30 September—This is Edwin-a, a young white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) whom I found yesterday, just sitting peacefully in the hall outside my office. He, she, he/she, or they (I didn’t become intimate enough to ascertain Edwin-a’s gender or possible non-binary choice) exhibited no signs of having been caught or even (mis-)handled by one of our cats. Nor did the youngster appear to be in shock.

I have no idea how Edwin-a found himself, herself, himself/herself, or themselves in the hall, but the cute little wight was very docile and thoroughly cooperative for the photo shoot. You can’t say that about most animals or people. Especially kids.

I was considering making Edwin-a my pet-companion for the possible three years he, she, he/she, or they could be expected to live in captivity. But finding a mouse-size collar or harness is impossible these days, and I haven’t the skill-set to make one. So, after observing Edwin-a to have livened up quite a bit and assuring myself that he, she, he/she, or they could make it on the outside, I sprung the little cutie, who took to the underbrush like a mouse in a field.

Godspeed, Edwin-a!

Editor’s note: How can sick bastards use cruel means to trap any animals, with particular reference this time to glue traps, which prolong the victims’ agony for hours and possibly days? I’d like to put those assholes on super-stick glue traps and watch them suffer and suffer and suffer some more . . .