It was clear, when I opened the door, that there had been disturbance and the place was in a bit of a mess.
Paper all over the floor and general air of someone rummaging. Then I noticed bird seed across worktops and on the floor and realised that I’d had a visitor looking for shelter and food.
We know we ha
ve wood mice around us and there is space at the edge of the door wide enough for such a creature to gain access to the garden shed.
A tidy up revealed a box that had contained a tool, on then shelf, that now felt heavier than it should given that I thought it should be empty; our tiny friend had made holes to create a nesting box, and filled with paper and seeds.
That box has been move in the tidy up but will be left just in case he, or she, wants to use it.
Of course, the bags of seed will need to be stored more safely. I think the mouse has a good store and there are also the birds to feed as they come up to nesting.
This year we are a bit luckier than last. Our house is 100% wood construction, a Colt Home. Lastr year one, or more, mice found their way into the cavity near the back door and could often be heard scratching behind the radiator.
It drove our canine, Rupert, to distraction. By spring they were gone and after checking, as well as we could, we sealed the hole and ensured there were no other easy access places. There’s no scratching at night under that radiator this year, either from within the wall or fom Rupert trying to find the source.
http://www.wildlifebritain.com/fieldmouse.php
The Wood Mouse will live just about anywhere there is food and shelter. It traditionally roams fields, hedgerows, forests and grass lands where it can find plenty of food. They are omnivorous and will eat a range of seeds, berries, invertebrates, worms, carrion and other similar food. It tends to have a short life in the wild as so many different creatures prey on them, with an average age between 6 and 12 months, although they live longer in captivity and when conditions are favourable.