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Something in my bin!

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  • 11-02-2016 10:39pm
    #1
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 39,363 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    There is something getting into my black wheelie bin each night. It also appears to leave the bin after it has dined.
    By the looks of the ripped bags, it could be a rat or possibly a mouse but there is no sign of it. I don't think it's a fox (the rips would be bigger) but stand to be corrected.
    The bin has been emptied twice since I first noticed this.
    Currently the bin had two smallish bags in it so it's escape requires climbing up the side of the bin (which isn't that rough).
    There are no holes in the bin and the lid sits snugly (i.e. not warped).
    It does not appear to have gone into the blue recyclable bin nor into the brown compost bin, only the black rubbish bin (which presumably smells better).

    What could be climbing in, ripping the bags and eating and then heading off afterwards?
    Rat? Mouse? Squirrel?


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    #2
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Only a Fox, Cat or suchlike could lift the lid. Try a brick on the lid and see if it's knocked off.

    A mouse or rat couldn't lift the lid of a wheelie bin.


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    #3
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 39,363 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    But could they get back out?


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    #4
    Zoo4m8
    Registered Users Posts: 1,003 ✭✭✭Zoo4m8


    A rat won't be able to climb out and I doubt a mouse could either. If the bags were near enough the top a rat will jump out.
    A rat or mouse will make rat or mouse size holes in the bags, in the case of a rat there will be small pieces of shredded plastic around the hole, so if you don't have holes in the bags you don't have rodents and if the lid is kept closed they can't get in anyway...
    I'm assuming in all this that you would have noticed a hole in the bottom of your bin? A rat is quite capable of opening a hole in a wheelie bin, it's an ongoing problem we have here with the compost bin..


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    #5
    _Brian
    Registered Users Posts: 18,539 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    PineMartin ??

    Definitely not rat or Mouse, unless there's a hole in the bottom of the bin.


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    #6
    Half-cocked
    Registered Users Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    _Brian wrote: »
    PineMartin ??

    Definitely not rat or Mouse, unless there's a hole in the bottom of the bin.

    Pine Martens have been seen raiding wheelie bins alright.


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    #7
    savagethegoat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,297 ✭✭✭savagethegoat


    qy7mv8.jpg


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    #8
    Half-cocked
    Registered Users Posts: 4,319 ✭✭✭Half-cocked


    savagethegoat wrote: »
    qy7mv8.jpg

    Invasive species alert?


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    #9
    recedite
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,993 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    If the lid blows open in the wind, crows will take advantage.
    I don't think they have ever been seen lifting the lids, but I wouldn't be surprised if they learned how to do it eventually.


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    #10
    Alun
    Registered Users Posts: 21,444 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    recedite wrote: »
    If the lid blows open in the wind, crows will take advantage.
    I don't think they have ever been seen lifting the lids, but I wouldn't be surprised if they learned how to do it eventually.
    Not only do they know how to open them ...
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2OnpNYJAcI


    But they know how to use them as well :)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG9yXsGiI8U


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    #11
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Alun wrote: »
    Not only do they know how to open them ...
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2OnpNYJAcI


    But they know how to use them as well :)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG9yXsGiI8U

    Bit different opening a wheelie bin though.


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    #12
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 39,363 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    Half-cocked wrote: »
    Pine Martens have been seen raiding wheelie bins alright.
    I'm in Leixlip, not sure if this species live there.

    savagethegoat wrote: »
    qy7mv8.jpg
    I'm in Leixlip, not sure if this species live there.
    recedite wrote: »
    If the lid blows open in the wind, crows will take advantage.
    I don't think they have ever been seen lifting the lids, but I wouldn't be surprised if they learned how to do it eventually.
    I reckon it's happening at night. Also, the lid doesn't move in the wind nor is it left open afterwards.


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    #13
    recedite
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,993 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    Evangeline Black Sarcasm wrote: »
    Bit different opening a wheelie bin though.
    I reckon they could manage it, once they have learned the right technique.
    kbannon wrote: »
    Also, the lid doesn't move in the wind nor is it left open afterwards.
    Probably not the crows then, this time.
    Have you checked underneath the bin yet for a rat hole?


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    #14
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 39,363 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    Checked all around and nothing.
    There's no sign of any animals having damaged the bin, there are no hairs on the bin inside or out (within a reasonable & clean visual check).
    There are definitely no holes in the bin.
    There are definitely no hiding places in the (empty) bin.
    There was definitely nothing living other than the usual bacteria in the bin after it was emptied on Monday.
    The bin lid is closed all the time (the thief has never left it open).
    I left the bin a little bit away from the other two last night - no visitors in my bin last night.
    Let's see what happens tonight.


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    #15
    savagethegoat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,297 ✭✭✭savagethegoat


    I know what it is....it's those asylum seekers.


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    #16
    dodderangler
    Registered Users Posts: 9,204 ✭✭✭dodderangler


    savagethegoat wrote: »
    I know what it is....it's those asylum seekers.

    Agreed them foxes have been seeking asylum for years . Or it's them invasive raccoons at it again


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    #17
    tricky D
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,700 ✭✭✭tricky D


    Would spreading some flour on the ground work for getting a footprint ID?


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    #18
    junospider
    Registered Users Posts: 167 ✭✭junospider


    borrow a trail cam


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    #19
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 39,363 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    Two nights have passed since I separated the rubbish hin from the other two bins (their access platform) and no thieves have gotten in.
    I'm assuming at this stage that it's a cat but possibly may never know.
    Still curious as to how the animal gets out after a feed when there isn't much rubbish in it.


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    #20
    emo72
    Registered Users Posts: 6,261 ✭✭✭emo72


    savagethegoat wrote: »
    I know what it is....it's those asylum seekers.

    Be careful, you'll have Nodin in here soon.


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    #21
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    kbannon wrote: »
    Two nights have passed since I separated the rubbish hin from the other two bins (their access platform) and no thieves have gotten in.
    I'm assuming at this stage that it's a cat but possibly may never know.
    Still curious as to how the animal gets out after a feed when there isn't much rubbish in it.

    No bother for a Cat to get out of an empty wheelie.


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    #22
    Chisler2
    Registered Users Posts: 436 ✭✭Chisler2


    kbannon wrote: »
    Checked all around and nothing.
    There's no sign of any animals having damaged the bin, there are no hairs on the bin inside or out (within a reasonable & clean visual check).
    There are definitely no holes in the bin.
    There are definitely no hiding places in the (empty) bin.
    There was definitely nothing living other than the usual bacteria in the bin after it was emptied on Monday.
    The bin lid is closed all the time (the thief has never left it open).
    I left the bin a little bit away from the other two last night - no visitors in my bin last night.
    Let's see what happens tonight.

    Sub-standard bin-bags?


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