Yes, lovely pictures Dave and well done for getting them at this time of year.
We haven't seen our hedgehog or any poo for about a week now, which makes it a bit of a fair weather hog - it is after all only around plus 7 at night, no ground frosts for a few weeks and certainly not freezing, although the weather has been quite stormy.
However I am continuing to put food out for an hour or two each evening at the same time as I have always put it out, so perhaps they have found somewhere further afield to settle down.
Oh no Dave - a rat! We also had an enormous one in our garden last week, even the cat was terrified of it. We have set the large metal rat trap but nothing in it so far ......what are you going to do Dave?
Good question GD. I'm going to put the food out again tonight in case Horace is still about. The camera will confirm the visitor. If it's Roland again I'll either set the traps, making 100% sure Horace can't access them, or stop putting the food out. Bit of a dilemma. I am hoping Horace has maybe gone into hibernation.
Yes, I am hoping that too. It would be a pity if Horace was caught in the trap, but if it is like ours - it is humane and doesn't actually harm the rat (or hedgehog), but it would certainly be distressing for Horace to be trapped in the cage all night. Stopping the food is perhaps the answer but then again if Horace comes along for his nightly food, will he have the sense to forage for it instead. We may be doing more harm than good by feeding them - survival of the fittest and all that.
No Roland or Horace the night after Roland first showed but he was back last night. Horace still awol so I’m hoping that hibernation is the reason for that.
I’m currently toying with the idea of a rat poison box as I don’t feel comfortable about putting the trap out as I would be gutted if I accidentally caught one of the hedgehogs. Probably won’t put the food out tonight and will see who tries to visit then cater accordingly.
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Yes, lovely pictures Dave and well done for getting them at this time of year.
We haven't seen our hedgehog or any poo for about a week now, which makes it a bit of a fair weather hog - it is after all only around plus 7 at night, no ground frosts for a few weeks and certainly not freezing, although the weather has been quite stormy.
However I am continuing to put food out for an hour or two each evening at the same time as I have always put it out, so perhaps they have found somewhere further afield to settle down.
Meet The Hedgehogs is on Ch5 now (7pm Tues) - all about the little critters and the rescue groups.
Watching it as I type, Dave... and really enjoying it
With Steve Backshall? I think it might be a repeat?
Well, for the first time, Horace didn't show up last night but he was replaced by.........Roland the rat
Oh no Dave - a rat! We also had an enormous one in our garden last week, even the cat was terrified of it. We have set the large metal rat trap but nothing in it so far ......what are you going to do Dave?
Good question GD. I'm going to put the food out again tonight in case Horace is still about. The camera will confirm the visitor. If it's Roland again I'll either set the traps, making 100% sure Horace can't access them, or stop putting the food out. Bit of a dilemma. I am hoping Horace has maybe gone into hibernation.
Yes, I am hoping that too. It would be a pity if Horace was caught in the trap, but if it is like ours - it is humane and doesn't actually harm the rat (or hedgehog), but it would certainly be distressing for Horace to be trapped in the cage all night. Stopping the food is perhaps the answer but then again if Horace comes along for his nightly food, will he have the sense to forage for it instead. We may be doing more harm than good by feeding them - survival of the fittest and all that.
Any news Dave? I'm hoping it was a one-off rogue rat!
No Roland or Horace the night after Roland first showed but he was back last night. Horace still awol so I’m hoping that hibernation is the reason for that.
I’m currently toying with the idea of a rat poison box as I don’t feel comfortable about putting the trap out as I would be gutted if I accidentally caught one of the hedgehogs. Probably won’t put the food out tonight and will see who tries to visit then cater accordingly.