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| This summer I bought a compost cover made of a thick black synthetic material that was advertised to be breathable yet shed rainwater, thereby optimizing moisture levels in an above-ground compost pile. I had been using brightly colored plastic tarps that I skewered with a pitchfork to increase air exchange, however my piles were outgrowing the tarps and I was looking for something that wouldn't attract as much attention from my neighbors.
After a couple weeks I learned that the new compost cover created a perfect hiding place for mice, which burrowed into the pile and feasted on corn-on-the-cob and buckwheat stalks. They basically lived in the cooler outside layers of the pile and ran back and forth under the cover even in the middle of the day (I discovered this because the neighborhood cat suddenly developed a keen interest in compost). The cover protected the mice from cats, owls, and scrub jays. I hadn't noticed mice under the plastic covers, although that could have been a coincidence based on what I was composting at the time. I've ditched the covers, except for piles where I'm composting yard clippings and less food-like materials and I'm using trench composting for the rest. No more problems with mice. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| .. Good observation. .. |
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- Posted by toxcrusadr (My Page) on Thu, Sep 27, 12 at 11:05
| Those pesky mice! What you need is a big ol snake to sit under the cover to keep warm, and feast on mouses. Don't be surprised if you see that one of these days. I've seen em lie under a black plastic tarp like that, early in the spring when it's chilly out. The mice liked to burrow into the pile during the winter, so it was a nice warm buffet for Mr. Snake. Now some people freak out about snakes,so don't tell anyone else I mentioned it. :-p |
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| Good idea. We have lots of lizards in the garden, and some frogs, but no snakes. |
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