About three weeks ago an email went around the Edinburgh University Divinity School warning that several mice had been seen in the study rooms. I hardly thought a thing of it, especially since we’ve had our own mice in our flat. Yesterday, as I was tidying up my desk at New College, I got to thinking about that email, and I wondered who had been the culprit(s) that attracted the mice. What uncivilized people, I thought, would leave crumbs and food scraps? It was then, really, almost at that very moment, I noticed a disappointing deposit behind my bag of sunflower seeds. One little mouse had left two small items; you might say that he dropped something. And, on closer inspection, it appears that he left these two droppings after nibbling a hole in my sunflower seeds bag. I’m actually quite puzzled about how the mouse got onto my desk, as I didn’t realize mice could climb slick, steel desk-legs. In any case, it’s a real bummer that my sunflower seeds are now contaminated with mouse. When I’m languishing over a particular problem late in the afternoon, it’s the seeds that get me through. So, what would you do? Eat the seeds or chuck ’em? I think I’m going to salvage as much as I can. There’s no way I’m chucking all that salty, crunchy goodness.
My desk, minus the seeds and minus the mouse
The offended bag o' seeds
bits 'n bobs 
Wow, where to begin.
First of all, it does not surprise me that you snuck sunflower seeds into the library, and it probably serves you right that the mice are giving you some competition.
But of course, you cannot throw away this bag of seeds! What harm is a little mouse saliva anyway! Now if it had been one of our beloved Mexican rats…that’s a different story.
I couldn’t help but notice the head on the right side of your desk…wow, I had not idea that he traveled all the way to Scotland.
Thanks for the slice of daily life!
Definitely eat ‘um! You seem to have a knack for feeding small rodents. Or was that Zach? My poor offended backpack.
That was me. Sorry about that.
Your apology was accepted and accident forgiven many years ago. Sorry for resurrecting that. It serves as a funny reminder every time I pull the thing out and see the little nibbles. Good times.
I would however be interested Zach in hearing if you consumed what was not eaten by the pesky critter so long ago. Would you therefore advise Christopher to eat the mouse saliva coated seeds? Inquiring minds want to know!
I’m having no problem remembering things about that trip that I will certainly not record here, but as for the nuts or seeds that the squirrel found in your backpack, I’m having trouble recalling. This was nine or ten years ago, methinks. I also don’t remember if we ate what was left (if there was anything). But if we did, I would point out the very different circumstances. We were a tad closer to survival mode, being a day’s hike from civilization, whereas Topher’s nerdicle (that’s a cubicle space reserved for nerds) in downtown Edinburgh couldn’t be more than a few minutes’ walk from supplementary snacks. Let’s be honest, people. He’s not going to throw away anything bearing a semblance of edibility. Bless his heart.
Wes–for the record it’s not in the library that I eat the seeds; it’s at my desk in a room full of 25 postgrads. But, if the library were my only option for study space, I’d probably find a quiet way to munch seeds there, too. Oh, I’m glad you noticed the head; it’s waiting for you!!
Zach and Bree–I would certainly eat the mouse-saliva seeds while studying in the nerditorium, but rumour has it that one of this blog’s readers is sending new seeds. Maybe I’ll give the tainted seeds to the pigeons outside our window.