It is worse than we thought: the hoose mouses have allies. This am we found a little field mouse in the humane trap. Obviously it had been on a reconnaissance patrol on behalf of a larger advance party. It is now in the Kirk yard and is quite likely to head back for another look. It knows it on to a good thing-a nice feed of cheese in snug surroundings and then gently returned to its operational HQ. They are smarter than their house bound cousins and know how to avoid the Death by Nipping mechanism. I think if we capture another one it will be displayed gagged, hooded and bound on Borders TV in the hope that its comrades get the message; sadly there are no reliable audience figures for mice viewing and probably not many watch it. Mind you the human viewing figures for Border TV are not very impressive either. The wife and I were once filmed as part of a series on incomers to the area. I have yet to meet anyone who actually saw it. Fortunately. 10 minutes of a couple sweeping leaves off thelawn and walking through a deserted village is hardly riveting viewing.
