New "residents" in cache. What to do?

October 21, 2009

I have a cache in a specially-made birdhouse. A finder recently mentioned that the container was found on the ground. Mice have chewed their way into the birdhouse and made a nest where the container normally resides and pushed it out. The wife and I checked on this and found a couple sets of eyes peeking out at us. I disabled the cache for the time being.

My options are:

Archive the cache and let them live in the birdhouse. Maybe repair it in the spring after the residents have left.

Boot them out, repair the birdhouse, open the hide back up, and make Mrs. kingsting mad at me for tossing the cute little fuzzy bugggers out in the cold.

Make another birdhouse and reopen the hide.

Forget the hide. It's over 5 years old and all the locals have found it. Let someone else have a shot at the location.

19k · October 21, 2009

Any of the above four options would be fine. Which option do you prefer?

20.7k · October 21, 2009

I have a cache in a specially-made birdhouse. A finder recently mentioned that the container was found on the ground. Mice have chewed their way into the birdhouse and made a nest where the container normally resides and pushed it out. The wife and I checked on this and found a couple sets of eyes peeking out at us. I disabled the cache for the time being.

My options are:

Archive the cache and let them live in the birdhouse. Maybe repair it in the spring after the residents have left.

Boot them out, repair the birdhouse, open the hide back up, and make Mrs. kingsting mad at me for tossing the cute little fuzzy bugggers out in the cold.

Make another birdhouse and reopen the hide.

Forget the hide. It's over 5 years old and all the locals have found it. Let someone else have a shot at the location.

I would archive it and create a new one in a different spot with a new 'birdhouse'.

4.2k · October 21, 2009

I have a cache in a specially-made birdhouse. A finder recently mentioned that the container was found on the ground. Mice have chewed their way into the birdhouse and made a nest where the container normally resides and pushed it out. The wife and I checked on this and found a couple sets of eyes peeking out at us. I disabled the cache for the time being.

My options are:

Archive the cache and let them live in the birdhouse. Maybe repair it in the spring after the residents have left.

Boot them out, repair the birdhouse, open the hide back up, and make Mrs. kingsting mad at me for tossing the cute little fuzzy bugggers out in the cold.

Make another birdhouse and reopen the hide.

Forget the hide. It's over 5 years old and all the locals have found it. Let someone else have a shot at the location.

Nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

Um, yeah. The bleeding-heart squishy on the inside tree-hugging, nature loving, side of me says let the cache go and let the rodents enjoy winter in some nice digs.

Better in the bird house than in your house, right?

If the Mrs. is leaning towards letting them stay then there really is only one option.

6.7k · October 21, 2009

It sounds to me like the real question is where do YOU want to sleep tonight. You can't go wrong if you make your Mrs. happy.

19k · October 21, 2009

Actually, the exact thing happened to some friends of mine (birdhouse cache had nesting mice) and they chose to archive it.

October 21, 2009

Did they properly log their find and share their experience on-line?

If not delete them and and deal with the wrath of the Missus!

Really I would say let them be, may be a cold winter and they seem happy, maybe just check on it in the spring and remove the container when they have moved on and are done using it.

8.6k · October 21, 2009

Be nice to your mice.

(Lest they seek revenge)

MrsB

8.6k · October 21, 2009

Did they follow the geocaching guidelines and ask permission to use your property first?

If not, I would delete them and any log they may have posted!

20.7k · October 21, 2009

Did they follow the geocaching guidelines and ask permission to use your property first?

If not, I would delete them and any log they may have posted!

Clearly, they believe that they have adequate permission.

October 21, 2009

An out of place 'pile of sticks' around the base of the pole. A small amount of 'unapproved alcohol' on the sticks. A 'shouldn't be there match' applied to said sticks.

Poof BBQ vermin. Then either put a new birdhouse up, with metal floor, or archive it.

8.6k · October 21, 2009

Place "open house" signs up. Perhaps the neighborhood feral cat will check it out. Problem solved!

3.8k · October 21, 2009

I have a cache in a specially-made birdhouse. A finder recently mentioned that the container was found on the ground. Mice have chewed their way into the birdhouse and made a nest where the container normally resides and pushed it out. The wife and I checked on this and found a couple sets of eyes peeking out at us. I disabled the cache for the time being.

My options are:

Archive the cache and let them live in the birdhouse. Maybe repair it in the spring after the residents have left.

Boot them out, repair the birdhouse, open the hide back up, and make Mrs. kingsting mad at me for tossing the cute little fuzzy bugggers out in the cold.

Make another birdhouse and reopen the hide.

Forget the hide. It's over 5 years old and all the locals have found it. Let someone else have a shot at the location.

Option #5.. bring the shovel.

October 21, 2009

Just remember, Happy Wife, Happy Life.

