"kathryn" wrote in message
...

thanks for the advice, i shall do as you suggest and keep an eye out for
the little visitors kathryn

Having 4 cats our mice problem is only the occasional one brought into the
house. Took me over a week to catch the latest one and evict it.
However, if you dont have a cat you can invest in a humane trap and then you
will know for sure whether you have rats or mice or indeed, both.
Once caught you can release them elsewhere if you are averse to destroying
them.
When we had rabbits and guinea pigs we had a shelter which was used for
storing hay and straw and also to put hutches in overwinter.
We noticed rats had moved in but I think it was more for the shelter as food
was unavailable to them unless they raided the food bowls which I doubt.
After disturbing them several times they seemed to go of their own accord as
I never tried to catch them.
ps For a good live tap use a milk bottle baited with cornflakes or sweetpea
seeds. Prop it between 45 & 90 degrees in such a manner that the mice have
easy access to the opening. They enter for the food and can't climb out
again so you can take the little critters elsewhere.
Jim