Mouse mystery

[lauradi7dw]

We have had mice in the house on and off for many years. In the past, we've used a humane trap (or something claiming to be humane) and taken them a few blocks away. Recently, as sometimes in the past, the mouse has been coordinated enough to get the bait food out without triggering the trap. Other than that, I'm not sure what she/he/they eat. Last night I went upstairs to do something after supper and totally spaced out that I had not put all the food away, and it stayed on the counter overnight. This morning there were lots of mouse droppings, including on top of a cardboard box with some cake inside, but neither the cake inside or the bread in a bag nearby had been disturbed. They never seem to eat from the compost bowl. So if they don't like the food I leave out, what is the attraction of the kitchen? Are they running races over the countertops for sport? A folk repellent is cotton balls soaked with mint extract, but I was told that once they are used to your house, this doesn't deter them.