[TeMPOraL]

Interesting to think about. On the one hand, it's no different than any of the random stuff that happens to fish in the wild, or wildlife in general. Being killed for no reason at all is the default in nature; humans build societies and civilizations and develop technologies in large part to avoid it.

On the other hand, this feels especially sad for some reason.

[WhackyIdeas]

We have an industrial unit which has a mice problem. Every time I go to B&Q (home hardware store for non-UK folk) with the intention of buying mice traps, I just can’t push the button. These mice are destroying our stock, but I just cannot do it. I would be a terrible fisherman.

[toast0]

Have you considered outsourcing? To a cat (or cats) or a pest control company. The pest control company will probably check and close off opportunities for mice to enter the unit, which cats won't do, so you might want to consider retaining both options.

Warehouse cats can be nice warehouse companions too (depending on what happens in the unit).

I've had to do some mouse removal work in my forest adjacent home, and it's not pleasant, but neither is having mice around.

[WhackyIdeas]

We took our cat in, but she absolutely hated it. Then we thought she escaped for a few hours until we found her expertly hiding underneath some machinery.

In Costco they sell this cat food called ‘Maintenance cat’. Maybe we need one of those cats.

[toast0]

Yeah... around here shelters separate out 'barn cats' from 'pet cats', barn cats are tolerant of people but not really socialized to appreciate people. Rather than taking an existing pet cat and putting him or her to work, I'd try adopting a barn cat and putting them to work. Often, barn cats do retire and become pet cats towards the end of their life, if circumstances allow.

Of course, cats can cause a different sort of trouble than mice. :D

[jacquesm]

Barn cats are pocket sized tigers. I've seen one filet a grown up guy that tried to evict it. He looked like he'd been run over by a harvester.

[msrenee]

I'm dying at the idea of a maintenance cat. In my mind he's wearing little overalls and carrying a wrench.

[zimpenfish]

> I would be a terrible fisherman.

To be fair, you have to catch and release most fish in the UK which, whilst annoying for the fish, doesn't seem to do them much harm since there's e.g. a whole bunch of 30y+ old carp that keep getting caught.

You're allowed to keep a certain set of game and sea fish if they're big enough and from the appropriate place.

[bombcar]

You can get catch-and-release mice traps, and then dump them in a field or on a competitor.

[WhackyIdeas]

I like this idea. Maybe I will let them breed and multiply first actually!