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Marthe48

(23,716 posts)

96. My cricket story

Tue Jun 16, 2026, 07:41 AM

Tuesday

I had put cheap tape on a box in my basement. It peeled off soon after. When I was next in the basement, I unhappily noticed about 10 living crickets stuck to the sticky side. They eat the glue, I think. I cut the tape they were on off the box and brought it upstairs. I wish I had known about olive oil. I got a razor blade and so very gently worked a cricket foot off the tape. As soon as it was free, the stupid thing put it down again. So I cut an index card into little squares, and each time I freed a foot, put a square of card under. I freed all of the crickets, although some had lost a leg. As soon as they were free, they jumped all over. I had 3 cats, so catching the crickets before the cats noticed them was vital. I managed to catch them and put them back in the basement. What happens in the basement stays in the basrment.
This was during Covid, and I had a lot of free time, and a new respect for life
Sorry you have a snake in your house, and I sure hope you have liberated it by now. Why do the darn things know how to get in, but never remember how to get out?

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diane in sf Easterncedar littlemissmartypants

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I have a snake on the loose in the house. [View all] littlemissmartypants Sunday OP

Omg! SheltieLover Sunday #1

She safe. I put her crate up on a table by the bed with her in it. littlemissmartypants Sunday #9

Ty! SheltieLover Sunday #30

Can you take her & go rent a room sonewhere nice while the snake gets banished?? SheltieLover Sunday #2

I'm putting glue traps out. I'm going to be up all night. littlemissmartypants Sunday #4

Is it big? SheltieLover Sunday #6

Five feet, maybe four. littlemissmartypants Sunday #10

5 feet long? SheltieLover Sunday #13

Will glue traps hold something that massive? SheltieLover Sunday #14

Are you in a place where snakes are dangerous? Easterncedar Sunday #3

Yes! littlemissmartypants Sunday #5

Alrighty then, I can't suggest you ignore it, I guess Easterncedar Sunday #12

I'm not sleeping until it's dealt with. I'm pretty sure it's a rat snake. littlemissmartypants Sunday #33

Sorry you can't sleep, but a rat snake is sort of a good kind to have around, isn't it? Easterncedar Sunday #42

Not climbing up a wall in your bedroom. 😆 littlemissmartypants Sunday #43

I sympathize. Hate to think of it being killed tho. Easterncedar Sunday #51

I don't plan to kill it. I can put olive oil on the trap once I get it outside. littlemissmartypants Sunday #53

Oh I love that! I thought a glue trap might be to kill it Easterncedar Monday #92

A machete is not much help really. Unless it's good and sharp... littlemissmartypants Monday #93

My cricket story Marthe48 Tuesday #96

Bless you for your patience and care. Crickets can be so noisy! littlemissmartypants Tuesday #111

When I see a snake I get startled Marthe48 Tuesday #112

❤️ littlemissmartypants Tuesday #115

The odds are it's not venomous and it's more scared of you. This is when you should have a cat. surfered Sunday #7

Yes! SheltieLover Sunday #11

I'd have one if the coyotes were nicer around here. littlemissmartypants Sunday #35

Ah, yes .. the old, "more scared of you than you are of it" schtick stopdiggin Monday #72

What kind is it, do you know? SheltieLover Sunday #8

Yes, can you describe it? surfered Sunday #19

Positive ID rat snake. Glue traps going down. littlemissmartypants Sunday #21

Then it can't harm you. Nothing to fear. surfered Sunday #48

I've calmed down considerably. Thanks for the encouragement, Ed. ❤️ littlemissmartypants Sunday #50

🙏 surfered Monday #95

One that slithers. 😱 sheshe2 Sunday #24

I would be outra there & in my car heading for a room. SheltieLover Sunday #40

I'm with you! sheshe2 Sunday #44

... SheltieLover Sunday #45

I have a friend who goes vasovagal at the sight of a picture of a snake. Thankfully, I'm not that way. littlemissmartypants Sunday #46

My father couldn't watch snake scenes on tv. He Ilsa Tuesday #113

Snake eating snakes are the ones that are truly amazing. littlemissmartypants Tuesday #114

Snake enid602 Sunday #15

i'm tired of these... ret5hd Sunday #16

Go ahead. I dare you. 😜😜😜😜 littlemissmartypants Sunday #18

... littlemissmartypants Monday #67

Can you describe it ? dweller Sunday #17

It's a rat snake. I'm pretty sure now. Black will grey stripes. littlemissmartypants Sunday #20

Do glue traps hold monsters that size? SheltieLover Sunday #22

These are super size. I use them for spiders. littlemissmartypants Sunday #25

I'd prob shoot the damned thing if leaving & calling a wildlife relocator isn't an option. SheltieLover Sunday #29

I'd do more damage to the house than the snake if I shot it. 🤣 littlemissmartypants Sunday #31

No doubt, but princess floof would be safe! SheltieLover Sunday #34

Like this dweller Sunday #23

It was last seen under the china cabinet. It's in the kitchen still ...hopefully! littlemissmartypants Sunday #26

