Field Mice

[Lonnie]

A few days ago, my neighbours discovered a nest of Field Mice in his garden under some rubbish, he's cleaned it all up, which is good, but whats not good, is I saw one in our kitchen tonight, I think they've moved from his garden into our house.

I don't want to kill them if possible, so I need to know, with a Humane trap, what would be the best food to use as a bait.

All suggestions will be welcome, my wife is a little bit terrified of them. Thanks,

[Cetti]

Hi Lonnie, your poor wifey need not be fritted as they are such pretty little things - go on , convince her :-)

Do you think your 'guest' could be the common House Mouse and not the adorable Wood/Field Mouse? Does it have huge button bright eyes, large round ears and resembles a clockwork toy in motion? Then it's a Wood Mouse.

Have a look at this site for identification. Now, what to do with it Try a bit of sweet crumbled biscuit or a tiny piece of fruit, then throw a hat or similar over the tiny quivering frame and if it hasn't expired from shock place put said mouse soemwhere safe from predators. Ahh!

[Lonnie]

Thanks Cetti, had a good few looks at the site you've given me, and yes, i'm pretty sure the little darlings are Fieldmice, i'll try the bait you suggest and see what happens. Thanks again.

[JohnLIreland]

Field mice are, in general, not comfortable with living in houses - too many dangers. Also, unlike house mice, they don't pose anything like the same health threats.

I expect they'll move out of your house fairly soon, to them it's just a temporary refuge.

They're actually approaching becoming an endangered species, especially, in Britain as their natural habitat is being destroyed so please don't kill them. They'll move on when the find something more to their liking.

[dancecaller]

Why, if you dont want to kill them, are you glad that their nest was disturbed? poor things!

[Lonnie]

John, thanks for that info, And I wasn't going to kill them, or if possible, injure them, what you put is very interesting.

[Lonnie]

dancecaller, i'll try to put things into perspective, I served many years in the armed forces, and saw active service in the Middle East and other places round the world, and have seen and done to much in these places to make me sit back and take stock of life, all life in general, and now I wouldn't harm a living defenceless creature unless it couldn't be avoided.

Each creature, Animal or Vegetable, has the right to live, and has a purpose in our eco system.

As for their nest, it was in our neighbours garden, closer to house than theirs, and have always believed that mice carried a health risk, (read JohnLIrelands post on that), I have a disabled daughter who is prone to catching different viruses, and thought, wrongly at the time, that without the nest, they would move away, they actually moved closer. and there you have it.

[Cetti]

Lonnie, if you don't already have one I've just found a Humane Mouse Remover for you. Have a look at this and see what you think.

[Lonnie]

Thanks Cetti, your terrific, I got one today, from a garden centre, which is similar, but that one cost �4.95, so i'm going to put an order in for the one on your link, thats a two pack, and even with p&p, its cheaper, and, of course, I don't have to use the car to get it. Magic.

[dancecaller]

Sorry Lonnie, didn't mean to sound critical. We all have our own threshold of tolerance anyway. In my case I have none for wasps, and I squish caterpillars on the cabbages, otherwise its live and live, like you.

[Lonnie]

Hi dancecaller, thanks for that, no problem at all, actually, afterwards, I re-read it, and realised i'd taken it the wrong way, and should have said something then. I know you'll accept my apologies, and still friends.

[clair3934]

the best stuff I've used is peanut butter or chocalate I think its cause it has a strong smell that attracts them. anyway its always worked for my parents we used to get inundated with mice every year

hope that helps

[Lonnie]

Thanks clair, used some chocolate, and caught one, I know there were more, because I saw an adault and a young one, haven't caught any more, so tomorrow, i'll give the Peanut Butter a try.