Bean theft

I planted my first lot of runner beans in a large planter in the garage yesterday. I lift the planter outside in the day and back in at night.
When I went into the garage this morning 'something' had dug up and eaten some of the beans

This has never happened before, I can only assume it is a mountaineering mouse .
It will be out of luck tonight, I have covered the planter with a big lid.

I hope it isn't a rat

Re: Bean theft

How annoying Meg. Can you set a couple of traps?

Re: Bean theft

I think your right Meg it probably is a mouse. It happened to me but not with produce. I'd put some Fat balls in the shed and when i went back in to get them for the birds, they were all over the floor? They'd eaten all the fat and spat out the seeds... Cunning little brats..

Re: Bean theft

..Mups I don't know anyone with humane traps and couldn't stand having dead or injured mice in the garage I just hope they move out in the summer..
Sue I am surprised they left the seeds.
Something ate a bag of bone meal too, I picked up the bag and the bottom fell out..

Re: Bean theft

I hope you're right and they don't invite their friends round instead

Re: Bean theft

Meg get some peppermint oil and put it where you think they are coming in and around your pots etc they really don't like it and might move on fairly quickly.

Re: Bean theft

I will give it a try thanks Julie , I guess it masks the smell of the beans but I won't be leaving them uncovered from now on .

Re: Bean theft

I had mice coming into my flat from the flat below, and I invested in some ultrasonic repellers to keep them out. They plug into a mains socket and they've worked well for several years, since I've never seen one since. As a test, I sometimes put a tasty bit of food (usually peanut butter on a tiny bit of bread) on the floor in the corner of the kitchen for a day or so and nothing ever touches it.

I did use the old fashioned traps for a couple of weeks and caught a few, but the terrible injuries the mice suffered before they died put me off using them. I must be softer then I thought!!

Re: Bean theft

Hi Tachyon that sounds a good long term solution if they hang around ...

Re: Bean theft

Yes, let someone else kill the pesky things, Meg. I just thought I'd mention that the repellers don't affect cats, dogs or birds, etc., so if someone has family pets they'll be unaffected. Apparently it sounds like a very loud noise to mice though.