Nuf' said.

October 21, 2009

halloween almost here toss some firecrackers in or a smoke snake the smell of gunpowder should get rid of them and anymore that want to live there

8.6k · October 21, 2009

halloween almost here toss some firecrackers in or a smoke snake the smell of gunpowder should get rid of them and anymore that want to live there

M-80!

October 21, 2009

boot the mice. they are pests, not pets. I monitor a Bluebird house trail and they are constantly taking over the houses after the birds start a nest.

8.6k · October 21, 2009

Can't the mice reside in the birdhouse and it still be a cache?

No. The only rodents sanctioned for geocache habitation are hamsters.

MrsB

4.8k · October 21, 2009

Archive the cache, knowing you are adding back to nature. A penance for any damage you may cause to nature while caching.

The Mrs. will be satisfied.

Make another cache nearby, thus allowing new smileys for all who seek them.

There is no downside to this option.

October 21, 2009

Can't you hang another birdhouse nearby? Consider the possibility of a cacher sticking their nose into an occupied-but-not-the-real-cache birdhouse part of the fun: convert it to a multi or puzzle cache!

- Will

October 21, 2009

Work with them. Give the Mrs a smile that you are taking care of the "cute furry" things. Perhaps make their life completely luxiously by feeding them. :laughing:

- or -

If ya,

got a mouse and ya want it gone,

but you ain't got the guts,

it keeps vacating your cache night and day,

enough to drive you nuts,

pick up the phone,

leave the mouse alone,

It's time you made a stand.

For a fee,

I'm happy to be,

Your no-mouse man

Dirty Deeds, Done Dirt Cheap

24.7k · October 21, 2009

I have a cache in a specially-made birdhouse. A finder recently mentioned that the container was found on the ground. Mice have chewed their way into the birdhouse and made a nest where the container normally resides and pushed it out. The wife and I checked on this and found a couple sets of eyes peeking out at us. I disabled the cache for the time being.

My options are:

Archive the cache and let them live in the birdhouse. Maybe repair it in the spring after the residents have left.

Boot them out, repair the birdhouse, open the hide back up, and make Mrs. kingsting mad at me for tossing the cute little fuzzy bugggers out in the cold.

Make another birdhouse and reopen the hide.

Forget the hide. It's over 5 years old and all the locals have found it. Let someone else have a shot at the location.

If it were me I'd boot the residents and fix the cache since cachers will look for it if it's disabled, archived, or what have you. That way the residents will have a new home and not be disturbed by cachers hunting blind off old data.

24.7k · October 21, 2009

...Make another cache nearby, thus allowing new smileys for all who seek them. ...

Cachers hunting blind off old data will find this one anyway. Cachers hunting the new one nearby will find this and poke around. One way or the other these mice are going to be disturbed.

October 21, 2009

Abandon that ship and let the pirates win. Put out a new cache with a chicken-wire floor. Everybody's happy (including your wife).

October 22, 2009

Are they native field mice that have more right to the forest than you do? Or are they introduced pests who have come from Europe and are a blight on the local wildlife?

That'll tell you whether to evict them or not. (I let my dog chase & kill rabbits, but not possums, koalas or kangaroos.)

But I do prefer the option of archiving it, and letting someone else place a cache in the vicinity. (That way, you get the smiley).

win-win-win

6.7k · October 22, 2009

You could leave 'em where they are and just raise the difficulty a tad. Looking at this thread though it is obvious that we don't get the same acceptance for mouse cachers as for hamster cachers. So much for diversity in geocaching.

20.7k · October 22, 2009

Are they native field mice that have more right to the forest than you do? Or are they introduced pests who have come from Europe and are a blight on the local wildlife?

That'll tell you whether to evict them or not. (I let my dog chase & kill rabbits, but not possums, koalas or kangaroos.)

But I do prefer the option of archiving it, and letting someone else place a cache in the vicinity. (That way, you get the smiley).

win-win-win

I turned a blind eye to my dog's destruction of all things 'possum, but we never allowed her to chase rabbits. Koalas and kangas were not an option.

8.6k · October 22, 2009

Are they native field mice that have more right to the forest than you do? Or are they introduced pests who have come from Europe and are a blight on the local wildlife?

That'll tell you whether to evict them or not. (I let my dog chase & kill rabbits, but not possums, koalas or kangaroos.)

But I do prefer the option of archiving it, and letting someone else place a cache in the vicinity. (That way, you get the smiley).

win-win-win

I turned a blind eye to my dog's destruction of all things 'possum, but we never allowed her to chase rabbits. Koalas and kangas were not an option.

Geez, I thought my dog was goofy for chasing sticks! Slow, too!

