 |
|
02/02/10, 07:14 AM
|
 |
Happy Scrounger
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: South Central Wisconsin
Posts: 13,635
|
|
|
Mole caught in the mouse trap?
That can't be good, eh? Anyone have insight into either why I might have moles in the basement or what to do about it? Just more traps or something else?
I've never even seen a SIGN of moles around this area
I THINK it's a mole. About the size of a mouse, short tail, super soft deep browny fur, pointy nose, no eyes visible, long fingered paws with claws.
__________________
"A good photograph is knowing where to stand. ” - Ansel Adams
 (and a lot of luck - Wisconsin Ann)
Rabbits anyone? RabbitTalk.com
|
02/02/10, 09:29 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Missouri
Posts: 592
|
|
It probably isn't a mole, they're bigger and their front feet are about as big as their head.
From your description its probably either a vole, or a shrew.
We have voles in Missouri.
__________________
Liz
_____________________________
Dogs have masters, cats have staff.
|
02/02/10, 09:41 AM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Ohio -west central
Posts: 1,525
|
|
|
mole / shrew
That was prob. a shrew,if you have them they do help get rid of mice.
|
02/02/10, 09:44 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 7,154
|
|
|
Nature Lover is probably right. Shrews can look like a mouse with a stub tail and very squinty eyes, with a sharp pointy nose. They love to fight, and will whip your mice.
|
02/02/10, 10:08 AM
|
|
Happy Scrounger
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: South Central Wisconsin
Posts: 13,635
|
|
well cool. I'll take thetraps down then  GO SHREWS!
er..what happens now that the shrews have found the food source tho? oh dear....
__________________
"A good photograph is knowing where to stand. ” - Ansel Adams
(and a lot of luck - Wisconsin Ann)
Rabbits anyone? RabbitTalk.com
|
02/02/10, 10:11 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: S/E Michigan
Posts: 256
|
|
|
You probably have a shrew. The ones I trap in Michigan are black, with a short tail. Shrew's have venom in their bite but its rarely fatal to healthy humans.
Bill
|
02/02/10, 10:13 AM
|
|
Happy Scrounger
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: South Central Wisconsin
Posts: 13,635
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nature Man
You probably have a shrew. The ones I trap in Michigan are black, with a short tail. Shrew's have venom in their bite but its rarely fatal to healthy humans.
Bill
|
great.....rarely fatal.....I'm putting the traps back out...whatever this is, it obviously likes peanutbutter.
__________________
"A good photograph is knowing where to stand. ” - Ansel Adams
(and a lot of luck - Wisconsin Ann)
Rabbits anyone? RabbitTalk.com
|
02/02/10, 10:19 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Missouri Ozarks
Posts: 5,069
|
|
Quote:
|
great.....rarely fatal.....I'm putting the traps back out...whatever this is, it obviously likes peanutbutter.
|
I dont know why Ann but this thread just made me laugh this morning! I am with you..get rid of them!!!
|
02/02/10, 11:41 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: northcentral MN
Posts: 14,383
|
|
|
Their mouths are so tiny it's very hard for them to bite a person plus they won't try unless you pick them up. I'd let them do their work. When they are done they will leave.
__________________
"Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?" Hobbs
"I'm not sure that man needs the help." Calvin
|
02/02/10, 01:09 PM
|
 |
Columnist, Feature Writer
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Maine
Posts: 4,568
|
|
|
I have shrews eating bird seed at the back porch. We've gone from two to five mice trapped in the kitchen drawers (100 yo farm house) a week to two in six weeks. I'll take my chances on venomous shrews that will never bite me because I have no need to pick them up over mouse poop in the silver drawer.
__________________
Robin
|
02/02/10, 09:01 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NW-IL Fiber Enabler
Posts: 10,215
|
|
|
The cats caught one in the house last weekend. First time ever we've noticed a shrew in the house ... they fight the mice, eh?
|
02/02/10, 10:54 PM
|
|
Banned
|
|
Join Date: May 2002
Location: South Central Wisconsin
Posts: 14,801
|
|
|
If you have shrews, you won't have many mice. Shrews will not only hunt and kill mice but also eat them. They are in no hurry and don't like expending a lot of energy in the fight. They just want to get in one good bite and then wait for the mouse to die. Have never had one in the house but they've been living outside here for as long as I can remember. We do have mice move into the garage now and then but they don't last long after the shrews find out.
Martin
|
02/02/10, 11:19 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,798
|
|
|
The only problem you may have- better cover your ears!
Live shrews will curse you out!
LOL
They are the meanest little critters!
But, they are good for us!
So are moles, but they are much more laid back!
|
02/03/10, 12:48 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Bel Aire, KS
Posts: 3,547
|
|
|
Shrews have the highest metabolism in the world and they're basically eating/hunting machines. If they don't get to eat often enough, they can starve to death in less than 24 hours. I've considered getting one as a pet but don't know if there is anyone who keeps them that way.
__________________
Ted H
You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas.
-Davy Crockett
|
02/03/10, 01:01 AM
|
 |
Voice of Reason
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 33,719
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wisconsin Ann
That can't be good, eh? Anyone have insight into either why I might have moles in the basement or what to do about it? Just more traps or something else?
I've never even seen a SIGN of moles around this area
I THINK it's a mole. About the size of a mouse, short tail, super soft deep browny fur, pointy nose, no eyes visible, long fingered paws with claws.
|
He was probably just cold. I doubt that he wants to setup permanent housekeeping in your basement. Try to catch the rest of his family with peanut butter if you want to, but I suspect they'll have better things to do outside when spring arrives.
|
02/03/10, 01:09 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,807
|
|
|
Lucky me.
I have shrews AND mice.
Guess that means my shrews are wimps, eh?
BUT the only reason I know we have shrews is because, after seeing the post by WI Ann, Zonker the Cat was playing with something at my feet. I thought it was a toy. Then I looked a little closer, and saw that it was NOT a mouse. Pointy nose, etc., yup, figured "vole" or "shrew" -- now I have to go google, because I don't want Zonker to get sick!
__________________
Je ne suis pas Alice
http://homesteadingfamilies.proboards.com/
|
02/03/10, 01:14 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,807
|
|
|
Okay, when I google'd them, I saw that for sure it wasn't a vole, but the shrew pics looked like small anteaters!
Further investigation proved that not all shrews have such prominent probosci, so shrew it is.
Hope Zonker bit it before it bit him...
__________________
Je ne suis pas Alice
http://homesteadingfamilies.proboards.com/
|
02/03/10, 03:31 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 197
|
|
|
QUICK
Where do I order my shrews from? Got mice - would like shrews.
__________________
Happiness is not getting what you want, but wanting what you have.
|
02/03/10, 03:40 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MS
Posts: 24,572
|
|
|
We have shrews and mice. Not in the house though...outside. It always makes me mad when the cats kill a shrew. They won't eat them, so why kill them?
|
02/03/10, 07:53 PM
|
|
"Slick"
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Moving from NM to TX, & back to NM.
Posts: 2,341
|
|
|
2nd on Horsefethers request
__________________
We will meet in the golden city, called the New Jerusalem,
All our pain and all our tears will be no more.....
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:35 PM.
|
|
