I know we have a recent problem outside. We saw the mouse poop (my husband says it’s nice but after doing some reading, it looks much too large to be mice, which freaks me out even more because rats, just nasty!) So we saw the poop outside and I started using peppermint essential oil to try to deter them. We cleaned out the entire carport and yard. We got specific containers for our trash and recycle bins. We used cleaning solution and a brush broom to clean the concrete and washed it away with hose water. There is no more clutter from kids toys and garden tools. We got five ‘poison stations’ placed in the areas we saw the poop. We never saw any signs in the house.

The poison was placed Sunday evening. Monday morning, there is poop around two of the poison stations, indicating their use. Also Monday morning, I saw a strange something on my counter! (First pics) it was behind my parsley, basil and peppermint plants. I was sick Sunday evening so I went to bed early and my husband ‘cleaned up’ That means he left the pan with rice bits on the counter. He didn’t vacuum well either. However, nothing was found around the food pot or in any corners or along any baseboards. I vacuum at least twice a day and wipe my counters at least 3-4 times a day.

These were what I found Monday morning. It didn’t look like what we found outside and I thought maybe it was dirt that fell from my (store bought) plants when I moved them to clean the counters. I threw away my parsley because I freaked out but I kept my basil and mint. I read that mice don’t like those strong smells

Well this morning, Tuesday, I found this 😬

It’s larger than what I found Monday. It was behind my basil and peppermint, which I have now also thrown away. Hubby and I freaked and tore the kitchen apart. We removed the baseboards from under the counters and checked all cupboards and drawers. Nothing. Nothing along counters, corners, baseboards of walls. There was a granola bar in a plastic wrapper on the counter and a pack of oats in the paper package on the counter, along with an open (darn kids) ziplock of pretzels and the fruit basket. No gnaw marks or crumbs or anything. If it’s a mouse, or even worse, a rat, why would it eat my herbs and not the oats, pretzels, granola bar or fruit? Wouldn’t the bread or other snacks in the lazy Susan cupboard be gnawed open? Wouldn’t there be crumbs? And poop in other places?

Am I going crazy? I’m confused, and so anxious and paranoid now! We ordered snap traps to set, they should arrive tomorrow (Wednesday)

Oh, I’m also putting peppermint essential oil around entry ways and windows daily. Besides Sunday night when I was sick, food is never left out overnight and I always vacuum after we eat dinner. We don’t have animals but neighborhood cats come in our yard, but not close to the house.

Suggestions? Advice? CBD oil donations to calm my anxiety and nerves are welcome!