+kingsting Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Any of the above four options would be fine. Which option do you prefer? Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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'. Quote Link to comment
+Castle Mischief Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
GOF and Bacall Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Actually, the exact thing happened to some friends of mine (birdhouse cache had nesting mice) and they chose to archive it. Quote Link to comment
+CTYankee9 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
+The Blorenges Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Be nice to your mice. (Lest they seek revenge) MrsB Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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! Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
+Minimike2 Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Place "open house" signs up. Perhaps the neighborhood feral cat will check it out. Problem solved! Quote Link to comment
+bflentje Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
crawil Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted October 21, 2009 Just remember, Happy Wife, Happy Life. Nuf' said. Quote Link to comment
+Da Beast Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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 Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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! Quote Link to comment
+KJcachers Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
+The Blorenges Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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 Quote Link to comment
+bittsen Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
+wenestvedt Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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 Quote Link to comment
+Jeep_Dog Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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. - 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 Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
+tzipora Posted October 21, 2009 Share Posted 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). Quote Link to comment
+Crafty Turtle Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted 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 Quote Link to comment
GOF and Bacall Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted 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! Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
+smstext Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted 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 Quote Link to comment
+bittsen Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted 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? Quote Link to comment
GOF and Bacall Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted 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." Quote Link to comment
+Crafty Turtle Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
+Tatooed Lady Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
+6079smithw Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted 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) Quote Link to comment
+Crafty Turtle Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted 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. Quote Link to comment
+popokiiti Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted 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! Quote Link to comment
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