Athena's gaze narrows--one claw idles with her headset controls. Her tail snakes nervously as her great black eyes take in the light of the screens. Her claws dance deftly over the console before her.
She cocks her head sideways, one paw to her ear, and calls over her shoulder. "Sir. I have unidentified movement; furnace tunnel sector, near the Pantry."
Charlie's response rumbled through the darkness behind her. "Do we have any patrols or snack-gathering scheduled in that sector?"
"No sir."
"Hrrmmphh...." His huge voice was like a wind. "Who do we have in forward cabin sector?"
"Frisby, and Justin are on shoe-pooping detail in port closet sector," she chirped, "No other units in proximity, sir..."
"Go comms. Daddy Tree, this is Charlie actual. We have possible intruder near the Pantry..."
"Text sent, sir--Daddy Tree seems to be passed out on the futon with a tub of ice cream."
"Designate that ice cream for collection, agent Athena. Hm...no backup. Unknown intruder. Athena...deploy...The Slasher."
"Sir? Are you sure?"
Chelsea's piercing bark shatters the darkness..."I'M NOT PLAYING YOUR STUPID GAME!"

"Aww...."

<SNIP>

Ahh...the best part about retirement is that I can get twisted whenever I want. :-)

Seriously though.
I have all gliders on lockdown. Did a head count and I do have a stowaway. It's bigger than a mouse. I'm thinking it's a rat.

<delete glue-trap joke>

Does anyone know of a good, small humane cage trap. IT'S EATING MY NACHO CHIPS! I need to eject this guy fast.

**Honey...why does our new baby look so....ratty?**

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scandal....

I don't want to kill it...but it can't stay here.

I have no good advice for ejecting your unwanted guest, beyond maybe googling for pied pipers in your area.

I just wanted to give you a big round of applause for the thrilling dramatic reenactment of the incident!

Loved your story

I have learned that Amazon is essentially like Google

Amazon results for Live Rat Traps

Ok...the atomic barbie should be here within 48 hours.
Man, amazon made a mistake when they gave me free shipping.

Only.
You.

Hey he's so far out in the boonies, ups and FedEx have a add to route surcharge of over $6 on top of their regular rate. And that's with my AARP discount!

Let me know how your live trap works...

And thanks for the story!!!

The suspense!!!! Guess I'll just have to wait till the next episode

Got a look at the intruder last night. It's either a young gray rat or a pretty big gray mouse.
Too fast for me to grab though...

I thought about pulling my precious supply of nacho chips out of there, but...I want it to keep coming back regularly now, so I can catch it.

So now I sit...playing my little farm game...listening to this vandal chow down on my nacho chips. The sound of the nibbling and bag-ripping makes me angry.
She didn't get into one bag and eat the contents.
Instead, like a monkey at a fruit stand--she's ripped open every bag, and sampled them all.

"YEAH...ya happy NOW? There really ISN'T a difference between white corn and yellow corn--SEE?! It's just marketing!"

I keep telling them it's all about the salsa.
Rodents...

This time of year, it's actually, probably a mommy mouse, working her claws to the bone, gathering food trying to feed a nest of brand new babies.
While deadbeat daddy mouse swills beer on a tiny couch and demands she make him a sandwich...

When I put her out, I will leave her some nacho chips.

Where is that trap... :-(

Ok...trap is set.
Loaded it with a nice big nacho chip...with real cheese...
Now....we wait...

Oh, the anticipation!

I heard Mrs. Mouse go into the pantry again last night...
She could tell I was onto her though...she left without springing the trap. Probably shouldn't have thrown the half-eaten nacho chips out yet. :-( (Three bags!!!!)
I'm known for being a garbage disposal--but food that's been handled--and potentially defecated on, by an unknown rodent--is beyond my limit...
Right now...
If you had asked me two weeks ago I would be puttin' cheese on those babies and chowing down.
We will see if she comes back tonight.
I did let the kids loose last night late. I was pretty sure Mrs. Mouse had moved on, and Arrow was chewing on the bars trying to get out.

We had a couple mice move in while the camper was in the barn. Since we didn't have time for my usual cleaning before we left, I'm still finding nests and stored nuts from the yard, but no mice. I did see one vacate when hubby pulled it out of the barn. I hate mice!

I have always used peanut butter, you may want to try it.