Allotments 4 All

We seem to have an infestation of mice at the plot, in and around the greenhouse and shed! I want to get rid of them as they are eating my seedlings and seeds. But I would rather use humane traps, anyone recommend a good trap/method. They have had all my sowed sweetcorn and now have eaten all my sowed pumpkin/squash/corgette seed. :( They have eaten alot of my brassica seedlings too....HELP.

Thank you in advance.

Normylass

You don't need a "humane" trap, they aren't human. Just go for the old neck breakers... after you dispatch about 50 they take the hint...  :-X

Saddad I don't think I could deal with the dead mice, I know usually the old methods are the best but they are cute animals, although this is war.
All the best.

Normylass

I would go (and have gone) for mousetraps inside the GH too.  You might find that it is only a few mice who party there every night so not a WMD.  

This business of catching them then releasing them somewhere else ... well, where will you release them?  how much stress is that going to cause the wee beasties and yourself and they are vermin, see it as your civic responsibility to do your bit to keep the population under control.

Honestly, it is not as bad as you think, live and let live I say but if them come into your (Green) House then they are fair game.

Hi Denby, they are definately partying in my greenhouse!!
I have had the plot for 3 years now and this is the first time they have caused any significant problems.
They pulled up all of my planted tender seeds last night and left quite a trail for me to clear up today!!
I would send DH to dispose of them around a mile away, I know most of my lottie friends use posion to deal with the problem, but I can't  :(

It might be birds getting in, not mice, if you have had the GH door open in the sun.  Baby blackbirds got into mine last year and pulled up seedings.  Someone else on the site got our enemy the pigeon coming in to eat stuff.

Yes don't go for poison, if you are killing do it quick and clean - my friend who had rodents in his house put poison in the loft - next thing was a dead Owl in the garden  :(

Up to yesterday Denby I thought it was birds, but left the greenhouse closed overnight, and again damage done still today, so definately mice. 

What about trying one of these?
http://www.primrose-london.co.uk/rodent-gard-sonic-rat-and-mouse-repeller-p-1618.html

Duke

This is happening to me too. I am used to them digging to find seed in pots but yesterday we went into the greenhouse and all the plants I potted on had been got at. At first I thought it was slugs but no sign of eating anything, then I thought birds but they were not pulled out. They were sliced off at the soil level, just like a cut worm would do. On closer inspection there were holes where the plant had been so they were clearly diogging looking for a seed, the little plant just got in the way. They haven't touched the tomatoes or the bigger transplants, it was just the small ones ..they were summer squash.


I am seriously thinking of leaving a dish of corn seed in there in the hope they go fdor that and leave my plants alone.

I have a snake lives in the greenhouse too but I guess he was out for the night.

XX Jeannine

Duke I did think about a sonic device, but am sceptical if they work, anyone any experience?
Jeannine I'm sorry you've lost your plants, it so disheartening isn't it. At least I have a couple of spring cabbage to bring home that survived the winter, that should help cheer me up, hope you have the same.  :)

I didnt know this about mice !! 

I have had a lot of my seedlings nipped off at the top and thought it was slugs !  Hmmm.... I know we have a little mouse going about garden cause my husband saw it run up the wall to get the nuts from bird feeder.... we have moved the feeder now ! I didnt realise they ate seedlings too.  :o

I used traps at one time, but they all disappeared attached to rats. So now I just keep putting poison down. I do have rodents around, but not enough to cause problems.

A loan of Betty's cats should sort your mice problem.   :D

Quote from: cornykev on May 02, 2011, 18:18:56
A loan of Betty's cats should sort your mice problem.   :D

That's a good idea.  Would you like to borrow Psycho?
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or maybe Felix
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I like the idea of a cat, I do have one (see me photo) but if she ever catches a mouse I'll put out the flags. Because she is white the birds see her coming a mile away and laugh  ;D

Primrose London were not very helpful "after sales" with the electronic mouse killers.

Surprised about Primrose London Andy, I had a mole repeller that stopped after about 4 months last year and they sent a replacement immediately.

Wouldn't even accept to sell another at non profit let alone give us a replacement for free.
Then stopped communicating. So thats a no go for the next 40 years :P