I'd call a professional in the morning iemanja Monday #64

Yikes, lmsp! sheshe2 Sunday #27

It's not the first snake here and probably won't be the last. I just wish I knew how it got in. littlemissmartypants Sunday #28

Growing up in the country, there were a few snakes around... sheshe2 Sunday #32

The same way dweller Sunday #37

My machete's at the barn. I do have hammer but I'd rather catch and release. littlemissmartypants Sunday #38

Roof vents? Attilatheblond Tuesday #101

Where Do You Live? Do You Have Dangerous (Poisonous) Snakes in Your Area? Are They Common? The Roux Comes First Sunday #36

I'm calming down. Part of my problem was I was already wound up over the hockey game. 😄 littlemissmartypants Sunday #39

Wound up about the game in a good way or a bad way? johnp3907 Monday #87

Good. Why do you ask, johnp3907? littlemissmartypants Monday #89

Oh. I saw this! johnp3907 Monday #88

👍❤️ littlemissmartypants Monday #90

I'm on a farm in the woods. Snakes are all over this property. littlemissmartypants Sunday #41

Any chance you could introduce king snakes ? They eat other snakes, even venomous ones. eppur_se_muova Sunday #49

Opossums eat snakes too. They are all over the place here. littlemissmartypants Sunday #52

Opossa ?!? No kidding ! I did not know that, but I guess it's not a big surprise. eppur_se_muova Monday #56

Yep. The opossee let me down tonight. 😄 littlemissmartypants Monday #58

The eastern indigo looks beautiful... littlemissmartypants Sunday #54

Do you have a 24-hour Mongeese "R" Us open near you? LudwigPastorius Sunday #47

Hahahaha! Perfect question. Thanks, LP. ❤️😄😆🌞 littlemissmartypants Monday #77

Grab your pet, walk out the door, and never go back. That's what I'd do. House and contents would be for sale tomorrow. sinkingfeeling Sunday #55

What kind was it? Figarosmom Monday #57

Rat snake. Not a good sign. It's in the kitchen under the china cabinet... littlemissmartypants Monday #59

Yeah it is. Figarosmom Monday #60

Since the coyotes expanded their range, cats aren't safe here. littlemissmartypants Monday #61

Yeah, that's scary. Figarosmom Monday #68

I'm glad you understand. It's a challenge being here alone. ... littlemissmartypants Monday #76

"It's more afraid of you..." JohnnyRingo Monday #62

I'm much better now. Thank you. ❤️ littlemissmartypants Monday #71

That's my worst nightmare iemanja Monday #63

Awful. Happened to me a number of years ago. ALBliberal Monday #65

Bull snake... littlemissmartypants Monday #70

I think they were on the younger smaller side but was still ALBliberal Monday #74

It's important to know your snakes. Not my favorite creatures but they are here for a reason. ... littlemissmartypants Monday #80

I understand and sympathize completely. I had a snake encounter just niyad Monday #66

I love you, niyad. Please do be careful in the garden. I'd miss you. ❤️ littlemissmartypants Monday #69

Hugggggs and that isbso sweet. Love you back. niyad Monday #75

Call animal control or the sheriff's office. usonian Monday #73

If you know it's non-venomous, please don't kill it! Laffy Kat Monday #78

You can release creatures from glue traps. You can come over and help me be on the lookout or stand watch... littlemissmartypants Monday #82

Stay safe and sensible! calimary Monday #79

I'm ok now, cm. I probably won't get much sleep. But I'm not freaking out about it anymore. ... littlemissmartypants Monday #83

Please do keep us informed. calimary Monday #81

Last seen under the china cabinet. I have put sticky traps out everywhere. littlemissmartypants Monday #85

I understand how you feel Keepthesoulalive Monday #84

Watching it going up the wall was different. I'm definitely not happy. littlemissmartypants Monday #86

I was such a dumb ass Keepthesoulalive Monday #91

If you have a good idea where it is sarisataka Monday #94

did you get it? Kali Tuesday #97

It was in the kitchen until yesterday. littlemissmartypants Tuesday #98

scorpions are a minor nuisance Kali Tuesday #99

Wow. I know that was scary. How old is he now? littlemissmartypants Tuesday #100

36 Kali Tuesday #104

👍😉 ❤️ littlemissmartypants Tuesday #107

Baby rattlers are more dangerous because they haven't learned to control the release of venom yet Bayard Tuesday #103

also less likely to have used any they have stored yet either Kali Tuesday #105

OMG. I have no advice and only wishes for you to catch him. Good luck. Scrivener7 Tuesday #102

Thanks, Scrivener7. I appreciate that. ❤️ littlemissmartypants Tuesday #110

I have a number of snake stories from when I lived in Calif. Bayard Tuesday #106

I'm sorry to hear about your cat and your doxie. littlemissmartypants Tuesday #109

I googled, "products to keep snakes away from house" Bayard Wednesday #116

My father's old farmhouse in NE North Carolina had a few snakes around. OldBaldy1701E Tuesday #108

"Damned snake making me do housework" True Dough Wednesday #117

I haven't seen it since it slithered into the laundry room, True. littlemissmartypants Wednesday #118

Well, True Dough Wednesday #119

Awe. Thanks. littlemissmartypants Yesterday #120