mice saving seeds

[clkeiper]

I put jalapeno and orange sun seeds in trays in the greenhouse on heat mats. within a day or two (after even having traps set riight next to the bench and on the bench with the seeds covered) I noticed it looked as if a mouse was rooting around in the tray. grrr! today I was filling in non sprouted marigold spaces in a plug tray. as I went to replant one spot there was an entire plug space filled with pepper seeds! I never knew that mice stored seeds. I never gave it a thought.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by clkeiper

I put jalapeno and orange sun seeds in trays in the greenhouse on heat mats. within a day or two (after even having traps set riight next to the bench and on the bench with the seeds covered) I noticed it looked as if a mouse was rooting around in the tray. grrr! today I was filling in non sprouted marigold spaces in a plug tray. as I went to replant one spot there was an entire plug space filled with pepper seeds! I never knew that mice stored seeds. I never gave it a thought.

Yes they do just like squirrels do for later eating.
One of my old dogs Bullet would stash food in places for later.
She didn't over eat not over weight and I could leave food out for her all the time.
She was a snacker.

Boo Boo on the other hand.


Worth.

[Labradors2]

Oh yes they do! We discovered that mice had been in our closet one winter. They had broken into one of those neck warmer thingies that you microwave and place over a sore neck. Rice had been stashed in a boot and a jacket pocket .

Linda

[rxkeith]

i placed a sheet pan full of bean seeds upstairs to dry in our farm house several years ago. this was before we had some renovating done, and were living on the ground floor.
i went up to check them a couple weeks later, and there were just a few seeds left on the pan. the look on my face must have been something to see. traps were set, and stayed set until they stopped being needed. i wonder how long those seeds will stay in the walls or where ever they are before they are eaten or discovered by someone.


keith

[clkeiper]

I can't tell you how shocked I was to find all of those peppers seeds in one cell about 6" away from the tray. Now they are mixed up. Oh well. I will post a warning that there may be a stray orange bell pepper or two in the jalapeno plants.

[FourOaks]

I hated to, but I set out the poison blocks for my mouse problem. Seems to do ok.


So far, based on my local population and their tastes, Sunflower, Cucumber, Every Squash, Basil, Sage, and Broccoli seeds are on their menu.


Im thinking that the flats might have to be covered with the heavier clear domes at night. Might have to use binder clips to keep them shut.

[sdambr]

Carolyn, sorry to hear that they are still hanging around your seeds and mixing them up.
We caught ended up catching 2, all the traps are set now but no action on them.

I hope they have not squirreled away my seeds to come back later.

[Worth1]

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[Worth1]

Last night I was sitting in my chair and noticed movement.
I looked and saw a wee mouse come up to Smokey's water bowl and get a drink.
It saw me looking at it and ran off then came back and drank some more.
Then it went over to Smokey;s food bowl and took a piece of cat food and ran off with it.
I need to find a way to trap it and put it back outside where it belongs.
Or wait till Smokey eats it.
She was sleeping on the job last night.

Worth

[kurt]

My experience is that those critters run,find a suitable fruit,veggie,grab it run with it,hide and eat it,go and regurgitate the food at the nest.Now this rats( rats maybe,a Norwegian,ship highjacker)has perplexed me,it will eat in place all the fava beans,leaving the shell green husk,also a bag of black sunflower seeds had the same,interior gone shells 5 foot away hidden behind a pot.This rat refuses to enter a Have aHart trap,using the above mentioned bait,a brand new one,no human scent right out of box.Tonite a Victoria 4xC battery that delivers 50,ooovolts on a plate it steps on.sorry

[clkeiper]

oh, believe me, I have thought about one of those for my chicken coop. I should get one even for the greenhouse/high tunnel. I need several of them though.

[Worth1]

I need to remember to get some traps to kill the darn thing.
It is driving me nuts.
Cute as they are they aren't Disney humanized cartoon mice and rats they are nasty destructive vermin.
Worth

[clkeiper]

yep, Worth, that is the truth. they are nasty destructive creatures carrying diseases and other vermin around with them but in all reality I have never seen any mice with fleas/ticks on them when I have trapped them. has anyone else?

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by clkeiper

yep, Worth, that is the truth. they are nasty destructive creatures carrying diseases and other vermin around with them but in all reality I have never seen any mice with fleas/ticks on them when I have trapped them. has anyone else?

When the body cools the parasites leave IF they have any.

A friend of mine shot a deer and was carrying it home on his back.
When the deer was cooling off the fleas and tricks started crawling on him it was covered in them and he dumped it.
His property his deer his choice.
Worth

[clkeiper]

usually you would see the detritus left from the fleas though. I have never seen junk on them. I usually save the little carcasses for the neighbor. she feeds them to her snake.