We live trap the mice and release them far down the canyon (that geological feature that burns here in California every decade) well behind our house. We let the owls get the rats. Went nuclear on the gophers and buried gopher mesh under the entire backyard that wasn’t patio slab. If you lot is bigger, rent a goat.
The thing about catch and release in Minnesota is that the critters come indoors when winter is upon us. Do you end up having to deal with mouse pee during transport?
Great ideas, Michael G. I think the City ordinances might preclude a goat although there may be chickens nearby. But after my last kitty departed I didn’t want any more living things to care for. Glad you can catch and release to Nature’s natural selection.
Only one mouse? Lucky you! 😂 I’m with you on the spring-loaded traps. They’re the quickest, thus least stressful for the little critters. I like Don’s idea of a slathering of peanut butter (or whatever he uses.) They die happy.
We had a No Mow May movement in my neck of the woods—or I guess we still do. I think it’s propagated by the lawn companies to increase business for weed control. As for the birds and bees and their need for seeds, I leave my native gardens full of last year’s growth until there’s plenty of fresh food for them. I’ve not decided about the lawn other than to leave it as is and mow. There’s also some kind of new grub that’s eating our lawns at the roots. If I didn’t have a dog, I’d just throw a bunch of seeds from the garden over it all and watch the battle.
Oh, and I just remembered weed salad! Last year I took up harvesting dandelion and plantain leaves from the yard for salad. Caesar dressing with parmesan (and croutons, if on hand.) 😋 I recall that was a very gratifying solution. Not sure about knotweed, though.
Isn’t it nice to chitchat about things that matter and will continue to matter come what may? Thanks for sharing your daily life. I’m getting there. Today, I plan to finish up a comment to HUD on their proposal to increase the work requirement and institute a time-limit for subsidized housing. It’s due by midnight. But I consider what I might write on Substack as I walk my dog through the woods along the Mississippi. Everyday there’s something I find humorous or awesome or simply reassuring. These are observations worthy of a Substack diary.
And your letter to HUD is very important, so carry on. You know I personally post only twice a week—but I spend a lot of time reading and commenting on other stacks. Peace out!
I gave up caring about the grass and weeds a while back after Heather suggested we just re-wild that area. Thankfully we have no HOA to complain about our yard. And it has been rather rainy of late so there has been copious growth. But I keep paths mowed and Sully seems to know where they are. And I do use herbicide on some areas.
Mice. I've known people who use live traps so they can catch 'em and catch 'em again. So I use traditional kill traps but I let the bait cover a fairly wide area so they have a full belly when they spring the trap.
Yes, Don A. I own my own little house so I can keep my garden any way I like. But years ago we had a great vegetable garden back there. The knotweed may have invaded around the time we had rented the house out when we moved to New York to care for Mum—for a decade. Anyway, it’s going to have its own way again. Peace out!
We live trap the mice and release them far down the canyon (that geological feature that burns here in California every decade) well behind our house. We let the owls get the rats. Went nuclear on the gophers and buried gopher mesh under the entire backyard that wasn’t patio slab. If you lot is bigger, rent a goat.
The thing about catch and release in Minnesota is that the critters come indoors when winter is upon us. Do you end up having to deal with mouse pee during transport?
The mice traps are small. Sometimes there’s poop and pee. The traps get washed out afterwards.
Great ideas, Michael G. I think the City ordinances might preclude a goat although there may be chickens nearby. But after my last kitty departed I didn’t want any more living things to care for. Glad you can catch and release to Nature’s natural selection.
Only one mouse? Lucky you! 😂 I’m with you on the spring-loaded traps. They’re the quickest, thus least stressful for the little critters. I like Don’s idea of a slathering of peanut butter (or whatever he uses.) They die happy.
We had a No Mow May movement in my neck of the woods—or I guess we still do. I think it’s propagated by the lawn companies to increase business for weed control. As for the birds and bees and their need for seeds, I leave my native gardens full of last year’s growth until there’s plenty of fresh food for them. I’ve not decided about the lawn other than to leave it as is and mow. There’s also some kind of new grub that’s eating our lawns at the roots. If I didn’t have a dog, I’d just throw a bunch of seeds from the garden over it all and watch the battle.
Oh, and I just remembered weed salad! Last year I took up harvesting dandelion and plantain leaves from the yard for salad. Caesar dressing with parmesan (and croutons, if on hand.) 😋 I recall that was a very gratifying solution. Not sure about knotweed, though.
Wow, Freddie. Thank you for such a detailed response. After the poison ivy, I’m very reluctant to venture outside.
We used to eat dandelion leaves in the Isle of Man 🇮🇲 where I lived as a child.
As the memory of the itching fades, I’ll toddle around the garden again soon I hope.
Isn’t it nice to chitchat about things that matter and will continue to matter come what may? Thanks for sharing your daily life. I’m getting there. Today, I plan to finish up a comment to HUD on their proposal to increase the work requirement and institute a time-limit for subsidized housing. It’s due by midnight. But I consider what I might write on Substack as I walk my dog through the woods along the Mississippi. Everyday there’s something I find humorous or awesome or simply reassuring. These are observations worthy of a Substack diary.
And your letter to HUD is very important, so carry on. You know I personally post only twice a week—but I spend a lot of time reading and commenting on other stacks. Peace out!
I gave up caring about the grass and weeds a while back after Heather suggested we just re-wild that area. Thankfully we have no HOA to complain about our yard. And it has been rather rainy of late so there has been copious growth. But I keep paths mowed and Sully seems to know where they are. And I do use herbicide on some areas.
Mice. I've known people who use live traps so they can catch 'em and catch 'em again. So I use traditional kill traps but I let the bait cover a fairly wide area so they have a full belly when they spring the trap.
Yes, Don A. I own my own little house so I can keep my garden any way I like. But years ago we had a great vegetable garden back there. The knotweed may have invaded around the time we had rented the house out when we moved to New York to care for Mum—for a decade. Anyway, it’s going to have its own way again. Peace out!