dura wrote:
On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 07:48:43 -0700, RickH
wrote Re Field mouse in toilet:

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

That's it.

Seems like a very brave and talented mouse. What did you do with it?
--
To email me directly, remove CLUTTER.

I picked it up by the tail and, uh, suffocated it in a zip lock bag
tied in another plastic bag, today just happened to be garbage pickup
day

I have never seen a mouse in the house previously, but I'll put out
some glue traps anyway just to prove to myself it did not get in any
way other than the roof vent. The second story of my house is sealed
tight and the only way up here is the staircase if he got through a
wall at ground level. And even if he got in at ground level hole then
the mouse should wind up in the basement as the ground floor is about
18 inches above grade. No other explanation other than the roof vent
makes any sense to me.

RickH wrote:
No cat, just a dog who is afraid of its own shadow.

3. If you don't have a cat, get one.-

Allergies.


Not a good excuse; you can get shots.

why the vet?

s


"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
After a trip to the vet our visitor was
released and must have told the others about it because no other has ever
tried it.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

AMEN, that's the bogus excuse a lot of people use for not having them.

steve


"HeyBub" wrote in message
...
RickH wrote:
No cat, just a dog who is afraid of its own shadow.

3. If you don't have a cat, get one.-

Allergies.


Not a good excuse; you can get shots.

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:16:51 -0500, HeyBub wrote:

RickH wrote:
3. If you don't have a cat, get one.-

Allergies.

Not a good excuse; you can get shots.

Not always. I get asthma from cats, and from nothing else. There are no
shots that can help me. So I avoid cats completely.

Don www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

"HeyBub" wrote in message
...
RickH wrote:
No cat, just a dog who is afraid of its own shadow.

3. If you don't have a cat, get one.-

Allergies.


Not a good excuse; you can get shots.
That is like getting a dog in NYC to protect you from burglars- with the
out-of-pocket costs, not to mention the time, in taking care of the damn
thing, you are better off dealing with the problem you were trying to cure,
on your own.

Don't get me wrong, I like cats, but I am also allergic. No way would I go
to the expense and health risks and general misery of the side effects from
the shots, just to have one. And it is nice not having cat hair all over the
place, the feeding and vet routines, not to mention that damn stinky litter
box to look after. (I am out of the house 10 hours a day, so no way around
that one...)

aem sends....

"HeyBub" wrote in
:

willshak wrote:

And mice clean themselves, like cats, both unlike dogs, who'll roll
themselves in deer, and other ****..

As opposed to humans (males) who spray themselves with deer urine...




Errrr....fraid not!

He could have climbed up a wall or cabinet and fallen into the toilet.


"RickH" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Aug 14, 11:43 am, gpsman wrote:
On Aug 14, 9:48 am, RickH wrote:
crossposted to alt.consumers.pest-control





0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.

I don't know how it might have climbed the vent stack... and I would
wonder if the toilet lid were up or down...

Chances are best that if you have seen one mouse, there are more.
Generally, they're practically an infestation before the homeowner
notices.

I'd advise getting a few packs of rat sized glue traps and baiting
them with a couple cotton balls (and/or pistachios) about an inch from
the edge and placing them in a corner or under the sinks on each
floor.
-----

- gpsman- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I'll keep you posted if there are more. Seat was up but a small mouse
could not possibly climb an inverted slope porcelain bowl, just like
he could not climb out of same bowl. No other "climbing fixtures" are
near this toilet for him to make a swan dive into the toilet either.

"kpg*" wrote in news:Xns998C7A12295C7ipostthereforeiam@
69.28.186.120:

RickH wrote in
ups.com:

0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.


Nice. A mouse in the toilet.

As to how - I have seen mice jump several feet in the air into a small
crack in the wall. They can squeeze through holes much smaller than
the diameter of their body. I would assume he go it the toilet from
the bathroom by squeezing under the seat - now how he got in the
bathroom, for a mouse there are probably a hundred ways.

