AIBU?
to let a mouse live rent-free in my compost bin?
GeorgianMumto5 · 04/06/2013 17:19
He's a maverick mouse - lives all on his own - who has been there all winter. Dh sees him quite often, but he seldom makes an appearance for me (the mouse, not dh - I see him quite often). Today I was shovelling out some compost and there he was. He's filthy, but seems happy. He shot out while I was working, then back in again when he thought I'd finished.
I don't want to be overrun with mice, but he seems to be a lone mouse and the compost bin is not near the house. I happily coexist alongside all sorts of other wildlife. The mouse is just one more, right? Plus, if I caught Compo, there'd be more out there that I just don't know about, yeah? (Not in the compost though - that is Compo's manor.)
Damnautocorrect · 04/06/2013 17:24
Where's there's one in the garden there's probably more. But I don't worry about it, unless they move into my house I have no issue with sharing.
Some even pop into the house, but they soon learn that mistake when I'm shouting at the cat to drop them.
I'm sure others have opposing views it I quite like sharing the garden
cantspel · 04/06/2013 20:04
Problem with leaving a few cute mice to live in comfort in the compost is that they will be breeding between February and October every 25 days. With on average 5 young per litter.
Over one summer you could have quite a little army of mice who come winter will be looking for somewhere a bit warmer to live and heading in the direction of your house.
GeorgianMumto5 · 05/06/2013 13:17
Ah. That's not so good. What should I do? I don't think Compo is likely to stray from the bin. Not sure how I can catch him. What about all the other mice that are surely around but better hidden? I could do with a cat, really, but for the allergies.
Bramshott · 05/06/2013 13:35
How on earth do you NOT have mice in the compost bin (or in the shed or any other garden buildings)?! I have a massive rat (and probably half his family) who lives in my compost bin and turns it all over nicely 
... I would prefer he/they wasn't there, but don't fancy my chances of getting rid.
iheartdusty · 05/06/2013 13:45
If, as seems probable, it is a wood mouse, it is not likely to be coming into your house. The house mouse is a different species.
try google, this is just one of many links, but I avoided those put up by Rentokil and their ilk who clearly have an interest in encouraging anxiety about mice.
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