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Rat hole or hedgehog?

edwards_cedwards_c Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi, hoping someone can help! Recently discovered something has made a home under our decking. My partner has assured me it’s a rat but until we were certain I was only prepared to use a humane trap. Last night I checked the trap with a torch before going to bed, and lit up the hole too, and saw a face poking out, its quite a distance away but I saw it go back in, I remarked to my partner that it was much cuter looking than I expected, and big, it filled the entire hole. This morning I came down to find a hedgehog in the trap! We released him right next to the hole but he didn’t go in, and has now left the garden under a fence. Not sure if he’s our guy or not. Any advice? The hole has been there about a week now and looks disturbed every morning. No sign of rat poo but what appears to be hedgehog poo. I will add some pictures shortly. Also, I feed the birds daily and we did see a mealworm in the entrance to the hole, would a rat rat them?! Thanks for any advice.

Posts

  • edwards_cedwards_c Posts: 4

  • clarke.bruntclarke.brunt Posts: 215
    I think I'd just forget the rat idea, and assume it's a hedgehog! You've seen one; got the poo; and hole looks hedgehog-sized. I have them visit each night, but not so far attempting to stay here. I do also have some holes which a hedgehog wouldn't anywhere near fit down - I do wonder about 'rat' for those, though I've never seen one, whereas I see mice all the time - think they lurk in the tiny gaps underneath my trays for carnivorous plants, and come out at night for any bits of birdfood, or else the stuff I've put out for the hedgehogs.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    edited March 2021
    Trail cameras are superb for this sort of thing and endless hours of fun, too! :) Nice bday pressie..
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I'm the first to advocate dealing promptly with rats in and around the house. However,  that is quite large for a rat hole (usually 5 - 10cm diameter) and you definitely have a hedgehog.... For the moment I'd probably err on the side of caution and (as Bob says) a trail camera would give you the definitive answer🙂

    @Dovefromabove is quite good at identifying holes and the like...
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • edwards_cedwards_c Posts: 4
    Thanks very much all! Really reassured. I have purchased a camera, should be arriving tomorrow. I would be delighted if it’s a hedgehogs home! I’ve lived here 10 years and never seen one in the garden. Best I get some cat food :)
  • edwards_cedwards_c Posts: 4
    Hi again, thought I would do an update, 3 nights of trail camera has provided lots of footage of the hedgehog, but last night we also caught the rat on video as well! Both were walking about on the decking and the camera didn’t catch either using the hole. I’m not sure how to proceed now as I don’t want to harm the hedgehog but want to deter the rat. Does anyone have any suggestions? I’ve read of people flooding the hole to remove the rat and then fill in the hole, and the use of mint as rats don’t like it but hedgehogs seem unbothered? I’m just bothered that if the hedgehog is using the hole then I might drown him. I’ve also read that it might just be a bolt hole and no one lives in it. It’s so tricky! If anyone has any experience / advice it would be much appreciated! Thanks very much.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’d get rid of the rat before you start feeding the hedgehog or he’ll bring all his friends and relations 🐀 🐀 🐀 

    I would use one of these 

    https://www.pestcontrolsupermarket.com/rat-bait-boxes--stations-x2-heavy-duty-locking-105-p.asp

    If that doesn’t work I’d get a professional pest controller in but make sure they know there’s vulnerable wildlife around. 

    Good luck 🤞 


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





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