As the nights get chilly, the thought of passing the evenings with friends and family in a nice, warm house sounds delightful … to mice. Like humans, mice are social animals who enjoy each other's company, and while you might not be so eager to enjoy theirs, you might have a little more respect for them after reading these fascinating mouse tidbits:

• Male mice compose complex, ultrasonic songs as part of their courtship rituals.
• Having wooed and won a partner, male California mice stay with her to help with the birth and first cleaning of the pups.
• Mice are smart. Wood mice make signposts out of leaves and twigs. And if there's a flood, a mouse might hitch a ride on a frog.
• Mice are clean and fastidious animals. They designate separate areas of their homes to use as dining rooms and bathrooms. 

If—despite their charm—you still don't care to share your home with mice, the best way to keep them out of your humble abode is to prevent them from getting inside in the first place. Seal mouse-size holes (mice can enter a hole the size of a dime), keep food in sealed containers, always clean up crumbs right away, and use safe, homemade deterrents like peppermint-soaked cotton balls. If you already have unwanted mouseguests, never use cruel glue traps, which leave the animals to suffer slow deaths from suffocation or dehydration. Instead, pick up a few humane mousetraps and set the mice free outdoors.

Written by Heather Faraid Drennan

Customers were horrified when they discovered two songbirds stuck to a glue trap at a Walmart store in Indiana. One customer rushed the birds to a wildlife rehabilitator, while another contacted PETA. We alerted law enforcement and Walmart, and Walmart acknowledged that it has a policy against using glue traps for bird control but claimed that the traps had been set for rodents. Glue traps are (obviously) indiscriminate and ensnare any animals who are unfortunate enough to wander across their path, so Walmart removed the traps that had been set in that store.

Many "non-target" animals—including birds, squirrels, gerbils, hamsters, and even kittens—suffer immensely and die in glue traps every year. One tiny kitten in Boston nearly starved to death when she became ensnared in a glue trap. PETA has asked Walmart to stop using these traps in all its stores.

If you know of any local businesses, schools, or property management companies that are using glue traps, urge them remove the traps immediately and contact PETA if they won't.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

With the approach of cooler fall weather, some of you might be hearing the pitter-patter of little feet in your attic. That's because mice and other rodents often start moving indoors this time of year to escape the cold. If you don't mind sharing your home with these furry little refugees, give yourself a pitter-pat on the back and don't read any further: This week's "Win It" Wednesday prize—one of PETA's perennially popular humane mousetraps—will be of no interest to you.

For the rest of you, here are three easy steps you can take to humanely rodent-proof your home: 

• Seal any cracks and holes in walls and foundations
• Keep food and garbage in sealed, chew-proof containers
• Catch any remaining rodents with a humane trap and release them outdoors.

To score one of the aforementioned humane traps, post a comment below telling us about the creative ways you have humanely resolved conflicts with wildlife. Whoever leaves the response that most makes us want to smack ourselves on the forehead and say, "D'oh, why didn't I think of that?" will walk away a winner.

The contest ends November 3, and the winner will be chosen on Novemeber 5. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting.

If you don't win, never fear: You can still order one of our lean, green, mouse-nabbing machines at PETACatalog.com. 

Written by Alisa Mullins

What could be cuter than a rat with a cotton-ball tail? OK, cuter and real? I nominate this "Awww"-some video of Tinkerbell taking a bath:

Rats are not only adorably squeaky clean but also super sweet and smart—not that hygiene, looks, and/or IQ should ever be a requirement for caring about rodents or any other animal.

Written by Karin Bennett