A mouse under my deck gave me an unexpected look at another yard visitor. After the rabbits left, I watched the mouse make two trips for sunflower seeds.
A Mouse Under My Deck Makes an Appearance
Every morning, several cottontail rabbits wait for me near the deck. I place sunflower seeds on the sidewalk, and they soon gather for breakfast.
On this morning, the rabbits ate their fill and moved away. A small mouse then slowly crept out from beneath the deck. I had no idea it was living or hiding so close by.
The mouse paused beside the scattered seeds before choosing one. Its exposed ears, pointed face, and long tail stand out in the photo. Those features make it look different from a vole, which usually has smaller ears and a much shorter tail.
This encounter reminded me of my earlier post, Vole Or Field Mice at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.
Two Quick Trips for Sunflower Seeds
The mouse moved with care as it left the cover of the deck. Once it reached the sidewalk, it picked up a sunflower seed.
It did not stay in the open for long. With the seed secured, the mouse hurried back beneath the deck.
I kept watching, and the mouse soon appeared again. It made a second trip to the sidewalk, collected another seed, and returned under the deck.
Both trips were brief, but I was ready when it stopped near the remaining seeds. The photograph shows the mouse holding one seed between its front feet.
What Was Living Just Out of Sight
I spend plenty of time watching the rabbits and birds around my yard. Even so, this mouse had remained completely unnoticed.
That quick appearance reminded me how much wildlife stays hidden nearby. Sometimes all it takes is a few sunflower seeds to bring a secretive neighbor into view.