Mouse... live and let live?

[tiggerbabe]

My parents have a bird table and a large homemade feeder (that looks a bit like a crucifix ) outside their living room window. Under the feeder is a big clump of heather, and they have woodmice that run in and out from under the heather hoovering up any seeds that the birds drop!

They live in a very rural area, and they have had wood mice for years. I have even seen the woodmouse scale to the top of the crucifix (for want of a better word) and swing on the peanut feeders!

Very clever little things.........leave them be!

[Littlesparrow]

I've got a house mouse under the shed, I did have to put some metal strip on the door to stop him chewing it, but now he is behaving and is quite funny to watch. I will probably get told off, but we do give him the odd bit of toast and then watch him come and get it.

[werdnal]

Where did the Cornsnake come from?

[Farplace]

Originally Posted by rychad

There don't seem to be the cats around anymore. There is a corn snake in the garden but its still hibernating, or dead.
.

Why have you got a dying / dead cornsnake in your garden? Are you in the UK?

[wizzo]

Hiya rychad and welcome to WAB - Wizzo

[bigdave60dog]

Don`t worry, if you are sure of your Id.
You will not be overrun with Woodmice or Yellow Necked Mice. That is House Mice who come into houses and breed prolifically and smellily.
You are talking about entirely different animals. Just enjoy your woodmice. they are pretty and entertaining.
Daver

[Cowgirl]

Agree woodmice are ok, I have them in the garden. Just be grateful they aren't rats. I've been trying to get rid of one pesky rat all winter (shooting/trapping), but it's too quick & clever. Now the inevitable's happened & it's found a friend, probably several, the tart! I looked out of the kitchen window this morning to what I can only describe as a 'boiling' of rats. There were 8 young uns plus mummy all over the feeders .

They're ignoring the tunnel traps & they are hiding in the hedge so I can't get a clear shot, the slightest noise & they're off like lightning. I don't/cant poison because of cats, dogs & buzzards around. The neighbour is keeping an eye out with an air gun as well but only one got so far. There are tunnels all through the garden from the front to the back. Situation rapidly out of control. I am going to have to stop feeding the birds for a while. Not happy!

Usually I can keep them under control but this one obviously has major 'survival' genes & is busy passing them onto the next generation.

Woodmice? I pray for woodmice

[rychad]

Originally Posted by werdnal

Where did the Cornsnake come from?

Someone's escaped pet I suppose. I was surprised to find it under a large empty flower pot. It did the defensive biting gesture thing, then went steadily backwards (!) down a hole. I saw it again briefly a few days later under the pot again, it was'nt so scared this time and went of forwards down the hole. It is a corn snake, found it on the internet. Since then I've left it be, apart from putting compost in the flower pot and a lid over it to keep it warm.

Farplace: Yes i'm in the south west uk. I did'nt say it is dead or dying. I don't know if it's dead or dying or hibernating or gone happily elsewhere. Hopefully it is down in its hole hibernating.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

Yes, the reason they breed fast is that pretty much everything eats them

Surely this should be the other way round - everything eats them because they breed quickly, so are a quickly replenished food source!

I've got a mental picture of mouse 'conversation' in my mind now: "Mickey and Itchy got eaten yesterday - we'd better produce a few more young'uns to keep the population up!"