Not in my back yard ... surely? *We have EVEN MORE cubs!*

[gramps]

my female is tiny compared to her male,. Is that right mate??

I've never noticed a difference Stu and my Collins shows only minor colour difference.

A pair of foxes, a pair, ok maybe of badgers............ looking good for little ones later on Roger I wonder if the vixen's reaction is scent based?

Definitely two Badgers Stu, laptop screen also shows up the shadowy form of the 2nd in some other clips ... got a re-dug hole in the corner of the garden too!

Not sure how I missed this thread, I have the Apeman H55 and a Campark T20. The Campark seems to be quicker at activating on movement and seems a wider angle lens but the H55 has the better image quality. The box the H55 came in has 16mp on the front but the bar code sticker on the rear of the box shows 20mp?

The vixen deffo has cubs as she is lactating plus it's the right time of year. No badgers here but I have had a fox and we have two hedgehogs who visit every night.

I'll keep an eye on this thread, good stuff!

My Apeman also shows 16mp on the box and the instruction book, no sign of anything different elsewhere.
I've adjusted the settings to target times on and off and PIR interval to 5 secs to avoid missing bits of action when the clip ends, as it then starts another clip with a minimum of delay.

 

[Mr Badger]

Not sure how I missed this thread, I have the Apeman H55 and a Campark T20. The Campark seems to be quicker at activating on movement and seems a wider angle lens but the H55 has the better image quality. The box the H55 came in has 16mp on the front but the bar code sticker on the rear of the box shows 20mp?

The vixen deffo has cubs as she is lactating plus it's the right time of year. No badgers here but I have had a fox and we have two hedgehogs who visit every night.

I'll keep an eye on this thread, good stuff!

If you've not seen this thread: https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/trail-cam.690276/ there's some tips on there about how to get the best out of the H55 camera. Hope that's useful. I agree, that female fox definitely looks like it's lactating, so there may be some youngsters making their trail cam debut in a few weeks time if mum becomes confident with the dog food.

Anyway, I'm off to watch Gramps' latest foxy badgery videos now.

 

[Mr Badger]

Definitely two Badgers Stu, laptop screen also shows up the shadowy form of the 2nd in some other clips ... got a re-dug hole in the corner of the garden too!

Yes, definitely 2 badgers there! You can see the eye-shine from the second animal and its outline in the upper right hand area of the screen, then when the nearest badger heads over to join it, you can briefly see two stripy faces at the same time.

 

[AdamSi]

Roger I’m wondering if the vixen has previously been trapped using food and released again hence he jumpiness around the food?

 

[gramps]

Roger I’m wondering if the vixen has previously been trapped using food and released again hence he jumpiness around the food?

Could be Adam, she's certainlty extremely jumpy as the latest video shows.

 

[gramps]

Update:

I have had two rats visiting the garden to check out the food I have left out for the foxes ... one came from the back hedge and another from a side hedge. A couple of nights ago I believe one of the rats (from the back hedge) was caught, slightly off camera, by the dog fox and I haven't had sight of it since, however the one from the side hedge has visited multiple times every night.
Bottom line is that I'm not happy about feeding the rats so I got myself a humane rat trap ... set it up in the garden and baited it with a piece of Bourbon biscuit on marmalade.
The trap has a sprung door which is released when the rat steps on a baited platform at the inside end of the trap, it is not designed to kill and the door is not aggressively sprung.


I didn't anticipate just how quickly the bait would be taken ...

The fox simply turned the trap upside down and took the bait, which dropped out!

NOW!
Looking at the video clip I realised that I didn't completely think through the use of the trap with the foxes visiting.
I had put additional food for the foxes away from the trap and my over-riding thought was that it was a small trap and of no danger to the foxes ... but is it?
As the video shows the fox can't really get his mouth in and the trap can only be sprung by triggering the platform at the far end of the inside of the trap.
However I suddeny thought, what about its paw?
The trap isn't like a gin-trap or anything, it isn't designed to snap shut to kill, merely to close the door at the front but could the fox reach in with its paw and spring the door and not be able to shake the trap off its paw?

What do you thinK?
I don't want to risk harming the foxes but neither do I want to feed the rats.
Please share your thoughts about whether it is possible to use the trap in any way without risking any injury to other animals.
I wondered about anchoring it to the side of the garden and covering it with some roofing slates?


The badger was clearly interested but I am guessing that he is so 'chunky' that the trap presents no danger to him.

@Cobra As this is your field, any thoughts/advice please?

 

[AdamSi]

What you are going to do with the rat when captured ? They can be really aggressive and try to have a good go at you, and unless taking it a very long way away it will keep coming back ? I am not normally one for killing things but rats are something that I will despatch quickly so to be as humane as possible, I like yourself looked at rat traps but decided I did not want to get either bitten or have to carry a screaming rat any distance to release only for it to come back, they carry some horrible diseases hence why it is on pest I will despatch (please dont shoot me for this post !)

