.. And the Compost Heap Came To Life!
Tuesday, 4. December 2007, 17:18:48
We have a mouse, possibly a House Mouse or a Vole, living at the bottom of our garden, in our bushes.
We have a stick pile full of small sticks, just in front of the sticks is a bank, a drop. And to the side of this stick pile is next-doors compost heap (loose-wire fence). These mice (small mammals) are also nocturnal. There is a mouse trail, you can see where their foraging routine is, but I wont go into that unless you reqest to know more.
I had noticed on Friday night, that there was a hole in the bank and a hole in the stick pile, so yesterday I decided to go an view the hole closser, on my way out I turned behind me to see.... The FATEST mouse (or Vole) I have ever seen! I mean this critter was HUGE!
I froze, unable to move, it had just poked its head out of the stick hole and was not sniffing for danger, it did this for about 1 minute, I was in a really uncomfortable possition, I had not been prepared for its precence at all, and now it was staring right at me! - they do have poor eye sight these mice, its the hearing and smell that you have to watch out for.
My leg was about to give way when the mouse went back in. I was amazed at what I had saw.
The reason it was so fat was because it had been eating my mammal table food.
Some people would hate to have mice in their garden - but every animal deserves a chance.
So, after school today I decided I would pay 'mouse' a visit, with cheese and bird seed as well as poridge oats in hand, it was a peace offering, all it could eat, in the hope that mouse would co-operate. Little did I know, is that something else was to await me...
I placed the food down, House Mice will eat anything, paper even soap.
Then I put my-self into possttion, and waited, if you want to be a wildlife watcher, patience you must have on your number one list, so here I was, waiting... and waitinig...and... Waiting.
It was getting dark... And the thought of being inches away for mice was a little... uncomfortable but am I kidding? They are more scared of me.
After 10 minutes of waiting, something happened.
Just then, a large part of the compost heap started moviing up and down! It did this at least 5 - 6 times! I thought the compost heap had come to life, imagine that, walking down your path, veg in hand to put in the compost heap and suddenly it started moving! - I would run a mile... If I did not kniw that it was infact mice living in it!
Well, I was almost in shock, it was abit scary, but I got over it. Fancy that!
I then heard a few squeks, but am dissapointed to say I did not see the mouse again tonight, but all the same it was fun!
Watch this space for more updates, if you have mice or think you do then contact me via comments and tell me your experiences. I can help you tell if you have mice, I know their trails and what type of mouse (or small mammal) you may have living in your garden or House.
We have a stick pile full of small sticks, just in front of the sticks is a bank, a drop. And to the side of this stick pile is next-doors compost heap (loose-wire fence). These mice (small mammals) are also nocturnal. There is a mouse trail, you can see where their foraging routine is, but I wont go into that unless you reqest to know more.
I had noticed on Friday night, that there was a hole in the bank and a hole in the stick pile, so yesterday I decided to go an view the hole closser, on my way out I turned behind me to see.... The FATEST mouse (or Vole) I have ever seen! I mean this critter was HUGE!
I froze, unable to move, it had just poked its head out of the stick hole and was not sniffing for danger, it did this for about 1 minute, I was in a really uncomfortable possition, I had not been prepared for its precence at all, and now it was staring right at me! - they do have poor eye sight these mice, its the hearing and smell that you have to watch out for.
My leg was about to give way when the mouse went back in. I was amazed at what I had saw.
The reason it was so fat was because it had been eating my mammal table food.
Some people would hate to have mice in their garden - but every animal deserves a chance.
So, after school today I decided I would pay 'mouse' a visit, with cheese and bird seed as well as poridge oats in hand, it was a peace offering, all it could eat, in the hope that mouse would co-operate. Little did I know, is that something else was to await me...
I placed the food down, House Mice will eat anything, paper even soap.
Then I put my-self into possttion, and waited, if you want to be a wildlife watcher, patience you must have on your number one list, so here I was, waiting... and waitinig...and... Waiting.
It was getting dark... And the thought of being inches away for mice was a little... uncomfortable but am I kidding? They are more scared of me.
After 10 minutes of waiting, something happened.
Just then, a large part of the compost heap started moviing up and down! It did this at least 5 - 6 times! I thought the compost heap had come to life, imagine that, walking down your path, veg in hand to put in the compost heap and suddenly it started moving! - I would run a mile... If I did not kniw that it was infact mice living in it!
Well, I was almost in shock, it was abit scary, but I got over it. Fancy that!
I then heard a few squeks, but am dissapointed to say I did not see the mouse again tonight, but all the same it was fun!
Watch this space for more updates, if you have mice or think you do then contact me via comments and tell me your experiences. I can help you tell if you have mice, I know their trails and what type of mouse (or small mammal) you may have living in your garden or House.
WIDGETIZE