compost pile pests – Crazy About Compost

Compost Scavenger

It looks like someone got curious about the pile and got digging! It was most likely an opossum or a raccoon... they're around, looking snacks. Honestly, I don't mind if they root around but in the winter it can really kill the pile's vibe. It was 20 degrees out today, and once the pile was opened up in the middle, all the heat escaped and killed the momentum. My pile was 120F yesterday, and now it's 30F. I noticed that on Sunday it's supposed to be in the 60's... so all I have to do is re-load the pile with my food scraps and cover them up with a thicker layer of insulation (leaves). By Monday, the pile should be on its way back to work. It looks like the…

Compost: Handling Pests In Compost Heaps (video)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqOd8Z9YRV4 This is a great video by Yolanda that asks you if these so-called "pests" are really a problem. The way I see it, as long as you're composting effectively and using appropriate materials, you won't have anything to worry about. Seriously though, is a mouse in your pile actually harming you? If you're concerned, try using a compost tumbler. If you have a compost bin, cover the top and put mesh underneath the whole thing to prevent burrowing. If you're concerned about odors, just overload your pile with browns. Again, if you're keeping the meat, dairy, and fish out of there I highly doubt you'll have any problems at all. There you have it!