Maurice The Mouse

Let me introduce you. This is Maurice the Mouse. I hope he doesn’t scare you, because he scared the life out of me.

Watching The Birds

The photograph was taken by myself one morning a few weeks ago. I was standing at the kitchen window, appreciating all that is good about nature on a sunny day. One of my favourite things is to watch the birds, all sorts, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Robins, Sparrows, Dunnocks and a whole host that I can’t remember their names. At first, I never saw Maurice the mouse, but there he was, sat as large as life and not bothered one bit by my presence. Perhaps he knows I wouldn’t hurt him?

He’s Photogenic

As soon as I knew he was there, my legs turned to jelly and I had that strange feeling of sudden anxiety, that illogical feeling of fear caused by such a tiny animal. I think it must be the same feeling that people who are frightened of spiders get, although, they don’t worry me. Gathering my senses through this mental turmoil, I managed to go and get my camera. How I stopped fumbling enough to set it up, I’ll never know. Amazingly, Maurice stayed in the same position all the time. It was as though he knew he was having his photograph taken and wanted to pose.

Smile

Click and the job was done and Maurice made a run for it. Unfortunately, he ran into the roof space that is above the central heating space. It’s lagged up there and must be warm. Oh my, that means he’s living in the house, living in the same space as me. Silly thought time ensued and impending doom set in that he’ll probably get into bed with me. I have to get rid of him, I can’t sleep and he’s driving me crazy knowing he’s only a few feet away!

Beware Of The Cat

Another worry was that next doors cat would have him for breakfast at the slightest inkling he knows he’s there. A plan was set up and a humane trap was set outside below the roof space. We put some of the birds’ fat blocks in there to tempt him as we had seen him chomping on the stuff a few days earlier. Personally, I can’t be doing with this sort of thing, it sends me into a panic of complete buffoonery. Thankfully, my wife is very good at dealing with it all. Forward two days and on inspection of the trap, there in the corner was sat, Maurice. He was in good health.

Departure Time

My wife collected the trap, put it in a large bag and put him in the boot of the car. Living in Wales, there are lots of woodland and fields about the place. She drove a couple of miles or so away before releasing Maurice into an overgrown patch of land. We’re both hoping he has made a good start there and is happily ‘mousing’ away in the wild. There’s been no sign of any other mice here since Maurice’s departure and I hope it will stay that way.

If you would like information on all sorts of mouse traps, there’s an article here:

I'd love to hear from you

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

64 Comments
  • librepaley
    May 17, 2020

    Early on moving into this house, I think I literally scared a mouse to death. The place had been empty a while, I was sitting on the floor, heard a scuttle, turned round, dead mouse on the floor. It must have seen this enormous pink monster up ahead and its little heart gave out.

  • Trev
    May 17, 2020

    Oh my, I think I would have passed out if it was me. I’m sure he wasn’t scared of you, it must have been his time. Thank you. 😉

    • librepaley
      May 21, 2020

      Hope that was the case!

      • Trev
        May 21, 2020

        I’m sure it was. 🙁

  • Michelle Scott
    May 17, 2020

    My cat keeps bringing me them.

    • Trev
      May 17, 2020

      Our neighbours cat keeps doing that, that’s why I knew he would have this one that had taken up residence with us. Thank you, Michelle.

  • Rosaliene Bacchus
    May 17, 2020

    I don’t like mice. From my days growing up in Guyana, I know the trouble they can get up to when they set up house in your home or yard. But…I must admit that your Maurice is pretty photogenic!

    • Trev
      May 17, 2020

      I know that feeling only too well, Rosaliene. I just don’t like the thought of them being anywhere near the house. 🙂 Thank you.

  • susiesopinions
    May 17, 2020

    Glad he has a new home.

    • Trev
      May 17, 2020

      Me too, Susie, thank you. 🙂

  • Roadtirement
    May 17, 2020

    Glad your venture into the realm of Stephen King type horror turned out so well. Bet Maurice has already met Mrs. Maurice…..;-)

    • Trev
      May 17, 2020

      Thank you Roadtirement. It did turn out well and yes, I hope he has found Mrs Maurice 🙂

  • Pandora
    May 17, 2020

    Great story, thank you for choosing not to kill Maurice. You’re an angel ????

    • Trev
      May 17, 2020

      Thank you, Pandora, but I like to see other animals share the world safely with us, just so long as it isn’t in my house. 🙂

  • Peter's pondering
    May 17, 2020

    He sent me a postcard. He’s on his way back home and hopes to see you soon!

    • Trev
      May 17, 2020

      Lol. He might find the postbox, but he won’t find his way back here 🙂

  • SueW
    May 18, 2020

    When you took the photograph, was he outside in the garden or inside the house?

    • Trev
      May 18, 2020

      He was outside, Sue. I would have fainted if he was inside.

  • KINDNESS
    May 18, 2020

    So cute ????⚜️❤️❤️

    • Trev
      May 18, 2020

      Thank you ????

