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Whispered · 17-03-2009, 22:16

Rats are great too, I know they're dirty but I'm amazed at how brazen they are. Last time we were camping, heard a little rustling outside the tent so I went out to investigate. OH came out a few mins later to find me sitting in a blanket throwing scraps to a rat who was just outside the circle of light mycandle was giving out. He was so cheeky, kept sitting there waiting for food.

hadook · 17-03-2009, 23:14

We had a rat that lost his fear of humans and started eating the bird food I leave out. Unfortunately he completely lost his fear and one day was a little too tardy in moving while my OH was backing his work van out...

Linguo · 18-03-2009, 09:03

I'm happy there are other people who don't hate rats!In St. Annes they're almost as tame as the squirrels!

BrianD3 · 18-03-2009, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Interceptor

Your opinion counts for nothing - my neighbour shot a pine marten in his hen house after it had killed 14 hens and he hung its carcass on the back fence to deter others.

Pine martens are unwelcome foreign nationals, imported to bring the grey squirrel under control and now causing its own problems. What to do?...oh I know, lets blame something else.

'cptr

Pine martens had been in Ireland for thousands of years before the grey squirrel was introduced.

Pine martens are a rare sight, protected and are often confused with mink.

Interceptor · 18-03-2009, 15:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianD3

Pine martens had been in Ireland for thousands of years before the grey squirrel was introduced.

Pine martens are a rare sight, protected and are often confused with mink.

How right you are - you must have a HOOOJJ BRANE. I believed my knuckle-dragging neighbour when he said they weren't native. He's from Kilkenny - what does he know...

'cptr

Linguo · 18-03-2009, 15:33

They have a damn cool Irish name...Cat Crainn...

BrianD3 · 18-03-2009, 16:16

Here's one of "my" hedgehogs from a couple of years ago.

Linguo · 18-03-2009, 16:17

I'm very jealous, they're gorgeous little creatures. Our garden is walled in though no way they'd get in and wouldn't want them to with my doggie stalking around the place! Were they very tame?

BrianD3 · 18-03-2009, 16:20

They were very tame (they would lick catfood off my fingers) then again I think hedgehogs have little or no fear of humans. They'll just stay put and curl into a ball if they feel threatened.

Interceptor · 18-03-2009, 21:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianD3

Here's one of "my" hedgehogs from a couple of years ago.

Nice 'hog dude. We're getting ready to move our hedgehog back outside - he's been living in the kitchen all winter while he healed after being mauled. He's totally tame, wandering around the house eating spiders and looking disdainfully at everyone.

BrianD3 · 18-03-2009, 21:31

Unfortunately I haven't seen a hedgehog in the garden since they went into hibernation around Nov 07. I left a nesting box out over that winter but there were no hogs about the following spring despite me putting out food for them. Although I reckon from looking at the bedding inside the box that hogs had been in there at some point.

I might start putting out food again soon and see if it attracts any visitors.

Linguo · 19-03-2009, 09:27

I was watching Ronan last night when up popped another head out of his hole and a fatter mouse came up!!Noo!!! I bet it's his missus and she's pregnant!Gonna try get trap tonight!!

Wolfsberg · 19-03-2009, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linguo

I was watching Ronan last night when up popped another head out of his hole and a fatter mouse came up!!Noo!!! I bet it's his missus and she's pregnant!Gonna try get trap tonight!!

Hate to say we told ya so!

Linguo · 19-03-2009, 11:17

:DHe took advantage of our kind nature! But they are both cuties, just don't want a whole family running around the place!

Lobelia Overhill · 19-03-2009, 12:36

no mice, but many many years ago my 'rents had a pheasant that used to run around the garden (until the surrounding fields were turned into a housing estate) they also had a rat in the garden. I thought D'Mother was trying to be funny till I saw him myself. The neighbour's cat chased him off.

We'd a cat years ago, when I was a kid, who'd bring home mice and rats. One of the rats he brought home wasn't dead, it was a big vicious fecker!

I found a hedgehog snuffling around for scraps at the back door last year, I think (hope) he's hibernating in the corner. I used to talk to him.

Currently there are two crows who hang around waiting for me to throw out scraps/leftovers. Better than any dustbin them lads are!

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17-03-2009, 22:16	#46
Whispered Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 7,468 Adverts \| Friends	Rats are great too, I know they're dirty but I'm amazed at how brazen they are. Last time we were camping, heard a little rustling outside the tent so I went out to investigate. OH came out a few mins later to find me sitting in a blanket throwing scraps to a rat who was just outside the circle of light mycandle was giving out. He was so cheeky, kept sitting there waiting for food.

17-03-2009, 23:14	#47
hadook Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Meath Posts: 724 Adverts \| Friends	We had a rat that lost his fear of humans and started eating the bird food I leave out. Unfortunately he completely lost his fear and one day was a little too tardy in moving while my OH was backing his work van out...

18-03-2009, 09:03	#48
Linguo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,133 Adverts \| Friends	I'm happy there are other people who don't hate rats!In St. Annes they're almost as tame as the squirrels!

18-03-2009, 15:33	#51
Linguo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,133 Adverts \| Friends	They have a damn cool Irish name...Cat Crainn...

18-03-2009, 16:17	#53
Linguo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,133 Adverts \| Friends	I'm very jealous, they're gorgeous little creatures. Our garden is walled in though no way they'd get in and wouldn't want them to with my doggie stalking around the place! Were they very tame?

18-03-2009, 16:20	#54
BrianD3 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 5,791 Adverts \| Friends	They were very tame (they would lick catfood off my fingers) then again I think hedgehogs have little or no fear of humans. They'll just stay put and curl into a ball if they feel threatened.

18-03-2009, 21:31	#56
BrianD3 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 5,791 Adverts \| Friends	Unfortunately I haven't seen a hedgehog in the garden since they went into hibernation around Nov 07. I left a nesting box out over that winter but there were no hogs about the following spring despite me putting out food for them. Although I reckon from looking at the bedding inside the box that hogs had been in there at some point. I might start putting out food again soon and see if it attracts any visitors.

19-03-2009, 09:27	#57
Linguo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,133 Adverts \| Friends	I was watching Ronan last night when up popped another head out of his hole and a fatter mouse came up!!Noo!!! I bet it's his missus and she's pregnant!Gonna try get trap tonight!!

19-03-2009, 11:17	#59
Linguo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,133 Adverts \| Friends	:DHe took advantage of our kind nature! But they are both cuties, just don't want a whole family running around the place!

19-03-2009, 12:36	#60
Lobelia Overhill Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Somewhere around here ... Posts: 671 Adverts \| Friends	no mice, but many many years ago my 'rents had a pheasant that used to run around the garden (until the surrounding fields were turned into a housing estate) they also had a rat in the garden. I thought D'Mother was trying to be funny till I saw him myself. The neighbour's cat chased him off. We'd a cat years ago, when I was a kid, who'd bring home mice and rats. One of the rats he brought home wasn't dead, it was a big vicious fecker! I found a hedgehog snuffling around for scraps at the back door last year, I think (hope) he's hibernating in the corner. I used to talk to him. Currently there are two crows who hang around waiting for me to throw out scraps/leftovers. Better than any dustbin them lads are!