When hubby went out to turn the compost and opened up the top, he found a tiny baby field mouse. He called for me to come out and see it (camera in hand of course ...), and we wondered what to do with it. It was very small and not moving on its own. He decided to take it out of the compost and placed in carefully on the ground beside hoping that mum would find it. As we watched the baby, mum appeared from a hole in the wall. She eventually came out and grabbed the babe by the scruff of the neck and dragged it through the wall. I presume and hope it survived the trauma! I was very happy to get a few photos of the scene!
Absolutely loved your story and what a wonderful find! I love mice of any sort. Doesn't look old enough to have wandered off! @onewing perhaps mum put the baby in the compost bin as she didn't have a naughty step available!
It's hard to be mad at them when they look at you with those big eyes! Of course as long as they stay outside mice are fine. It's when they get into the cupboard that the story does not have as nice of an ending. Great catch- the baby is so small!
@vignouse@serendypyty@casablanca It seems that mum was initially with the babe, in the compost bin. They must have a nest in there ... no longer, I'm afraid, after hubby has been in to turn it over! Our compost container is made of wooden slats with no fixed lid, just a layer of carpet on the top, so very easy for them to get in. I imagine it's a good feeding ground for them. However, the hole in the wall seems to also be a good refuge for them, so hopefully they will reside there in future and only visit the compost for food!
@olivetreeann Yes, I absolutely would not want them in the house!!! This is a field mouse however, and right up at the back of our garden, so hopefully they wouldn't consider coming close to the house! As you say, if they do the ending might be a little different!
