I had a bird stuck in my fireplace about a year ago. I kept trying to think of how to get the fucker out without it flying into my house. I guess I waited to long because the poor thing broke it's neck from flying into the door things on the fire place.

And yeah, it does sound like the mice were the ones not blame and not the kids. God I dislike rodents, yet have a hard time killing mice. Rats, no problem, I would slay them with a pocket knife if I had to. But mice, they are just to cute and don't scream disease like rats do.