I'd invite the cats back! When we moved into this house about a year ago
there were mice everywhere - in the kitchen, loft, airing cupboard, garage &
garden. We had to get the council in to erradicate the house mice but our
two cats have taken care of the outdoor mice & haven't caught one for months
now. They are also much more efficient & environmentally friendly rodent
catchers than traps & poison.

Jayne
"Lynda Thornton" wrote in message
news
Hi

I saw what looked like a large mouse or small rat run across the back
border of the garden this morning, a pale brown/beige colour. It must
have come from behind the garden shed. I've never seen one before - is
this a problem? My concern is that I've blocked off the access to
either side and underneath the shed with trellis to discourage cats from
lurking there and I've been putting cut off branches and other prunings
into the spaces for wildlife or birds nesting etc. I just hope that I'm
not encouraging a rat colony - what do people think?
--
Lynda Thornton