Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2020 September 23

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September 23

How to keep a dye liquid long enough to capture mouse pawprints overnight

Somewhere in the walls of my kitchen there is a mouse town. Thankfully the only evidence is the occasional droppings we find in one (1) empty drawer (we do not know where or upon what they feed...). Putting a live trap in the drawer was netting us 1–4 mice per day, but after ~40 mice we stopped trapping any. However, the bait still disappears (and droppings accumulate) despite there being no visible issues with the trap. I would like to determine which trap entrance (if any) is defective as well as in which direction they leave the drawer. I put 50 ml 6x loading dye in some olive oil and dripped it near the bait in the trap, but when we checked the next morning the dye was dry and the bait gone. What can I use that is both miscible with a glycerol-based dye and stays liquid for long periods in small quantities? Assume I have access to most chemicals. JoelleJay (talk) 03:58, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

I don't know the answer your question, but I can't help wondering whether these are the same mice that keep returning after you've released them, and they've become skilled at retreiving the bait. Mice have a strong homing instinct and should be released at least a mile away.--Shantavira|^{feed me} 08:44, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

It's possible...we've released them across a well-lit, fairly busy road into some woods, but if the new traps we've ordered work we'll release them further away and see. JoelleJay (talk) 04:59, 24 September 2020 (UTC)

So had the oil gone dry or just the dye? Glycerol behaves like an alcohol and is soluble in water but does not mix with oil. Perhaps an emulsion can be made using an emulsifier such as soy lecithin.^[1]  --Lambiam 11:40, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

That's a good idea. I believe both the oil and the dye were dry, but it would be best to ensure both solvent and solute stay liquid so I might try an emulsifier. JoelleJay (talk) 04:59, 24 September 2020 (UTC)

Maybe a powder like chalk dust or something would be better? --Jayron32 12:12, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

Hmm that's an idea, it would just have to be heavy enough not to be disturbed when we open the drawer. JoelleJay (talk) 04:59, 24 September 2020 (UTC)

Mice can fit through any opening larger than 1cm width, so depending on the type of trap, this could be a route of escape for them - if for example they have gnawed any openinhgs or holes to make them larger? I would also echo what Shantavira said about releasing trapped mice a long distance away, otherwise they will return. PaleCloudedWhite (talk) 12:20, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

The trap is metal and as far as we can tell intact, although our current suspicion is the ramp may not be closing off the exit fully once they're inside. Or they've learned how to drag it down enough to squeeze through. JoelleJay (talk) 04:59, 24 September 2020 (UTC)

(A side comment) I have no idea what the mice could feed upon previously, but – based on your description – now they feed on the bait you regularly supply.
At least some of them... CiaPan (talk) 12:44, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

Oh these mice had a feast for a couple weeks. One guy ate two whole wheaties biscuits slathered in peanut butter over a period of 8 hours. I can understand why they'd want to come back... JoelleJay (talk) 04:59, 24 September 2020 (UTC)

Alternative solution

There is another way to deal with mice. Mjroots (talk) 16:03, 24 September 2020 (UTC)

Ah, the famous ball-bearing mousetrap, aka "the tomcat." {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 2.219.33.80 (talk) 00:44, 25 September 2020 (UTC)

You can Buy pre-inked cards from this place https://shop.predatorfreenz.org/products/rodent-detector-kit There's recipes for making your own ink, but I can't find them on the internet.49.197.66.151 (talk) 07:33, 30 September 2020 (UTC)

What to study to become an English teacher abroad?

Hi!

What college or university can I attend in Montreal, Canada in order to before an English as a Second Language teacher? 1.53.39.153 (talk) 05:54, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

Before attempting becoming a teacher, I urge you to improve your written English. Perhaps the errors in two sentences above are due to carelessness, but in any case you can practice accuracy whenever you write or type. Look for TESOL, TEFL or TESL along with Montreal, and you will find some places. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 08:03, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

Gosh. What about the two errors in your two sentences above? --Viennese Waltz 08:17, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

LOL.

I have been teaching spoken English for several years with no qualifications, but to get paid, qualifications are needed. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 09:11, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

That's interesting, but you haven't responded to my point, which was that you took the OP to task for making errors in his/her English while at the same time making errors of your own. --Viennese Waltz 09:28, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

What alleged errors in Bartlett's comments are you referring to? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:46, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

"Attempting becoming" should be "attempting to become", and "practice" should be "practise" as per Australian English spelling. --Viennese Waltz 07:04, 24 September 2020 (UTC)

Horrors. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 07:40, 24 September 2020 (UTC)

But him is not getting payed for work of teacchings of Englisch besides of the which he is further more Aussie and is dubius if there native language, is truely Englisch.  --Lambiam 10:11, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

He knows, VW. We all know now. No need to belabor the point. Let people have some dignity, and move on. --Jayron32 11:36, 23 September 2020 (UTC)

The website of TESL Canada (the Canadian association of ESL teachers) lists the institutions with TESL-recognized training programs.^[2] For instance, Renison University College affiliated with the University of Waterloo, offers an ACE TESOL Certificate program (because of COVID-19 only online for this Fall semester) that they advertize as "your way to get TESL Canada certified and gain the basic tools, strategies, skills, and knowledge to be successful as an English language teacher" and providing "a professional, internationally recognized English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching credential – TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) Canada Standard One (Interim)".^[3]  --Lambiam 08:12, 24 September 2020 (UTC)