20.7k · October 22, 2009

Are they native field mice that have more right to the forest than you do? Or are they introduced pests who have come from Europe and are a blight on the local wildlife?

That'll tell you whether to evict them or not. (I let my dog chase & kill rabbits, but not possums, koalas or kangaroos.)

But I do prefer the option of archiving it, and letting someone else place a cache in the vicinity. (That way, you get the smiley).

win-win-win

I turned a blind eye to my dog's destruction of all things 'possum, but we never allowed her to chase rabbits. Koalas and kangas were not an option.

Geez, I thought my dog was goofy for chasing sticks! Slow, too!

I was never able to get my dog to chase a stick or a ball, which was kind of a bummer because one of the reasons that I got her was my fond memories of throwing the ball for my childhood pup. Still, she was a great dog.

October 22, 2009

find a local cat and point it towards the bird house, if the birdhouse accidently falls over near the cat ... well nature will take its course

4.8k · October 22, 2009

It amazes me how some people would do whatever to kill mice living in the woods or wherever that doesn't threaten man.

Mice are part of the ecosystem and no different from any other form of wildlife. Why kill mice, just because they are mice? Would they do the same with turtles, frogs, lizards, or any other animal?

I understand wanting to kill mice in your house, or even your yard, but why the hatred for mice in the woods?

6.7k · October 22, 2009

Are they native field mice that have more right to the forest than you do? Or are they introduced pests who have come from Europe and are a blight on the local wildlife?

That'll tell you whether to evict them or not. (I let my dog chase & kill rabbits, but not possums, koalas or kangaroos.)

But I do prefer the option of archiving it, and letting someone else place a cache in the vicinity. (That way, you get the smiley).

win-win-win

I turned a blind eye to my dog's destruction of all things 'possum, but we never allowed her to chase rabbits. Koalas and kangas were not an option.

Geez, I thought my dog was goofy for chasing sticks! Slow, too!

I was never able to get my dog to chase a stick or a ball, which was kind of a bummer because one of the reasons that I got her was my fond memories of throwing the ball for my childhood pup. Still, she was a great dog.

My dog has never seen the attraction for playing fetch. You throw the ball once he brings it back. You throw it twice he goes and lays down next to it and stares at you. It's almost like he's saying "It's over here dummy. Get it yourself."

October 23, 2009

Are they native field mice that have more right to the forest than you do? Or are they introduced pests who have come from Europe and are a blight on the local wildlife?

That'll tell you whether to evict them or not. (I let my dog chase & kill rabbits, but not possums, koalas or kangaroos.)

But I do prefer the option of archiving it, and letting someone else place a cache in the vicinity. (That way, you get the smiley).

win-win-win

I turned a blind eye to my dog's destruction of all things 'possum, but we never allowed her to chase rabbits. Koalas and kangas were not an option.

Geez, I thought my dog was goofy for chasing sticks! Slow, too!

I was never able to get my dog to chase a stick or a ball, which was kind of a bummer because one of the reasons that I got her was my fond memories of throwing the ball for my childhood pup. Still, she was a great dog.

My dog has never seen the attraction for playing fetch. You throw the ball once he brings it back. You throw it twice he goes and lays down next to it and stares at you. It's almost like he's saying "It's over here dummy. Get it yourself."

When I throw a stick for my dog she's like "You show me the treat, I'll fetch you the stick."

At least a rabbit is its own built-in treat. And "treats" are in plague proportions right now.

October 23, 2009

How about this...get yourself a new cache container...move the "occupied" one a few feet over, add a little "OCCUPADO" sign to it. Put up new (and improved) UNOCCUPIED container where old one was, change no coordinates.

Mice will be moved to a new neighborhood, and they can decide if they want to stay or not. Check the old house occasionally, maybe they'll vacate and you can reclaim.

Wife's happy, you're not sleeping with the fishes, and life is good. Plus you won't have to change any posted info on your cache.

October 31, 2009

find a local cat and point it towards the bird house, if the birdhouse accidently falls over near the cat ... well nature will take its course

If the mice leave and the feline moves in, then you'd have a Cathouse, no? (Yeah, my bad) Seriously, whatever makes the wife happy is the smart choice... don't let a birdhouse land you in the doghouse (BTDT)

November 2, 2009

Sigh - a nest with 4 owls is situated in a branch right over where I park my car. D*mn things are pooping their toxic waste on my duco.

If only I could train the dog to climb trees. :rolleyes:

2.4k · November 3, 2009

These must be the best housed mice in town. What a compliment. I'd move mice and "their" house a little ways away, with a bit of food to soften the blow and put a new cache up. It's a cute story - and I am with your wife 100%.

To Mrs B - thanks for posting that hilarious cartoon of the mouse at the computer! :rolleyes:

New "residents" in cache. What to do?

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