Sunday night, Paul and I were sitting around watching football. As we did so, Choppy started scratching and whining at the fireplace. We could see her in the living room from where we sat on a couch in the den.

“What’s she doing?” Paul asked.

“Eh, nothing. Barking at her shadow,” I replied. “She does it every fall. I think it’s something about the way the light hits the glass this time of year. Just ignore it.”

We went back to watching football; Choppy continued some occasional barking and whining at the fireplace. I continued to ignore it, but Paul’s concern remained.

Eventually, I headed up to bed to do some reading; Paul and Choppy stayed downstairs.

A few minutes later, I heard Paul call me from downstairs. “I think you should come downstairs.”

I walked down to see what was going on, taking my sweet time as I went to the fireplace. Paul squatted next to the glass front, with Choppy on his left side. In his hand, he held a flashlight and was obviously looking at something on the other side of the glass.

I knelt down on the other side of Choppy, whose tail was wagging and whose face had a “see? I knew there was something going on here,” look on it.

I looked inside the fireplace for myself, having no idea what I was about to see.

And there, curled in a corner, was a mouse/rat like creature.

This was not good.

Some pictures will help illustrate the situation as it currently stands (because yes, it is an ongoing situation).

As it was dark and the part of the house is not that bright, I couldn't get a good picture. But there is our new, furry friend.
As it was dark and the part of the house is not that bright, I couldn’t get a good picture. But there is our new, furry “friend.”
Another view of our "friend." He has a fluffy tail, but definitely isn't a squirrel or chipmunk. We're pretty sure it's a pack rat at this point. And he needs to go.
Another view of our “friend.” He has a fluffy tail, but definitely isn’t a squirrel or chipmunk. We’re pretty sure it’s a pack rat at this point. And he needs to go.
Monday, I took a trip to the store to get something to take care of our problem rodent. The first trap I considered had this warning. I didn't go with this one, because it struck me as rather horrifying.
Monday, I took a trip to the store to get something to take care of our problem rodent. The first trap I considered had this warning. I didn’t go with this one, because it struck me as rather horrifying (and yes, I realize that the trap I eventually settle don has the same problems. But it didn’t warn me of them, so it somehow seemed better).
The trap we finally settled on. We'll see if it actually catches the thing (more exciting? If it actually does catch it - I have no idea what we're going to do with the rat).
The trap we finally settled on. We’ll see if it actually catches the thing (more exciting? If it actually does catch it – I have no idea what we’re going to do with the rat).
Here is Paul setting up the trap. As you can see, Choppy is quite interested in the situation.
Here is Paul setting up the trap. As you can see, Choppy is quite interested in the situation.
By "quite interested," I mean she doesn't want to leave the fireplace at all. Here she is sleeping in front of it Monday night.
By “quite interested,” I mean she doesn’t want to leave the fireplace at all. Here she is sleeping in front of it Monday night.

And, the saga continues. We still haven’t caught the rodent. Thus, this story is (unfortunately) to be continued…