Diet of Badgers,Pine Martin,Foxes.

Western Pomise

Hi all,reckoned this would be best forum to ask this question on?,
We have a child who has a habit of 'feeding the birds'....which basically means,when not seen scraps like bread,dinner leftovers make their way from the bin to the garden!
My wife is a bit concerned as one night last week she missed the raw leftovers of a chicken carcass from the bin and on questioning our animal loving child admitted throwing it out 'for the birds'....OH checked where she had thrown it and it was gone,we live in rural setting and my OH would freak out if she thought badgers,foxes pine martins etc were candidates for taking it were that close to house,I know foxes eat meat but are badgers,pine martins etc also likely to have taken the chicken?
......thanks for any replies.
Ps- have seen badgers on the road before and the occasional fox.

Markcheese

When I first read the heading I though you were on an illegal diet
Ahhmm probably going to have a lot of smaller rodenty type wildlife inhabiting your garden for a bit - foxes would happily scavenge if they're around- but rural foxes tend to be a lot more wary of people- have you many cats or dogs in the area ?

Western Pomise

We have a dog,he has run of garden but can't go any further,have one of those collars on him,so no cats around and have mouse/rat bait down carefully on the garage so I would rule out rodents as we keep them looked after.Would badgers eat meat do you know,it's usually bread that our 'nature lover' leaves out:)

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

To be honest, there are many things it could have been. You own dog is a suspect. Even if you don't see any, it could be a cat. Fox is possible long before I'd jump to the conclusion of a badger or pine martin. If you don't see foxes in the garden then you wouldn't see a cat either. Even crows could have taken it.

Generally, leaving out leftovers is not a good idea as it attracts rodents. Poison in a garage will not deter rats in the garden - especially if you are rural.

Western Pomise

Thanks for the replies,our dog is kept in at night so couldn't have taken the chicken,reason I suspect Badgers is there are some in the area....still not clear though are badgers carnivorous?
Have seen the odd pinemartin about too,not easy to stop our determined bird feeder from sneaking stuff out!;)

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Badgers, Foxes and Pine Martins will all eat carrion.

wildlifeboy

I have seen badgers catch and kill rabbits so it could have been them too. it could have been any number of species to be honest.

Markcheese

Western Pomise wrote: »

Thanks for the replies,our dog is kept in at night so couldn't have taken the chicken,reason I suspect Badgers is there are some in the area....still not clear though are badgers carnivorous?
Have seen the odd pinemartin about too,not easy to stop our determined bird feeder from sneaking stuff out!;)

Would it be possible to set up a proper bird table (to deter rodents) and get your little one involved ?