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relocating a field mouse

acmeproductioncoacmeproductionco Posts: 7
in Wildlife gardening
Hi all.  I have a lovely little field mouse who's taken up residence in a pile of turf I'm composting.  I need to move the pile soonish, but cause as little disruption to the mouse as I can.  I'm converting my garden into a mini meadow, so want to encourage any/all wildlife that I can.  How would you suggest I go about this? Could I try to convince them to move to another spot?  Poor chappy, I feel like such a hypocrite now  :D
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  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    If he's not causing any bother, I'd leave him be. We have some dart out to nab stuff dropped by the birds under the feeders. I think they're adorable
    Devon.
  • acmeproductioncoacmeproductionco Posts: 7
    Hostafan1 said:
    If he's not causing any bother, I'd leave him be. We have some dart out to nab stuff dropped by the birds under the feeders. I think they're adorable
    ha, agree!  I have pet rats (inside of course), so I love the little guys. It's just that I was composting all the topsoil, and now that it's broken down, I need to move the pile so I can utilise the space.  Their home is near the bird feeders, so they'll want to stay in the area, I'm just not sure how to get them to move out without scaring them.  Would a hedgehog house be suitable for mice? 
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    A small cardboard box or a plastic free jiffy bag, stuffed with some dry grass and baited with peanut butter to get him to move in and then move him to a new home inside said box/bag and build it into a new designated turf pile or small cairn of stones would probably suit him better. He may have babies in his current nest though - it would be better to wait until later in the year to move him, if you can.
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • ju1i3ju1i3 Posts: 189
    I have 4 cats and I am quite happy for them to keep the mice under control.
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    The joys of wildlife, went to turn the compost heap, took off cover, eight slow worms including two heavily gravid females sat on top. Looks like I won't be turning the compost any time soon.
  • acmeproductioncoacmeproductionco Posts: 7
    raisingirl said:
    A small cardboard box or a plastic free jiffy bag, stuffed with some dry grass and baited with peanut butter to get him to move in and then move him to a new home inside said box/bag and build it into a new designated turf pile or small cairn of stones would probably suit him better. He may have babies in his current nest though - it would be better to wait until later in the year to move him, if you can.
    ahhh, this is really helpful, thanks!  Yeah, I was wondering if they'd have a nest this time of year.  Welp.  It's their garden, I'm just the care taker.  Guess getting a shed up in that space is going to have to wait!  
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    ju1i3 said:
    I have 4 cats and I am quite happy for them to keep the mice under control.
    Shame really then that there is a huge body or research that shows cats do nothing of the sort. They have zero impact on rodent populations, it doesn't matter how many they kill, the rodents are winning. However they do totally decimate and eradicate every other form of wildlife. A lot of which is highly beneficial to gardeners, the environment and ecosystems. 

    It's a pretty inappropriate post in the Wildlife gardening section, I'm sure you will find plenty of cat lovers elsewhere.
  • dave125dave125 Posts: 178
    One pregnant female Wood Mouse (not being picky but that's technically what yours is) got into our kitchen. After a while we noticed and bought two very cheap humane click traps from B&Q. We caught 12 in total very easily and relocated them in a nearby forest. Sadly my wife ran one over which we thought had run into the grass on release. Still the point is we tried and for very little effort and almost no cost 11 mousy lives were saved.
    Luv Dave
  • dave125dave125 Posts: 178
    GemmaJF said:
    The joys of wildlife, went to turn the compost heap, took off cover, eight slow worms including two heavily gravid females sat on top. Looks like I won't be turning the compost any time soon.
    I'd give anything to have Slow Worms in my garden, they've very rare here in Cheshire
    The only reptile I've had in the garden was a flyover Grass Snake. It was being carried by a Buzzard to feed nearby young and wasn't very happy about it.
    Luv Dave
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