For years I have had woodmice living and then just visiting my greenhouse(obvously not always the same mice they don't live that long) I have some lovely night shot video of them, beside a coin to show their size.I put a small pile of nuts on the table and each moring they have gone.
However three days ago I stored some horse chesnuts in the green house, one was nibbled-and no mice ever since! Please say horsechestnuts are not poisonous to mice.
isn't wild wonderful
Oh dear Min - horsechesnuts are definitely poisinous and can upset dogs if eaten tho not sure about mice. All parts of the horsechesnut contain a poisin. If they have only nibbled one chances are they are ok but maybe have been frightened off from eating in that area as it would smell of the chesnuts. Animals are often a lot stronger than we think - even wee mice.
min said: For years I have had woodmice living and then just visiting my greenhouse(obvously not always the same mice they don't live that long) I have some lovely night shot video of them, beside a coin to show their size.I put a small pile of nuts on the table and each moring they have gone. However three days ago I stored some horse chesnuts in the green house, one was nibbled-and no mice ever since! Please say horsechestnuts are not poisonous to mice.
Hi Min,
I dont pretend to be an expert on this but i think you may find that horsechesnuts are part of there diet I know they eat acorns which are also poisonus(they contain Tanning) along with seeds from sycamore beech and other trees. I would think they would instinctly know what to eat and what not to eat and if horsechesnuts were harmfull to them they would avoid them.
Graham
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The only animal I can find that eats chesnuts safely are deer ( through evolution they can now break down the toxins in the nut) but when you think how many chesnuts are lying on the ground for the woodmice to eat in the countryside surely they have learnt not to eat them.
Thank you to all who replied to me-I am delighted to tel you all that a mouse must have returned last night because the nuts I put out have disapeared-I have removed the horse chestnuts just in case, thanks again-Min
Good to hear Min. Glad you have a happy ending.
Hi Min, I hadn't commented on this before as I didn't know the answer for you but I am really glad to read your mouse has returned, safe and well.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Very pleased it's back, Min.
There is something new to learn everyday...
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Well i did find this: http://museum.gov.ns.ca/poison/default.asp?section=species&id=64
Evolution is such a slow and refined process of trial and error that species become innately intuitive when knowing what foods to eat and what to avoid, otherwise they simply wouldn't be here.
From what i can gather horse chestnuts are toxic to humans and many animals. They contain a substance called aesculin. These substances if ingested can break down red blood cells of many animals. Some, notably deer and squirrels are resistant to the effects of aesculin. Smaller rodents can perhaps (i assume) tolerate small amounts but the ingested in higher quantities will either a, kill those that decide to eat them off or b, put them off ever wanting to eat them again!
That's interesting! Thanks Lloyd!
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