Crocus December 2009

[art600]

Ian

 

[mark smyth]

If the bait isnt going could a grey squirrel be getting in? Sadly it does look like mouse damage.

What I'm about to tell you is so cruel. A birdman I know used to have problems with mice that wouldn't tae baiy because of the spilt seed. He got a bucket of water, a ruler and a Mars. The bucket was on the floor, the ruler had a bit of Mars pinned to the end, balanced and .... splash

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

Here is th evidence - depth of holes in pots made it difficult to focus.  The pile of chewed stems and tunics is but a small sample  

Now it/they have started on Muscari - first picture shows pot with some leaves remaining - next picture shows chewed leaves on the sand, and the last picture shows a pile of compost dug from the pot.

What I cannot understand is why the Access frame,  that is full of plump Crocus in full growth, has been untouched.  Probably too wet!!

Any suggestions gratefully received

Almost certainly mice!
Best way to kill them is poison; choose poison based on brodifacoum, flocoumafen, difethialone or difenacoum; poison based on brodifacoum and flocoumafen is probably only accessible for professionals (not in Belgium). It's best to place poison in boxes, so that other non-target animals cannot reach it. It's better to place many boxes (every 2/3 m along the wall) and to use small amounts of poison. Collect dead mice and burn them, so that the risk for secondary poisoning is minimal (cats!!!). After 2/3 weeks you will be mice-free!
 

[ian mcenery]

Ian

 

Look again Arthur I attached the wrong photo

[mark smyth]

Mouse damage in Rhodohypoxis pots bait untouched

[mark smyth]

Why does bait disappear but trap isnt sprung?

[mark smyth]

Arthur I have a block of pest controller poison I can mail to you

[art600]

Arthur I have a block of pest controller poison I can mail to you

Mark

I would very much appreciate that. 

I have two traps that are not like the conventional mouse trap - you know the one that cracks your fingers when you try to set it, but catches no mice.  These are plastic 'tunnels' with some food at each end.  The food is meant to be irresistable to mice AND poisonous.  So far they have resisted it for my cheese. 

[art600]

Not nice at all Arthur definitely looks like mice this is what squirrels do   an after and before pic

Ian

It looks like squirrels just dig them up for fun - like foxes killing chickens.   There is evidence that corms have been eaten.

My problem with squirrels is they plant acorns in several pots - cover them up - and I only discover them in the Spring.

[art600]

Hendrik

Thanks for the info -will see what I can obtain.

[ian mcenery]

Not nice at all Arthur definitely looks like mice this is what squirrels do   an after and before pic

Ian

It looks like squirrels just dig them up for fun - like foxes killing chickens.   There is evidence that corms have been eaten.

My problem with squirrels is they plant acorns in several pots - cover them up - and I only discover them in the Spring.

Arthur I am afraid they didn't leave much in the way of growing material nearly all of this group of gargaricus were lost  I think not all squirrels do this but once an individual gets a taste they can do so much damage.

[Hendrik Van Bogaert]

Hendrik

Thanks for the info -will see what I can obtain.

With pleasure.
Unfortunately I live in Belgium. Otherwise I could help you with some products: mice and other pest are mostly no problem for me (I'm working in the pesticide business...)

[Michael J Campbell]

I don't have any problem with rodents and we don't have grey squirrels,just red ones, and they stay in the wooded areas. They greys never managed to cross the Shannon river.

[Michael J Campbell]

There is a Rodenticide on sale here called Storm and it kills Rats and Mice with just one feed. It contains Flocoumafen,and comes in small blocks or pelleted form.
They seen to eat it quite happily,not sure if they die happy. Made by a Co.called BASF Ireland Ltd in Clonee Co.Meath.

I am sure I can get some and post it if anyone is interested.

[Maggi Young]

A word of Caution!!
I may be wrong but I strongly suspect that the Post Office, at least in the UK, is not very welcoming of noxious substances in parcels!