thanks for the sugestions ladies.
hippo you say??? might have to try them out...
have only noticed the mouse/mice (EEP!) since they mowed the park up the road, was almost chest high grass and muddy, yuck!
sadly however, we can not get a cat to eat the mouse, the dog would eat the cat first :/ unfortunatly for us she didnt inherit her mums great mouse hunter abilities

good news tho, ive been clearing out alot of things and only keeping what we need and use everyday!