  • smzang
    May 18, 2020

    Maurice is a real cutie and you and your wife are so kind.
    This story starts my day on the right foot. I hope your day
    is beautiful. (Maurice’s too)

    • Trev
      May 18, 2020

      Thank you, Sarah, I appreciate your very kind comments ????

  • Aww, Hi Maurice!

    • Trev
      May 18, 2020

      Thank you, Jessica. 🙂

  • Jay
    May 19, 2020

    We do have that gut instinct even when we tower over animals that are non-predatory anyway. Good job getting a snap – those are quick instincts. I can barely catch my dogs on film, quick little buggers.
    Hoping you are well through all of this.

    • Trev
      May 19, 2020

      Thank you, Jay, I’m fine, hope you’re staying safe too ????

  • Hope Stewart
    May 19, 2020

    He is so cute! Thank you for taking care of him the humane way! ????

    • Trev
      May 19, 2020

      Thank you, Hope. It was the only way 🙂

  • blackbird212012
    May 19, 2020

    What a lovely story, I hope he’s OK, can you go and check.

    • Trev
      May 19, 2020

      Thank you, Michael. Unfortunately, I doubt if I could find him if I tried. I hope he is doing ok. 🙂

  • bekitschig
    May 21, 2020

    Modest Mouse and Nana Mousekouri were great fun until some 3rd Mouse started hanging with them … A bunch of unexpected baby mice are really not that cute …

    • Trev
      May 21, 2020

      Oh my, that’s certainly not fun. Hope you got it sorted ????

  • Craig White
    May 21, 2020

    Amousing ????????????????

    • Trev
      May 21, 2020

      I saw what you did there, Craig. Very good and thank you 🙂

  • singhpiyush6089
    May 22, 2020

    A nice tale of Maurice….. From a posing model to a farmer in the field.. Hehe..

    • Trev
      May 22, 2020

      Haha, very good. Thank you ????

  • KINDNESS
    May 22, 2020

    Hello Trev thinking about you stay safe ????

    • Trev
      May 22, 2020

      Thank you, Kindness, you stay safe too ????

  • candidkay
    May 22, 2020

    Oh, I love knowing that Maurice is running free! Where he should be:). Very humane of you and your wife.

    • Trev
      May 22, 2020

      Thank you, Kay. Hopefully he’s doing just fine. 🙂

  • Bhagyashree
    May 24, 2020

    Aww Maurice is so cute! I am sure he must be having a nice time roaming around freely! I wish they was a way to show him his cute photograph! XD
    Keep safe!

    • Trev
      May 24, 2020

      Thank you, I’m sure he’s alive and well and enjoying himself. 🙂

  • The Strong Traveller
    May 27, 2020

    Loved your post!

    Hey, we have nominated you for the ‘Vincent Ehindero Blogger Award’ for the wonderful job you are doing in your blog. Please do accept and let us know your thoughts & decisions. You can find all the details in my latest blog, with the link given below. Thank you!

    https://thestrongtraveller.com/2020/05/27/vincent-ehindero-blogger-award-the-strong-traveller/

    • Trev
      May 27, 2020

      Thank you ????

  • Gottfried
    May 27, 2020

    Haha, fitting name

    • Trev
      May 27, 2020

      Thank you ????

  • Dave Kingsbury
    May 30, 2020

    Maurice has a very intense gaze – reckon he knows something we don’t?

    • Trev
      May 31, 2020

      Thanks, Dave. I just hope he doesn’t know the way back ????

  • Life in Words
    June 3, 2020

    He looks adorable haha

    • Trev
      June 3, 2020

      He is so long as he stays in his new home in the forest ????

  • Kally
    June 9, 2020

    Nice story! You really know how to tell a story with your way of words. Thanks for sharing I can’t wait to read more.

    • Trev
      June 9, 2020

      Thank you, Kally, that’s very kind of you ????

  • A JACOB
    June 13, 2020

    So sweet and funny post from you. Loved it

    • Trev
      June 13, 2020

      Thank you very much, A Jacob. 🙂

  • patriciaphillips55
    June 18, 2020

    I’m glad Maurice had a happy ending , now you can live in peace.

    • Trev
      June 18, 2020

      Thank you, Patricia and I hope so ????

  • gulfcoastpoet@gmail.com
    June 23, 2020

    Love the photo and story! I enjoy observing just about any creature in its natural habitat…snakes, bees, spiders, and ants included… but I admit that I am merciless with ants and spiders in my house! I’m glad Maurice has a new home.

    • Trev
      June 23, 2020

      Thank you and hopefully, Maurice is doing well.

      • Lara/Trace
        June 25, 2020

        What a good name you gave him, my friend!

        • Trev
          June 25, 2020

          Thank you. 🙂

  • nitinsingh
    July 9, 2020

    YOU A NATURAL WRITER,CAN MAKE ANY SUBJECT FUN AND INFORMATIVE.

    • Trev
      July 9, 2020

      Thank you

  • ien smits
    July 15, 2020

    Haha, you are like my husband and I am like your wife…;-)

    • Trev
      July 16, 2020

      Lol, thank you, Ien, 🙂