Mice are a part of life in the country. Some cottages do have to contend with mouse or two. Because we have pets, poison is out of the question and to our guests a dead mouse in a trap can be less appealing than the brief flash of one disappearing into the woodwork. Provided we are not overrun — they aren’t scooting across the bed or the kitchen counters — it’s something one can live with. A few years ago, we had an mouse epidemic in our area. Homes and cottages that had never seen mice were plagued by the varmints. As it turned out, the fox had developed mange and did not fare well that year. Fox tend to keep the mouse population in check. You may be pleased to learn, healthy, bushy-tailed fox are thriving this year. Still, I give you my heartfelt advice: If you’re terrified of mice, you’d be better off staying at the Holiday Inn.
Owner Tips: A good mouse deterrent? In the Fall ,when you’re closing up the cottage for the winter, place bounce sheets in the drawers and on the mattresses. Sprinkle whole cloves on the floors. Mice hate the smell.