Thanks guys! I'm relieved to hear that BME grows faster than I thought and a bit dismayed that Mighty grows so slow. These two little guys were expensive and are so tiny. We are planning on moving from UT to Florida in two years and if these guys grow that slow I might just take them with me as I've really been wanting these two for a long time and I would hate to start from scratch. I plan on leaving them in the ground even though we do not have any squirrels in our yard. Only problem we have are racoons and they don't seem to bother our plants (just our ducks). Is there a particular reason why you would need to pot them up? I don't mind having it in the ground due to it's size as I can just plant some annuals around it. They are both planted in front of my hydrangeas and they tend to steal the show anyways.

It is clear it is high time a manufacturers make mouse proof slide in ranges! Everyone says you can't keep them out of your house, though I have hired an exterminator and for now, they have stopped. I have talked to neighbors and friends who all retain exterminators year round, for this purpose. I just bought a 20 year old house in April and in November the mice moved in so quickly, even tho I got an exterminator, they ruined my dishwasher, chewing the wires underneath, and my range/oven, invading all parts of that. I have plugged all visible holes in cabinets and walls, with steel wool, and that has stopped those access points, but now, I must undertake a partial kitchen remodel, to find the other holes, before I replace the appliances! Also shopping appliances which have more protection from mice. Ultimate solution seems to be a wall oven and cook top, as they are enclosed in cabinetry. but yes power and gas lines would have to be cut in cabinet/wall so tightly fitted so as not to allow 1/4" hole for mice. As for dishwashers, there are a few brands that cabinet the underside and don't leave it open for mice to play in the wires, Bosch is one. Same with ranges. I have found a couple of European brands that have less holes in the back. My current brand, GE duel fuel, is like it was made to be a climbing toy for mice! They love the range. there are lots of ways through it for a mouse. So next range will be European or wall oven and cooktop. These solutions are twice as expensive, not counting the cabinet remodel. That is why I think is time for manufacturers to at least TRY to make these kitchen products mouse proof. Yes, I am throwing away the old ones, such a waste, totally not green. I did find one resource which showed putting rat wire, less than 1/4" mesh wire, over the one opening along the bottom of the rear of a European range, where that was the ONLY opening. I am planning to do that, but the range must vent, so don't use foil! I am planning to purchase the most enclosed range I can find. Then, yes, the suggestion of how clean you must keep things, cleaning the grates and range top and oven, every time you use it, and all crumbs off your floors, and counters, and even taking out the trash every night. they are nocturnal, so doing this before dark, is a good practice. Less attractants, has to help. Nothing to eat, should help.

I understand the dilemma. My spouse and I are basically doing both. We built what we intended to be our retirement home in a rural area; we visit on weekends, and I love it and find a lot of peace there, and we can both easily get out and do all the outdoor activities that we love. But I'm also a city mouse. After years of living in the suburbs and not liking it very much, I decided that after the kids moved out / left for college, that I needed to live back in the city. So we're now in the process of building a city house, that will be walking distance to stores, restaurants, a big park, and short public transport distance of a lot more. My spouse is NOT a city mouse, but reluctantly agreed to the move to the city. This will be our primary house until we retire, then we'll split our time. One option that we considered was to rent a place in the city, to decide if that was the right choice. Could you rent a place somewhere in a rural area for a while, to help you decide?

I've tried everything to catch a smart mouse--traps (all kinds of bait: peanut butter, chocolate, raw bacon), glue traps (yuck I know but I'm desparate), and even the electric zapper. I can't catch him. He's taunting me. This is going on months now. I can't use poison because I have a dog. Here's a question--what about natural poison? If i mix baking soda in peanut butter, I hear it will kill the mouse. But what if my dog eats the dead mouse--can that baking soda in the mouse kill my dog? Or another animal? Thanks.