I'll bet he was really surprised when he fell in the water and
couldn't get out - poor thing.

I recommend catch and release for this one (if it's not too late!).

kpg




Yea thay certainly can jump!

Wonder if it was a hot day? Maybe just doing some dives off the tank for
R&R, ya think?

I recommend catch and release for this one (if it's not too late!).

Yea it's just an animal trying to instinctively survive. It doesn't give
a rats-ass about any meaningless humans trying to survive any more than
humans care about their meaningless asses.

I'd have cut him some slack. Not a radical though. I don't think head
lice have rights :-)

willshak wrote in
:

on 8/14/2007 3:32 PM RickH said the following:
On Aug 14, 9:48 am, RickH wrote:

0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into
the toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this
toilet is separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent
fixtures. I also figue it could not have crawled up to the second
story through vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in
through the street main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.


I just though of something...

Many of my downspouts feed directly into perforated corrugated
plastic drain tile tubing that I assume just terminates under ground
about 20 feet from the house. If some mice set up shop in that
plastic drain tile, then that would explain how one might be on my
roof having climbed through the downspout into the gutters. Last
night we had a severe thunderstorm front come in dumping a lot of
rain suddenly. Maybe this mouse got washed out of the gutter so he
decided to look for high ground on the roof, then entered the vent
stack? Just a theory but maybe plausible.

Then that would have been some talented mouse, to be able to climb
down to the toilet waste opening then swim through the water in the
toilet trap to the bowl. You should have kept him. He probably would
have made you a lot of money with those talents.


Hmmm...Something that could actually win ahe rat-race ;-)

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 11:30:54 -0500, Vic Dura
wrote:

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 07:48:43 -0700, RickH
wrote Re Field mouse in toilet:

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

That's it.

Seems like a very brave and talented mouse. What did you do with it?

I think it should be awarded the Legion d'Honeur d'Mouse.

on 8/14/2007 7:22 PM Steve Barker said the following:
AMEN, that's the bogus excuse a lot of people use for not having them.

steve


Some people are definitely allergic to cats. I have a Maine Coon cat
(long hair). When ever my neighbor comes to our house, she begins to
sneeze and her eyes tear (teer). If she is staying for a while, she has
to take a Benedryl.
I was diagnosed as allergic to cats, among other things, years ago. I've
either grown out of it, or I have developed an immunity to them.


"HeyBub" wrote in message
...

RickH wrote:

No cat, just a dog who is afraid of its own shadow.


3. If you don't have a cat, get one.-

Allergies.


Not a good excuse; you can get shots.







--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:16:51 -0500, "HeyBub"
wrote:

RickH wrote:
No cat, just a dog who is afraid of its own shadow.

3. If you don't have a cat, get one.-

Allergies.


Not a good excuse; you can get shots.

Or you can shoot the cat.

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 17:54:51 -0400, "Joseph Meehan"
wrote:

RickH wrote:
0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet,

Consider yourself lucky. We were just starting to potty train one of
our kids when, while I was at work, the lid was lifted to find a squirrel
doing the breast stroke. By the time I hurried home the potty issue was
taken care of in a different bathroom and the squirrel was in a clothes
hamper with the top secured. After a trip to the vet our visitor was
released and must have told the others about it because no other has ever
tried it.

I've heard that squirrels can have rabies, but humans can't get rabies
from a squirrel. Seems strange.

Maybe it's a different kind of rabies, or maybe.....

Al Bundy wrote:
"HeyBub" wrote in
:

willshak wrote:

And mice clean themselves, like cats, both unlike dogs, who'll roll
themselves in deer, and other ****..

As opposed to humans (males) who spray themselves with deer urine...




Errrr....fraid not!

