These little nasties have apparently completely taken over the top of our fridge, it is just a massive explosion of them. Look like some sort of mite.

What are they, and more importantly how do we get rid of them?

Can't really make them out, but looks nasty, son. Do mites usually hang out in a gang like that? Are mites usually that big?

I don't know. They are probably benign but we are nonetheless losing a lot of our foodstuffs trying to contain the problem.

Also, this:

Nature is really fucking with us lately.

Is fire out of the question?

Sadly yes...

I ended up washing the entire area with soap and bleach, and we threw away a lot of food.

I am hoping that small piece of board is how you killed the mouse/rat/rodent

Would it be better or worse, if the rodent was holding that board in its little hands because the rats at unstrung's house have started to use shields and weapons?

Because, in a way, that would be awesome. But in another way it would be terrifying/terrible.

Geoff, does it appear that they are constructing any siege engines? Battering rams, trebuchets, that sort of thing?

Reminds me of this.

Why yes! Well actually it is one of those Victor mousetraps.

So far I've taken down two little beasties. Going to buy another pair of traps this afternoon. When will it end?

Also the mites are still here but in smaller numbers, despite the purging. We are blasting a dehumidifier now, hoping that it will make the environment less hospitable for them.

Dehumidifier is a good idea.

I hear that fire is also an effective dehumidifier? I am just saying, those sketchy little shits should probably be killed with fire. I don't trust anything that survives the all-destroying magical workings of bleach.

BAST BURKZ

This thread is now about my battles with the beasties.

We have controlled the mite problem via a dehumidifier. It makes this place damn hot as a byproduct of its useful air drying, though.

The mice and I continue to do battle. Lately my traps have been triggered but haven't caught anything, though I did see... blood, and fur. And excrement. I took a peak in there just now and there the fucker is, just sitting there like he doesn't even give a fuck. I think he is too big to get caught in my traps. I need more power. Also I think he revealed to me the entrance his kind have been using to get in. I will surely plug it up once I've defeated him.

Larger (rat) traps? Pellet gun?

Weird shit. I had a couple mice get in once, which was odd as I lived on the second floor, kept the place scrupulously clean and had two (highly ineffective) cats.

The thought struck me, if you could keep them somewhere where they would be safe, to let your rats run around down there for a bit, as the mice would probably be scared of the smell, but rats are fragile and I wouldn't want them acquiring some disease or parasite, so that's probably a bad idea.

What are your plans for the current mouse and his compatriots?

Obviously you need a gun.

Dood. If it is summer, and you have mouse, then you have mice. You will be shocked and amazed at how many fucking mice can live in a small place.

It is concerning that they are slipping the traps. Definitely go for some additional smaller and bigger ones. Because they could be getting away from either scenario.

It is generally best though, if they only make the trap mistake once. Mices are fearful, and you don't want them figuring the trapdanger out.

Still, traps are generally the better way to do it. If you poison them, they will die in the walls, and it will be a trillion times worse.

Generally, i would plug the hole up and clean and sanitize the shit out of all areas that they seem to have been. Rodents are largely smell-based, and they tend to go where they have been, because the smells make them comfortable.

Does the hole lead outside, or just into the walls?

I think it must lead into a wall. Possibly leading to the back yard eventually.

This mouse, no matter how often I go in there are stare/yell at it, is always there. Just fucking sitting there. I could probably just go kick its shit in, but I'm afraid that would be gross or I'd have bad feelings after.

Does the mouse move around? Is it possible that it is quite near death from the trap encounter?

It does. It kind of wanders around and huddles in a corner if I approach it. I put two traps in front of it before I left for class this morning, came back and he was there still, with the traps both having been triggered.

He is a warrior.