I know just what you mean Rubytoo about the leaves being cleared and the bonfires - both great enemies of the hogs.
We have major building work going on next door to us - I hate it - the noise is one thing, but the fact that our almost resident kestrel hasn't flown over our gardens for a few weeks, and then there is the decline in hedgehog numbers, the contractors have cleared all the garden next door which was virtually untouched by the uninterested neighbours (which was great) but now the diggers have cleared all the brambles, weeds, grass and trees and there is nothing left, just concrete and hard core. Our planning department have gone mad to allow this.
In the meantime I am feeding the hogs and giving them extra dens to hid in - as well as the little wooden house we have for them. I am hopeful that more will find their way here in time.
It's very upsetting when you see desecration like that isn't it Guernsey Donkey? I always worry about the wildlife when l see things being ripped apart like that. We have some quite big roadworks being carried out near us, apparently they have been held up as a second badger sett was found behind the one they were already aware of. Things have been held up while the badgers are "safely moved" (whatever that means), but l don't know what will happen to the birds who used to nest in the trees and shrubs that have been removed, and l am willing to bet that there were hedgehogs in there as well.
That is sad AnniD, we just have to hope that the wild animals will find new homes/sett etc. but I have my doubt at this time of year. Thank goodness for rescue centres who do a marvellous job, and at least most wild animals give birth to a few young each time to help cover the losses that occur during the year. As an aside our local rescue centre has just bought in another seal - they have 4 very sick and underweight seals to care for now - the most they have ever had at one time - they are desperate for fish and towels.
We have Donna Nook on our coast line and the seals are just about gone now. The total pups for the season was 2063. A good year. The sick ones will start coming in now so we are yet to see how many this year.
I don't know of Donna Nook, but it really does sound like a popular place for the seals - 2063! We just have a couple of places where a few seals live - off the island of Herm is one and perhaps somewhere on the west coast as that is where most of the seals are found - washed up on the beaches there. One was sent over to our rescue centre from Jersey as they don't have the facilities to nurse them better.
Our hog came last night - I was so pleased and relieved to see him after his absence the night before. He is pooing (normal shape) on the patio so obviously eating usual amount.
Donna Nook is actually a bombing practice range for the MOD, but they have allowed volunteers to man the area during October to January so the public can visit( along a path behind a small fence about 1/2 mile long) to see the pups, often so close they are literally at your feet. The area is about two miles long. Any that are washed up on the Lincolnshire coast are taken to the sea life sanctuary in Skegness . The food in the hog house is going, but the food next to the water is untouched, so still not sure what is eating it as my hogs tend to come after midnight .
Yes it is all a worry and sad that gardens can be trashed and everything removed. We all have to live somewhere, but that should include the wildlife. I hope you kestrel comes back. And purplerallim fingers crossed they decide your menu is good and stay in your hotel Did you notice crumbs if it is biscuits, I can't remember who mentioned it now Anni or mad penguin...Anyway hogs tend to leave crumbs I noticed that with ours they always leave crumbs . Rats or mice (heaven forbid) tend to take them whole and can empty the dish carrying them off. They will also leave you much smaller deposits. Sorry if you know already.
I haven’t seen any signs of hog(s). It the food vanishes. No poo from either hogs or rats. My hog seems to be a very clean eater. I would have thought rats would take every biscuit, not leaving half for the following night. Interested in your thoughts.
We put our hog food on a saucer, (and we can see them) the hogs eat the biscuits but leave plenty of crumbs for us. I usually these crumbs to the birds the next morning - I don't think any part of the biscuit would harm the birds, do you?
Donna Nook sounds like a lovely place to watch and study the seals - our local seals (not very many of them) live on the small islets (of rocks) in the sea. We also have regular sightings of pods of dolphins now too.
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The food in the hog house is going, but the food next to the water is untouched, so still not sure what is eating it as my hogs tend to come after midnight .
I hope you kestrel comes back.
And purplerallim fingers crossed they decide your menu is good and stay in your hotel
Did you notice crumbs if it is biscuits, I can't remember who mentioned it now Anni or mad penguin...Anyway hogs tend to leave crumbs I noticed that with ours they always leave crumbs . Rats or mice (heaven forbid) tend to take them whole and can empty the dish carrying them off. They will also leave you much smaller deposits.
Sorry if you know already.