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Excavated bee's nest

PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
in Wildlife gardening
Just found a bees nest which has been excavated by something. Don't think we have badgers here,so wondering if hedgehogs would dig like that?

Posts

  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Or would a squirrel dig like that?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    How big is the bees nest?


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





  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    Picture please, would like to see what it looks like.
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    edited June 2022
    No picture, the bees were busy so I put the material back in. The hole was about 9 inches across and 3 inches deep.
    When the badger dug out the nest we had in our previous place, the hole was much bigger and there was nothing much left for the bees.
    No other signs of badger which would have had to come from the main road, up the drive (100 feet) to reach the place. They usually ( always) leave far more evidence of their presence too. So no dug latrine or other digging.
    We do have a drey in the garden and plenty of rooks, crows, magpies and jackdaws, so plenty of choices.
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Another nest has now been dug up. Big hole this time so we now think it is most likely to be a badger. Am about to put wire netting up where  it seems to be getting in.
  • tonystapletontonystapleton Posts: 13
    A badger will usually leave honeycombs scattered around close to the bee nest, seen it twice in my fields.
    Dog hair or human male urine will deter badgers.
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