A better mouse trap

[WILMASBOYL78]

We use those bucket traps at our camp in the mts....they are the best!!

wilma

[Rat Kulture]

Man I wouldnt mind making one out of a garbage can to trap squirrls

[mudjnky]

Any ideas on one for ground hogs?

[Keith Tedford]

When I was a kid on the farm, about the only entertainment I had was hunting groundhogs with my 22. By the time I finished high school, the local farms were pretty well cleaned up. I have warfarin laid down 12 months of the year to keep mice under control. Bigger animals can't get in so that isn't a problem. I always thought that mothballs were doing the job until my wife found a dead mouse under the front seat. Needless to say she wasn't impressed. Bounce dryer sheets are supposed to work so I used them this year. They smell a whole lot better than mothballs.

[SS427]

[ QUOTE ]
If a cat or dog happens to wander in and drink the sweet smelling "won't freeze" liquid, it won't be a very good outcome for him/her.

[/ QUOTE ]

I never thought it would happen and certainly not to me but it did. If you think your shop is safe it is NOT. I have my ex's dog for the week as her brother was killed Saturday night in a car crash. I leave the door open just a crack between the shop and the house so that I can hear if she is getting into trouble while I am working in the shop. Somehow Sunday morning she managed to open the door and "sneak" into the shop. I doubt she had been in there more than 30 seconds and I put her back into the house. About 4 hours later she vomited and there was nothing besides yellow mucous and one little dust ball. I thought it odd and because of the dust ball and thought I better investigate to see what she may have gotten into in the shop. I found that she had licked up a VERY small amound of antifeeze on the floor that I had spilled. We are talking less then a couple of teaspoons. I just came back from the last vet visit and after 2 days with absolutely NO sleep, emergency vet and regular vet visits, 3 doses of $400 each antitoxin and a total of a $2600 vet bill and a WHOLE lot of praying, she is out of the woods with no permanent damage but we came VERY close. There were crystals in her urine and when that happens, the dogs are almost certainly history. Unless you are an animal lover, you would never understand.

Things like antifreeze, snow globes, some winshield washer fluids, some brake fluids, and many other household and shop products contain ethylene glycol. Most importanly, don't leave a radiator or brake caliper laying exposed or spill any of it's fluid in the dirt where an animal can lick it up as this can also kill them.

Moral of the story, even when you THINK your shop is safe, it is NOT. I am a huge pet lover and know better! That is one of the reasons she is never allowed in the shop in the first place. The door now stays closed.

Sorry for the rant but anything that can be said to prevent this from happening to someone elses pet is worth the effort. Sad fact is, I partook in this thread when it was original posted and even I did not learn from it then.

[COPO 70 RS/Z28]

Rick,

Glad your dog made it. Sounds like luck was on your side, Anti Freeze is very sweet to the taste and is lethal to animals (and people).

I know what you mean, you can never be careful enough.

Glad she made it,

[Xplantdad]

Rick...thanks again for the reminder.

Now...go and get some sleep

[mockingbird812]

Boy that was a close one. Kudos for your aggressive response Rick. Gotta save those little rascals!!!

[Tommy]

Rick, it's good to hear your little buddy is recovering. Prestone offers a low tox antifreeze that is supposed to be somewhat safer for animals should they find it by accident. You can read up on it on Prestones website and it is on the shelves at Advance Auto Parts.

Tommy

[Verne_Frantz]

I'm aware of the hazards and I'm also a pet lover. My garage is detached and always securely closed. Nothing larger than a mouse can get in there.
Verne