Mouse... live and let live?

digannio · #1 (**permalink**) 22-01-2011, 01:58 PM

I feed the birds but have noticed on a couple of occasions a wood mouse in my back garden. It's been helping itself to the odd bit of suet or seed at night but quickly scurries away if disturbed. I have a hedgehog house in the garden and believe it may have set up home underneath the house, which was used by a hog but is now empty. I don't want to stop feeding the birds during the winter if poss as they have come to rely on their food and I have a lot of species which I enjoy.

But my question is this: Do I just leave the mouse to take the odd bit or take steps to find its nest and attempt to relocate it when caught? If I do nothing am I likely to be over-run with mice in the garden or will it just be a case of the odd one taking some food at night. The house and garage are pretty secure with no obvious holes but will it attempt to get in there and do damage? Will it try to get in the dustbin?

In short, do I need to take action or should it be live and let live, which is probably my inclination altho I don't want to end up with an infestation by not acting now.

What do the wildlife organisations recommend? And what do YOU think I should do.

vole-woman · #2 (**permalink**) 22-01-2011, 02:10 PM

Bet you've had mice for years and not known. In fact I bet pretty much every garden in the UK has a mouse or two. Woodmice are one of our commonest mammals.

I'd say leave alone. We've had wood mice in our greenhouse, which isn't that far from our back door, for years now and none has ever ventured over the kitchen step. They take a bit of bird food but that's all the harm they do. Sometimes I catch a glimpse and sometimes I film them, for fun: YouTube - Mouse Love

digannio · #3 (**permalink**) 22-01-2011, 02:13 PM

So, can I ask you, is it not automatic that they will breed prolifically if there is food and shelter and so end up being a problem?

Riverbird · #4 (**permalink**) 22-01-2011, 02:45 PM

I agree with Vole-woman

I think people worry far too much about mice.

aeshna5 · #5 (**permalink**) 22-01-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digannio

So, can I ask you, is it not automatic that they will breed prolifically if there is food and shelter and so end up being a problem?

Mice can breed prolifically- but that is partly because so many other things prey on them. I doubt you'll get overrun with them- I would leave them be in the garden, though wouldn't encourage them in the house!

Amongst the things that may prey on your mice will be the inevitable Cats, Fox, Weasel, Kestrel, Tawny Owl + no doubt others too.

Just don't put too much excess food out.

faz · #6 (**permalink**) 22-01-2011, 03:42 PM

its all wildlife in your garden just enjoy what funa who come to your garden i have rats in my garden but as long as they dont come in the house its fine

Kayleigh · #7 (**permalink**) 22-01-2011, 03:52 PM

I have had woodmice in my garden for years I even made a woodpile for them but I dont think they use it but they might.
They have nested in my greenhouse and eaten a few of my bulbs but they do not pose a threat and I have not been over run by them.
I have watched them in the summer while I was sitting in the garden they are lovely little animals.

vole-woman · #8 (**permalink**) 22-01-2011, 04:31 PM

Yes, the reason they breed fast is that pretty much everything eats them, so you're not likely to get a huge population building up. Honestly, if you hadn't seen one, you'd know nothing about it, as it were. Yet they'd still be there and doing very nicely. They're ubiquitous little chaps.

rychad · #9 (**permalink**) 22-02-2011, 04:23 PM

I've got them in the garden, in spades. When there was just one or two over December I felt very kindly toward them, now there's 30 at least. They were initially feeding on easy bird feeders and the crumbs the birds drop, and the fat balls. I've moved all the food to where they can't reach, on the roof of the extension. Before I moved the feeders, they would chase the birds away! Seeing them swarming over everything makes them lose their charm fast I tell you.

Before December I was'nt aware of them. There don't seem to be the cats around anymore. There is a corn snake in the garden but its still hibernating, or dead.
I've ordered a trap, a multi catch metal mouse trap, humane variety. If it works they will get a ride into the countryside and become food for the Kestrels, Merlins etc. out at Aust.

darrenm · #10 (**permalink**) 22-02-2011, 04:33 PM

if they are Woodmice i would leave them well alone and they help maintain a very healthy garden for other wildlife.

House Mice though are different

and you can easily be over-run by them if they find a way in and have warmth, food and a place to breed and its best to make sure House Mice cant get in in the first place.