'fraid so.

http://www.harmondeerscents.com/products.aspx

willshak wrote:

Some people are definitely allergic to cats. I have a Maine Coon cat
(long hair). When ever my neighbor comes to our house, she begins to
sneeze and her eyes tear (teer). If she is staying for a while, she
has to take a Benedryl.
I was diagnosed as allergic to cats, among other things, years ago.
I've either grown out of it, or I have developed an immunity to them.


Oh, I agree some people are allergic. But there is a high success rate,
given enough injections, in overcoming this malady.

aemeijers wrote:
"HeyBub" wrote in message
...
RickH wrote:
No cat, just a dog who is afraid of its own shadow.

3. If you don't have a cat, get one.-

Allergies.


Not a good excuse; you can get shots.

That is like getting a dog in NYC to protect you from burglars- with
the out-of-pocket costs, not to mention the time, in taking care of
the damn thing, you are better off dealing with the problem you were
trying to cure, on your own.

Except only the politically well-connected can get a pistol permit in NYC,
so the only way you can deal with burglars on your own is to move to, say,
Texas.


Don't get me wrong, I like cats, but I am also allergic. No way would
I go to the expense and health risks and general misery of the side
effects from the shots, just to have one. And it is nice not having
cat hair all over the place, the feeding and vet routines, not to
mention that damn stinky litter box to look after. (I am out of the
house 10 hours a day, so no way around that one...)

I understand. And I'm glad you said that these reasons were your own
personal inclinations. To many, a pet is a member of the family and is every
bit as deserving of attention and welfare as any other. Further, pets often
earn their keep - as you pointed out with dogs and burglars and I've opined
about cats and mice.

On Aug 14, 9:48 am, RickH wrote:
0600 hours this morning the wife gets out of bed to use the master
bath (on second floor). She screams because there is a small gray
mouse doing the breast stroke in the toilet, stuck unable to climb
out. I figure since this is a second story bath that the only way
that mouse got there was through the roof vent. We've never had a
mouse in the house and it would be impossible for him to get into the
toilet by climbing it or jumping from a counter because this toilet is
separated from the sink in a corner with no adjacent fixtures. I also
figue it could not have crawled up to the second story through
vertical PVC from the basement had it gotten in through the street
main.

So it must have fell in the roof vent then just too a turn at the T
into the toilet and swam past the toilet P trap.

Is there any other way he could have gotten there? That I should be
looking to plug up an entry hole? The house is only 8 years old,
probably no screen on the roof vent.

I put out some glue traps with a salty nut in the middle. No mice
caught this morning, could not find any droppings anywhere. But I'll
keep trying, I dont care if I get an occasional mouse if I can find
the entry point and close it. The ear and claw proportions were
normal so its not a rat. Will double check anywhere a hole may have
been drilled in the house.

Al Bundy wrote in news:Xns998CEA3FEF14AAlBundy@
216.196.97.136:


I'd have cut him some slack. Not a radical though. I don't think head
lice have rights :-)


Yeah - it needs to warm and furry.

RickH wrote:
probably no screen on the roof vent.

I put out some glue traps with a salty nut in the middle. No mice
caught this morning, could not find any droppings anywhere. But I'll
keep trying, I dont care if I get an occasional mouse if I can find
the entry point and close it. The ear and claw proportions were
normal so its not a rat. Will double check anywhere a hole may have
been drilled in the house.


Mice happen. I was amused at original post because once I caught a
mouse in a snap trap and immediately went to flush him down the toilet
when water revived him. He did not survive the flush though.

Glue traps I use but do not favor. They are not as effective and mouse
takes longer do die. I saw one chew up his leg trying to get out of
trap. Glue traps in basement catch some fairly scary insects and spiders.

I put poison in the attic and have snap traps all over as well as seal
all potential openings but still manage to catch an occasional mouse.

Also have a cat but he is not allowed in furnace room, basement or attic
where most of the mouse activity is.

Can also tell some bat and other interesting animal stories but that is
life in the suburbs.

Frank