I got some sticky traps at OSH tonight. They are sheets of heavy paper with an extremely sticky surface. Supposedly any animal that walks over them gets stuck and can’t get loose. Also, the sticky surface contains some kind of stuff that tranquilizes the critter so they don’t try to get loose. I put out two of them earlier tonight near the tomato plants where it/they have been feasting for the past two nights.

Just went out with a flashlight to see if anything had been caught and saw one of the sticky papers attached to a small bush next to the tomatoes. So whatever animal is doing this seems to be strong enough to shake off the paper. The sticky goo is really gummy and sticky and I wouldn’t want to have to pull it off my skin, ’cause it’s that sticky. Obviously it’s not another mouse. Now I’m wondering if it’s a possum. Or maybe a really strong rat.

Still don’t understand why the old fashioned rat traps didn’t catch anything. The one trap was sprung and the bait was eaten. The other trap was still set but the bait had also been eaten. What the hell kind of critter is this that is smart enough to get the bait without getting caught in the trap? And how did it get loose from the sticky paper?

So tomorrow night I’ll put out lots more papers as well as both mouse traps and rat traps. Sooner or later something has to work. I’m reluctant to use poison, but I may be forced to use it as a last resort. This critter is not going to win!