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Mice in the Compost - Kill Them or Leave them Alone?

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  • 25-09-2011 9:48pm
    #1
    BargainHunter
    Registered Users Posts: 94 ✭✭


    Im running my garden entirely as a wildlife garden. Totally overgrown and full of frogs, beetles etc. Are mice a healthy addition to a natural ecosystem or pests to be exterminated?

    Ive seen a mouse in my compost bin, on a couple of occasions recently. Should I put down a trap in the compost bin or just leave it be?


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    #2
    seanybiker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,898 ✭✭✭✭seanybiker


    I'd leave him there.


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    #3
    cscook
    Registered Users Posts: 276 ✭✭cscook


    I've always left them. First time round I knew they were there - any time I opened the bin I could them. Moved house, new bin. Earlier this summer I was taking compost out from the bottom and a little mouse fell out. I'd rather they were there than in the shed, never mind the house, and I suppose it's nice and warm for them.


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    #4
    sideswipe
    Registered Users Posts: 2,431 ✭✭✭sideswipe


    BargainHunter wrote: »
    Im running my garden entirely as a wildlife garden. Totally overgrown and full of frogs, beetles etc. Are mice a healthy addition to a natural ecosystem or pests to be exterminated?

    Ive seen a mouse in my compost bin, on a couple of occasions recently. Should I put down a trap in the compost bin or just leave it be?


    Answer's already in your question imo.


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    #5
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    More than likely a Wood Mouse rather than a House Mouse. So, leave it alone and enjoy watching it.


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    #6
    Funsterdelux
    Registered Users Posts: 3,376 ✭✭✭Funsterdelux


    Ah leave the poor aul divil alone


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    #7
    Mothman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,498 ✭✭✭Mothman


    It depends where you raise the question ;)
    Here will side with the wildlife, if raised elsewhere such as gardening forum the opinion may differ :)

    I agree with all the above :)
    And in my experience, if there are mice, there are no rats!


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    #8
    Kess73
    Registered Users Posts: 25,560 ✭✭✭✭Kess73


    Mothman wrote: »
    It depends where you raise the question ;)
    Here will side with the wildlife, if raised elsewhere such as gardening forum the opinion may differ :)

    I agree with all the above :)
    And in my experience, if there are mice, there are no rats!


    I agree with this post, and the bit in bold I go along with as well. An obvious wood mouse population is generally the sign of a low rat presence in that particular garden.


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    #9
    Delancey
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,451 ✭✭✭Delancey


    Kess73 wrote: »
    I agree with this post, and the bit in bold I go along with as well. An obvious wood mouse population is generally the sign of a low rat presence in that particular garden.

    Really interesting that , I had always been told by my Grandmother that Rats and Mice were more or less ' hand in glove '.
    Another old wives tale I guess.


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    #10
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    My old Granny always said "Where there's Mice there's no Rats".


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    #11
    slowburner
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 5,219 Mod ✭✭✭✭slowburner


    Rats catch, kill and eat mice.
    (Karli,P. 1956)
    see here
    http://www.ratbehavior.org/RatsMice.htm


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