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What's this weird red goo?

helen-ohelen-o Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi everyone. 

I'm new to this forum and pretty new to gardening.

I'm wondering if anyone can help me with an odd problem please. A hole appeared in a border and in it is a pile of redish goo. It looks like mushed up berries. But maybe it's larvae or some odd kind of fungus. The hole is fairly big (20cm) so I wonder if an animal dug it. We have foxes, squirrels and lots of birds and insects. It's happened twice now - a few weeks apart.

Many thanks in advance.
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Posts

  • LauraRoslinLauraRoslin Posts: 496
    They look like decomposing berries.
    I wish I was a glow worm
    A glow worm's never glum
    Cos how can you be grumpy
    When the sun shines out your bum!
  • helen-ohelen-o Posts: 4
    Thank you. Do you know if that is something foxes or squirrels would do?
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    What it looks like to me is the poo the foxes do when they've been eating yew berries. They dig holes here too, but they've never combined the two, they just leave dollops of berry poo in the middle of the paths / patio.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • helen-ohelen-o Posts: 4
    Ha - thanks. I guess I should be grateful this fox dug a hole  :/ 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I was thinking badgers too @pansyface  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Badgers for sure. Foxes tend to deposit their leavings on top of things as a marker. Badgers dig holes.
  • helen-ohelen-o Posts: 4
    Thanks everyone - really appreciate your help 🙂
  • LauraRoslinLauraRoslin Posts: 496
    So yew berries are not toxic to badgers and foxes?
    I wish I was a glow worm
    A glow worm's never glum
    Cos how can you be grumpy
    When the sun shines out your bum!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It's the seeds that are poisonous, not the juicy berry part ... the seeds pass through the body intact as long as they don't chew them.  Same with birds.

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LauraRoslinLauraRoslin Posts: 496
    Ah!  Interesting.  I know humans can't ingest any part of a yew.
    I wish I was a glow worm
    A glow worm's never glum
    Cos how can you be grumpy
    When the sun shines out your bum!
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