Why are mice dangerous in a garden? - briefly
Mice threaten garden health by consuming seeds, seedlings, roots, and by transmitting pathogens that can infect plants. Their burrowing disrupts soil structure, encouraging weed proliferation and weakening plant stability.
Why are mice dangerous in a garden? - in detail
Mice create several direct threats to garden health and productivity.
- They gnaw on tender stems, leaves, and fruit, causing physical injury that reduces yield and invites secondary infection.
- Seedlings are especially vulnerable; rodents chew roots and crowns, preventing establishment of new plants.
- Their foraging disturbs soil structure, exposing roots and increasing erosion risk.
- Excrement contaminates soil and produce with pathogens such as Salmonella, Hantavirus, and leptospirosis, creating a food‑safety hazard for humans and animals.
- Mice serve as reservoirs for parasites (mites, fleas, roundworms) that can migrate to other garden fauna, weakening beneficial insects and birds.
- They compete with pollinators and seed‑eating birds for limited resources, potentially lowering biodiversity.
- Burrowing activity undermines irrigation lines, fences, and raised beds, leading to costly repairs.
Mitigating these risks requires regular monitoring, habitat modification, and, when necessary, targeted control measures.