wicklowtown wrote: » Badgers bite people dont they? Yeah that doesnt sound good. Do you know if theres anyone i can contact about it as if its a badger surely theres a society who would trap them and let them go in a field somewhere. I dont know much about badgers but i wouldnt like to hurt one.
deletthis wrote: » 99% sounds like a badger. Nans been at war with her local stripy b***stard for years. Only thing keeping her sane.
Badger Faeces can be very variable – soft and even runny when they have been eating worms, or solid and firm, like a large, fat sausage, when eating wheat or fruit. Where badgers are common, these are generally deposited in shallow pits, but are more generally just left on the surface. Easily recognised by sweet, musky smell.
wicklowtown wrote: » Thanks for all the advice everyone but to be honest im even more worried now foxes has been mentioned.
Dial Hard wrote: » I don't understand what you're so afraid of? What do you think is going to happen?
wicklowtown wrote: » Badgers bite people dont they?
Day Lewin wrote: » And even rats can throw up big mounds of earth - I've seen them do it.
recedite wrote: » Badgers have very poor eyesight themselves BTW, so if there was one in your garden you'd be quite likely to bump into it, or at least see it wandering around.
wexie wrote: » Wouldn't mind seeing a live one at some stage I have to say
wicklowtown wrote: » I dont want to get bitten by a mother who at this time of year would probably have babies so would be more aggressive than normal. I dont think thats unreasonable. The only reason i would be worried about having foxes in my back garden is that they could very well attack my dogs or cats, my dogs only weigh between 4.5-8 lbs so i would think they are smaller than a fox. saying that ive lived here now for 23 years and ive never seen a fox in my garden or heard of anyone else on my estate seeing a fox in our area
wexie wrote: » Is that why we're most likely to see them dead by the side of the road
Deub wrote: » It could be a mole. I had one few years ago bringing up a big pile of earth as it was building a nest. It was in a kind of shed under a slab (20cm•20cm) made of plaster and it had no problem pushing it up. If the wooden floor is rotten, it could be a possibility. It would explain why you don't see any entrances outside. Pictures would definitely help.
Day Lewin wrote: » Badgers are strictly nocturnal, so look out the window at night if you want to identify your visitor for sure. Also, they make latrines - scrapes in the ground for droppings: and they peel back lawn grass to get at earthworms, insects, bulbs etc. So there would be signs to see.They do NOT attack humans unless provoked, eg during cruel and illegal blood sports. They're also usually social animals with a colony: so your creature would be just passing through on teh way to setting up a home. If you disturb the place, it will move on. That is, if it IS a badger: what makes you so sure? A fox would be much commoner, especially at this time of year with growing cubs. And even rats can throw up big mounds of earth - I've seen them do it. Please, please, do NOT take aggressive action before identifying the creature and considering humane measures if it really bothers you.
gozunda wrote: » Personally I don't think it sounds like a fox. Not to make an issue of the above comment- however fox attacks on pets other animals and even children have been well documented.
