Apr 23, 2011: When I came to our place, at first I was surprused: why the stone-like trampled ground near entrance is dug up? That were mice. This winter the snow was extremely deep, and that was good not only for plants, but also for rodents because it was difficult for the carnivorous animals to get them. We`ve never seen so many mice`s holes.

As for the biodiversity, among these holes dwellers are very small mice, somewhat bigger mice and the walking garden`s disasters — water voles (Arvicola terrestris). The latter dig burrows which resemple subways, spoil garden landscape with piles of ground, eat almost everything, and can gnaw to death a not-very-large tree.

There are also some mice nests placed right on the ground — about a half a dozen. The winter was very productive for the mice. I wonder if now we shall have a productive summer for owls and other carnivorous birds. ;)start2011