Mice

I'm pretty sure some of the little critters are eating my lettuce, I also have a slug problem too so my young plants are having a hellish time. I bought some natural deterrent for the slugs which is helping, but I have no idea what to do with the mice.
I had a look are previous mouse related posts and people suggested either a cat or a trap, well sadly I cant have a cat and I'm not keen on trapping them. I don't mind moving them from my house but the garden I feel its their territory... I'm far too soft!

I'm guessing fine netting wont work as they can chew through it? How about fine chicken wire? I know they can get through gaps the same size as a fountain pen, so would mesh so tight restrict the light too much?

 

Mice and rats can chew through wire fences. You could trap humanly and release well away from your plot. (and don't use cheese. They prefer chocolate........who doesn't.

 

It'll be hard work tearing myself away from the chocolate! If theres no other option though I'll try that then, thanks. I live next to a wood though, surely theres an endless supply of them in there.

 

if you want to save your chocolate, mice are also partial to bacon rind!

mice were talked about on another thread not that long ago, not sure if this will work or not but hopefully this is the link to it http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=41;t=000077;p=1#000006

it just talks abit about using humane traps.

 

I doubt whether it would be mice eating your lettuce, probably the slugs. Mice are more likely to go for stuff like peas and beans when they have been sown. Generally I don't find mice a great problem as long as they stay outside and the numbers don't get too high. I notice there is a family of them in my rock wall, so at present i just leave them - something for the owls to eat anyway.
Has anyone heard about using egg shells as a slug deterrent? Slugs, I think, are going under the fleece and nibbling the radishes so am experimenting with surrounding the new sowings with crushed egg shell. A hosta that is in a bed surrounded by bark mulch is nibble free.

 

I suppose its possible, I'm really not clued up yet but the breaks in the leaf are very different they look ripped. To me a slugs nibbling look more like they've sucked the goodness out the holes are very round and sometimes the veins are remaining. One lettuce was totally chewed through at ground level. Also it looks like something small has been digging, holes about 2-3in wide are appearing.

Well I'll try eggshells first then, I really don't want to start moving creatures out of their homes. I'll cover the patch in large mesh just in case cats are doing the digging.

I best get eating some omelettes then! Thankyou

 

The best yet..young fiz came in earlier with a mouse he said he found near the river.What should i feed it? Should i just let it go in the garden? :D

 

Take it back to where young fiz found it and release. Mice will eat birdseed, so that may do as a tid you over til he can be got back. I wouldn't release in your garden - whilst I have wood mice in my garden - they can be a pain if they get into the house, or shed.

 

This is one of my residents. Trouble with trapping mice in the garden is its a bit like King Canute holding back the flood. If they become a real problem then there must be something attracting them and you remove the attractant. I suppose in my garden there is always plenty of food though I do try to reduce spillages from the wild bird food, but the birds will insist on scattering it. But they are not a real problem. I tried to get the dog interested...she did a half hearted chase but i think she thought they were too small.

 

Geoff they look like field mice there are a few tips on this link on how to get rid of them.
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/971125b.cfm

 

If there are any cats in the neighbourhood they will help keep them down. We have owls as well and I think they regard them as a treat.
I think they are very attractive little creatures, also the little snouty voles. As long as their numbers are not too great [as with all things] then I would just let them be. Walnut, that's a great site!

 

Try this.....an old friend of mine..

 

:D Fran,the questions were asked by young fiz.Sorry,i wasn`t very clear.It didn`t stay long at our abode.
Geofhandly, i think i must have been shown the cousin to the one you have. :rolleyes: :D

 

Roders!!


That is awful and I can't condone that at all.

Please don't post pictures that make me feel disloyal to my furry friends by making me laugh out loud before trying to make it my screensaver :D

TO

 

You could alway come and live near me. My cat catches all the neighbourhood mice and brings them in alive to live in my house. I don't if he thinks I need the exercise involved in catching them or he feels sorry for them and brings to live in a nice warm house