I'm with you, @Woodgreen. I feel strongly that unless they are endangered, like hedgehogs, or have a long association with human dwellings, like barn owls, wild animals are much better off in the wild. We are better off, too, because these wonderful creatures are not benefitted by a life of scrounging and begging. But I know I'm a lone voice, here.
Ergates: Your badger diet sounds better than most Brits get. Better than what I got in hospital! Make sure you stop the humans from raiding your garden.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Ergates: My former house owner used to feed the "wild birds" with white bread. She offered to pay for a loaf a day when we took over. Of course, we declined. The only birds we got were starlings, by the hundred. We stopped feeding and they left. We have only seen a few rarely since.
She also put down used Fray and Bentos aluminimum trays ( the equivalent of today's ready-meals. When I moved a large shed (workshop, sic) I found a large collection under it, obviously taken there by rats. I have never seen one since.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I'm with you, @Woodgreen. I feel strongly that unless they are endangered, like hedgehogs, or have a long association with human dwellings, like barn owls, wild animals are much better off in the wild. We are better off, too, because these wonderful creatures are not benefitted by a life of scrounging and begging. But I know I'm a lone voice, here.
I don't think you are really a lone voice Posy. The trouble is the more we humans take over the wild spaces, the more wildlife is displaced and ends up in totally "unsuitable" settings where some adaptable species quickly learn to take advantage of our desire to feed birds as well as the constant disposal of all sorts of food which they actually find edible ( whether it's good for them or not ) and easy to get at. People do get frustrated by the damage caused by Badgers, Foxes, Rabbits, Deer in their gardens but like us, these animals will do all they can to ensure their continued survival. The promised relaxation of planning laws can only worsen the problem. Whilst it is often stated how many thousands of acres of Green/Wild spaces the UK has so really no worries, what is rarely mentioned is that different species require different sorts of "wild" - it is certainly an ongoing problem - for the wildlife and us too.
@bédé the RSPB has a recommended sound emitter for deterring cats. Check it out on their site.
I feed garden birds with seeds, fat balls and blocks. Never bread. If I saw one about I'd put cat food down for hedgehogs but only at night after the dogs are in bed cos they love it too. We leave large areas unmanaged to provide shelter and feed for birds and small reptiles and to attract insects for the bats and swallows and house martins. We also have a "wild" pond for amphibians and insects and to provide water for birds.
No foxes or badgers - so far.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
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"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
She also put down used Fray and Bentos aluminimum trays ( the equivalent of today's ready-meals. When I moved a large shed (workshop, sic) I found a large collection under it, obviously taken there by rats. I have never seen one since.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
The trouble is the more we humans take over the wild spaces, the more wildlife is displaced and ends up in totally "unsuitable" settings where some adaptable species quickly learn to take advantage of our desire to feed birds as well as the constant disposal of all sorts of food which they actually find edible ( whether it's good for them or not ) and easy to get at.
People do get frustrated by the damage caused by Badgers, Foxes, Rabbits, Deer in their gardens but like us, these animals will do all they can to ensure their continued survival.
The promised relaxation of planning laws can only worsen the problem.
Whilst it is often stated how many thousands of acres of Green/Wild spaces the UK has so really no worries, what is rarely mentioned is that different species require different sorts of "wild" - it is certainly an ongoing problem - for the wildlife and us too.
I feed garden birds with seeds, fat balls and blocks. Never bread. If I saw one about I'd put cat food down for hedgehogs but only at night after the dogs are in bed cos they love it too. We leave large areas unmanaged to provide shelter and feed for birds and small reptiles and to attract insects for the bats and swallows and house martins. We also have a "wild" pond for amphibians and insects and to provide water for birds.
No foxes or badgers - so far.