Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcasts Episode 2.42 - Mousy Mysteries and Nesting Wonders
Oct 18, 2025
Join Chris and Matthew as they explore the wonders of autumn at High Ash Farm. Encounter lively house mice thriving in the sparrow hide and marvel at the intricate woven nests of harvest mice. Discover the fascinating dynamics of predator-prey relationships involving barn owls and voles. Venture into Notre Dame Wood to uncover various bird nests and learn about the protective structures of magpie homes. Enjoy a surprise encounter with an open-air beehive and pick up tips on foraging for edible fungi, celebrating the beauty of the countryside's hidden treasures.
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Sparrow Hide Teeming With House Mice
- Chris found a sparrow hide full of house mice cleaning up spilled grain and living in a commensal relationship with sparrows.
- He filmed about 20 mice there and described their size, rapid breeding, and behaviour around the feeders.
Use Grain Baits For Trapping Mice
- Use grain-based baits like bread or peanut butter if you need to trap house mice because they prefer graniferous foods.
- Avoid assuming cheese is best; choose high-grain or sticky baits to improve trapping success.
How Harvest Mice Build And Persist
- Harvest mice build tiny woven nests by shredding green grass leaves and using a prehensile tail for stability.
- Changes in harvesting timing and shorter-straw varieties threatened them, but counting nests revealed they were more common than feared.