I've been letting my grass grow long until summer, but I've noticed more outdoor cats hunting the wood mice around my dry stone wall. I'm worried the tall grass is giving the cats cover to catch the mice. Would it be better to keep the grass short for better visibility for the mice, or should I leave it long to help hide them from the cats?
3 Answers
Good point about the long grass! But you might also want to consider that having longer grass can lead to more ticks and fleas around the area. So, weighing the benefits of keeping the natural habitat against pests could be worthwhile.
It sounds like the long grass is actually attracting the mice because they use it for nesting. So cutting it might not help your situation with the cats. In fact, you might even have a better chance of seeing the mice with the grass long since they feel safe there! Watch out for small critters like voles too, they might be living in there as well.
Honestly, if the cats are coming around, it's likely because you've created a great habitat for the wildlife, including those mice. Cutting the grass might not be the best approach; perhaps finding ways to deter the cats could be more effective without destroying the habitat you’ve encouraged.
That's a good angle! I definitely want to keep the wildlife safe while figuring out a way to manage the cats.