SO, About that mouse, Part 2

[rayb]

 Thanks for the responses to my probable  mouse problem. Your general consensus was that they should go. They were leaving droppings on the debris tray and they had to be evicted. Yesterday was reasonably warm, sunny and calm enough for a quick peek. I looked between every frame and did not see any evidence of their presence. No mice, no nesting material, nothing. Maybe they were just setting up and I caught them early. Maybe they were just overnighting and foraging outside during the day.

Today there were no droppings on the tray and the few pieces of D-Con that I put near the entrance were untouched.

I reduced the entrance (Like I should have done earlier) and will keep a look out for more droppings.

Here's hoping Mickey's eviction is permanent!!!!

Thanks, Ray

[BEE C]

Good to hear it! Nasty little creatures.  I read a book on keeping pet mice, when I was at the pet store and it warned of keeping them away from mint essential oils as it wil make them sick.  I planted mint everywhere I could this year....could this be used as a disinsentive to mice? Would it hurt the bees to have mint oil below the bb?  I assume because essential oils are volatile they would be ok to use around hives.  Something to think about.  I put out warfarin treats for my guests (outside of the hives) and they ate them ALL.  Not to be a bad host I am getting some more tomorrow...my only problem with this is potential poisoning of owls.  Rather have a cat but we have a bad racoon problem right now, so until that is 'fixed' I guess warfarin treats and mint oil will be the only appetizers served...

[Understudy]

The only problem I have with mint is it grows like a weed down here. So you have to keep your eye on it. Down here we tell people to very careful about planting mint.

I think the bees will be fine with it. (Guess not a fact, to lazy to look it up)


Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Cindi]

Steve, you are wondering about the owls eating the dead poisoned mice?  I think that is what you meant.

I would love to hear an answer to this too.  I don't think that the owls would go after the mice if they were dead.  I am thinking that they get off on the "chase".  They might not see the mice if they are dead, perhaps they see motion only.  But I don't know for sure.

If the owls did go after the dead mice, I then wonder if the owls may detect the scent of the mouse killer bait in the body of this mouse and not eat it?  wondering about this stuff for sure.

Let's see what people say on the forum.  Best of the best day.  Cindi

[BEE C]

cindi,
Yeah, I was afraid of owls getting sick and dying mice.  I am putting up owl roosting boxes this year, and want to attract them to help with the mice.  My favorite raptor.  Bald eagles are great too, i always go to Pitt lake to watch them when they congregate to mate.  I guess mice are like the mites outside the hive, well never get rid of field mice, but can keep their levels down.  I would be curious what people think about possible poisoning of owls through warfarin pellets...bugs me.  Our cat used to hang around the hives alot when I was working them.  He would poke his nose around the entrances or go off chasing things.  Very territorial.  I was thinking of planting catnip to entice the neighbours cats (in a cage of course)  Its a sunny spot and I have noticed the neighbours cats sitting on the boulder sunning themselves.  Cat was the best hunter, he would often bring stuff back to me to 'share' in the spoils. I guess the garden snakes like the area too, unfortunately he would eat them...
My peppermint plants have grown in size, but I will keep an eye on things.  A friend from newzealand showed me pictures of mint production in nz in containers, warning me. So far the yard keeps swallowing what we plant...

[Michael Bush]

>Steve, you are wondering about the owls eating the dead poisoned mice?

That's one of the things that bothers me about poison.  It's indiscriminate and it can set off a chain reaction in the food chain that makes MORE mice in the long run.  I prefer traps for mice.

[BEE C]

MB,
Yeah, I agree.  I don't like the idea of poison in the food chain.  I had the cubes of warfarin because there were mice in the basement, and I hate that more, but I've decide to switch to traps and sticky boards for outside. 

[Kathyp]

one year we had river rats.  i put out poison.  a couple of days later, i saw a rat staggering around the back yard and the dog barking at it.  never used poison again. 

have tried live traps, sticky traps, and the old wood neck breakers.  of all, the old wood ones work the best. 

funny thing from my sister in england....you can't buy the wood neck breaker traps in england.  guess they are afraid you'll break your fingers or something.  i had to mail some to her when they got mice in their shed  :-)

[Cindi]

Steve, if you want catnip, I have saved that seed too.  Great day.  Cindi

[BEE C]

Cindi,
Awesome.  Catnip would be great.  I had a friend of a friend that wildcrafted catnip, but have lost touch with him.  He claims that it also attracts cougars at least in the interior where he picks it.  Said he has seen cougars rolling over bushes of it.  My neighbours cats thank you in advance. :-D :-D