Whose "house" is this?

New Home

Hi folks,

Can anyone help me identify the owner(s) of this den/nest/set/(insert appropriate term here)? It's too big to be a rats nest, but other than that I wouldn't know. By the way, that's a rather large tree stump that was moved next to a hay/firewood shed. The holes are one on each side of a root and join together underneath.

Thanks!

An Fhuiseog

New Home wrote: »

Hi folks,

Can anyone help me identify the owner(s) of this den/nest/set/(insert appropriate term here)? It's too big to be a rats nest, but other than that I wouldn't know. By the way, that's a rather large tree stump that was moved next to a hay/firewood shed. The holes are one on each side of a root and join together underneath.

Thanks!

It's difficult to judge the dimensional perspective of the hole/den from the images,but it might be a stoat den perhaps?They're a solitary mammal that can have several dens within its own territory.They don't hibernate for winter,so may have been there for a while before moving to another den close by.I still wouldn't rule out a rat either though!If you do have a resident stoat,I wouldn't try to get rid of it because they do prey on rats and mice.I'll be interested to hear what others think.

New Home

Thanks for that An Fhuiseog!

We've always had lots of hedgehogs (before they hibernated, a family of four was coming for dinner regularly by our front door to feast on the left-over cat food), but we never had stoats here that I know of... having said that, they could have "relocated" from elsewhere in recent times

And no, I would never try to get rid of anything (well, except for the rats, but my cat keeps their population down - no traps or poison around here!)

An Fhuiseog

New Home wrote: »

Thanks for that An Fhuiseog!

We've always had lots of hedgehogs (before they hibernated, a family of four was coming for dinner regularly by our front door to feast on the left-over cat food), but we never had stoats here that I know of... having said that, they could have "relocated" from elsewhere in recent times

And no, I would never try to get rid of anything (well, except for the rats, but my cat keeps their population down - no traps or poison around here!)

As you say,it's unlikely to be a hedgehog - they should be in hibernation.
It's interesting you should mention the cat - I wonder is it a bolt-hole for a nervous rat/rats as they venture in and out of the hay/firewood shed?
The presence of the cat might also make a stoat nervous,so it may not hang around too long.
If you see anything interesting,please keep us posted - it's certainly intriguing!:)

New Home

I will, thanks! Actually, I was just wondering... Do leprechauns hibernate?? If not, I'll definitely put a trap, just to make sure - I want me a pot of gold!!!

As for the shed, well, let's just say it's "open plan" and "very well ventilated", so I wouldn't think they'd need bolt holes, but maybe they've decided to build an extension...

Maybe I should get rid of some of the grass around it to see if I can spot any paw-prints in the next few days...

An Fhuiseog

New Home wrote: »

I will, thanks! Actually, I was just wondering... Do leprechauns hibernate?? If not, I'll definitely put a trap, just to make sure - I want me a pot of gold!!!

As for the shed, well, let's just say it's "open plan" and "very well ventilated", so I wouldn't think they'd need bolt holes, but maybe they've decided to build an extension...

Maybe I should get rid of some of the grass around it to see if I can spot any paw-prints in the next few days...

My help thus far is surely worth a couple of gold farthings,so do let me know when you find that pot!:D

New Home

Well, of course... but you know, in the current climate... and with the way taxes are...

An Fhuiseog

New Home wrote: »

Well, of course... but you know, in the current climate... and with the way taxes are...

Yeah,right!Ah never mind - it was worth a shot!:D

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I would strongly suspect it is a rat hole. A Iive trap will soon sort the mystery.

fryup

i would have thought Badger ?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

fryup wrote: »

i would thought have thought Badger ?

Looks a bit small for that, to me.

An Fhuiseog

Jocelyn Zealous Pumpernickel wrote: »

Looks a bit small for that, to me.

I'd agree,although it may have been a foraging badger looking for some tasty morsels under the stump(unlikely,but you just never know!).

magicbastarder

most badger setts i've seen have had entrance holes a toddler would nearly be able to crawl down.

New Home

Hi folks,

I'd be delighted if the new neighbours were badgers, but we haven't seen any around here since my grandparents were children (and a toddler wouldn't fit in there ). The main tunnel seems to be about 25cm wide, and maybe between 15 and 20 cm tall, what are stoats' "dens" like? If it's indeed rats then they'd be almost as big as the cat! :eek: Better not think about that...

Ok, I'm convinced it's Leprechauns, even if there's no rainbows anywhere near...

If I find any prints or any other clue I'll let you all know, in the meantime one of these for everyone who helped, don't say I'm not generous!

An Fhuiseog

New Home wrote: »

Hi folks,

I'd be delighted if the new neighbours were badgers, but we haven't seen any around here since my grandparents were children (and a toddler wouldn't fit in there ). The main tunnel seems to be about 25cm wide, and maybe between 15 and 20 cm tall, what are stoats' "dens" like? If it's indeed rats then they'd be almost as big as the cat! :eek: Better not think about that...

Ok, I'm convinced it's Leprechauns, even if there's no rainbows anywhere near...

If I find any prints or any other clue I'll let you all know, in the meantime one of these for everyone who helped, don't say I'm not generous!

You've found the pot?Excellent stuff!I'll PM you my address.:D:D

A stoat wouldn't be much larger than a rat to be honest;if anything more slender,but a bit longer.

New Home

Ah now, that's a bit much, nobody ever mentioned anything about delivering the gold too!! Shipping charges and customs duties, people, shipping charges and customs duties!! :cool:

(Hope it's not rats, or I will have to think about helping the cat with them...)

Eddie B

New Home wrote: »

Ah now, that's a bit much, nobody ever mentioned anything about delivering the gold too!! Shipping charges and customs duties, people, shipping charges and customs duties!! :cool:

(Hope it's not rats, or I will have to think about helping the cat with them...)

Well you can rule out rats! Holes are way to big for it to be them! Their too big for stoats and mink also, so i think it's either a rabbit or fox! Any smell around the entrance?
If a fox is using it you might get a strong smell if you check especially early in the morning! Its too small for a badger set so i think you can rule that one out as well!

Alun

Any scat (poo ) around the entrance? That can often help identify what's living there.

New Home

Thanks for that Eddie B and Alun - there are foxes in the area, I'd be happy if one decided to move in (I know the chickens won't agree with me, they've taken to sleeping in a tree, lately!) No, I haven't noticed any strange smell or scat, but I will keep an eye (and a nostril) out. We also have hares around, but no bunnies that I know of (doesn't mean they're not there, though!).

An Fhuiseog

Eddie B wrote: »

Well you can rule out rats! Holes are way to big for it to be them! Their too big for stoats and mink also, so i think it's either a rabbit or fox! Any smell around the entrance?
If a fox is using it you might get a strong smell if you check especially early in the morning! Its too small for a badger set so i think you can rule that one out as well!

Don't think it's a fox hole to be honest - looks too small.

New Home

...then it's aliens for sure, they got bored with the crop circles and they've decided to keep us wondering about strange holes in the ground... or maybe it's a panda that dug all the way from China... or a white rabbit with a pocket-watch and a red waistcoat...

(Silly animals... why can't they just make their presence obvious instead of keeping us guessing as to their identity? I'm so curious!!!)