Yesterday I was aerating my compost and a mouse popped up. It was really scared and tried to jump out but couldn't. I left it open a bit while working in my yard.
I closed it because it was getting late and then this afternoon aerated my compost again and opened the harvest door at the bottom. I worked on the bin for about an hour and nothing came out.
I close everything up tonight.
I think he either got in when I harvested the compost and didn't close the bottom door enough or when I dumped a bag of leaves from last year in there. He was in the bag and I didn't notice?
Is it possible he left yesterday? I feel like the answer is no but then where is he????
I have an earth machine composter. Photo is from a few weeks ago when I opened up my compost for the first time since last year.
by Halloweenie23
7 Comments
Yup, there’s one in my bin too. Scared the crap outta me!
I accidentally skewered a vole in my pile. Is there a big concern about small rodents using your pile as a home?
In my honest opinion, a mouse is probably the best of the rodent you could have getting into your compost. So be aware, might have rats close by which is a much much bigger headache to deal with. I would do what you could to seal it up and away that rodents can’t get in and out of your compost as best as you can while still allowing it to be aerated.
https://preview.redd.it/9asfjr5sx7xg1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=127d32c8206df6b0136a95bf916ead9074449fed
This is my current open air pit that I have double layered with that barrier cloth on both sides of welded wire fencing. I’m very selective about what goes in here though because it is open. Food waste and anything that might attract critters to come eat I compost in the sealed bins. This is mostly for basic browns and greens from yard waste and garden waste. If I do end up putting any sort of food in here it’s like coffee grounds and I bury it in there real good
Yep, keeps em out of the house. I turn my pile often enough that it’s never really an issue.
I found a rat in mine once.
Voles gnawed little round holes in all three of my earth machine bins, in the sides and bottom plastic mesh. I once removed the bin to relocate and had a nursing mother vole run away with the litter attached to her…it still haunts me
I thought this was a r/findthesniper post