Buried treasures
It was a weekend of discovery in the garden.
On saturday, while digging up the sweet potatoes, I overturned a shovel full of dirt from the corner of the raised bed only to unearth 8 tiny mouse/rat babies.
Here’s a pic of some of these cute lil’ fuckers…
Not knowing what to do, I tossed them in a bucket to hold them in until I could think of a course of action. After Emma got home from work, we decided the best solution was to get them out of our backyard, so we took them in a shoebox to Allegheny Cemetery where we deposited them under a pile of leaves in a small garden. Did they perish without their mother? Its likely, but it seemed the most natural/humane way to handle them. Good luck lil’ guys!!
Then on sunday, while picking the string beans (yes! the late batch of beans is providing a nice harvest!) I saw something in the dirt. Picking it up and cleaning it off revealed a little cowboy with a gun figurine. So awesome to still be finding random toys and whatnot in the garden after 3 years.
Well done, sir! Way to go. I’m glad you took the time to get the dudes to a place where they would at least have some kind of chance, no matter how slim. And you’re right, it’s probably the most “natural” mehod of dealing with the dudes.
Again, well done.
Comment by ErictheRed — September 18, 2007 @ 9:33 am
Hi, I’m a veterinarian. The next time you find any bay mice (yes those were field mice probably about a week old) or baby birds, squirrels, etc….
set them carefully aside with some straw or leaves to help them keep warm, then gently place them back in the location you found them in. Even above ground if you picked them up ASAP. Go to work, go to bed, etc…. walk away! Mom will come and rescue and relocate them in most instances. Mice and squirrels make sounds people can’t hear, so they can let Mom know they are in trouble, and she’ll hang out, out of sight until you go away.
Good luck with your renovations.
Dr. Pam
Comment by Dr. Pam — January 23, 2008 @ 12:37 am