 

[AdamSi]

What you are going to do with the rat when captured ? They can be really aggressive and try to have a good go at you, and unless taking it a very long way away it will keep coming back ? I am not normally one for killing things but rats are something that I will despatch quickly so to be as humane as possible, I like yourself looked at rat traps but decided I did not want to get either bitten or have to carry a screaming rat any distance to release only for it to come back, they carry some horrible diseases hence why it is on pest I will despatch (please dont shoot me for this post !)

I maybe misreading sorry, humane trap as it in dispatches instantly ? I was thinking this is the type that catches them alive but just trapping inside the shut door?

 

[Cobra]

If I set a live trap there is only ever one outcome ( misnomer )

Comparing the size of the trap to the fox, I'd say that was a squirrel trap, and maybe too "Heavy" for a rat to trip.
Get a smaller trap partially cover it with twigs / leaves and leave it to the side of where you know the rat is running. not directly in the pathway.
And stake it down.
A few tiny bits of chocolate / bacon /any greasy food or meat, scattered near the entrance and a decent helping inside.
It'll most likely take the rat a couple of days to go in though, they are very shy of anything new that appears in their territory, and you may well see the rat sitting on it
scent marking, it before it'll enter.

As Adam has noted. You then have the problem of disposing of the rat. You will need to take it some distance away.
And this in itself poses a problem. certainly use thick gloves if you are picking the trap up with a rat in it, best bet is to cover it first any old rags etc will do.

If you want the quick way get a fen trap ( mind you fingers!) or a decent type of rat trap, ( not the ones labeled "crocodile" they are useless)
Make a small tunnel out of bricks / wood anything like that just high enough for the trap to spring.
Make sure the top is solid / heavy to stop larger wildlife taking the top off, and proceed as above with the baiting / positioning..
HTH? get back to me if you want

 

[gramps]

I maybe misreading sorry, humane trap as it in dispatches instantly ? I was thinking this is the type that catches them alive but just trapping inside the shut door?

Thanks Adam, yes it is humane in terms of capturing alive, I didn't want to put out anything that would spring visciously because of the foxes etc.

If I set a live trap there is only ever one outcome ( misnomer )

Comparing the size of the trap to the fox, I'd say that was a squirrel trap, and maybe too "Heavy" for a rat to trip.
Get a smaller trap partially cover it with twigs / leaves and leave it to the side of where you know the rat is running. not directly in the pathway.
And stake it down.
A few tiny bits of chocolate / bacon /any greasy food or meat, scattered near the entrance and a decent helping inside.
It'll most likely take the rat a couple of days to go in though, they are very shy of anything new that appears in their territory, and you may well see the rat sitting on it
scent marking, it before it'll enter.

As Adam has noted. You then have the problem of disposing of the rat. You will need to take it some distance away.
And this in itself poses a problem. certainly use thick gloves if you are picking the trap up with a rat in it, best bet is to cover it first any old rags etc will do.

If you want the quick way get a fen trap ( mind you fingers!) or a decent type of rat trap, ( not the ones labeled "crocodile" they are useless)
Make a small tunnel out of bricks / wood anything like that just high enough for the trap to spring.
Make sure the top is solid / heavy to stop larger wildlife taking the top off, and proceed as above with the baiting / positioning..
HTH? get back to me if you want

Thanks Chris, it is marketed as a rat trap (I think actually too big for a squirrel) and it doesn't take much to release the door, slight weight drops the platform and the door springs shut, the top of the trap has a metal roof and carrying handle so in theory fingers should be well clear of the rat. I was not considering taking the rat anywhere, despatch as quickly as possible was the intention but I confess that I have not dealt with a rat before.
Maybe need to completely re-think

 

[Cobra]

Thanks Chris, it is marketed as a rat trap (I think actually too big for a squirrel)

"proper" squirrel traps are a lot bigger than rat traps.
Looking at the video it does look and sound very much like the squirrel traps I have.they are approx 20" x 10" x 10"

Of course the first line of defence against rats is NOT to feed the birds remove the food source ( yes I know that's not gonna happen is it? ) and it'll look elsewhere.
That is of course unless it has set up home, on your patch and foraging elsewhere.

I confess that I have not dealt with a rat before.

I could tell you several ways, but I'm sure you don't want to hear them.

Maybe need to completely re-think

As I mentioned above

 

[Server Hamster]

I could tell you several ways, but I'm sure you don't want to hear them.

He doesn't brush his fangs afterwards, either.

 

[admirable]

I would say that you have a squirrel trap there.

As if by chance a friend of mine thought he had a mouse problem as he had spotted one under the Gas Barbecue so I last night I place my camera near his barbie where he had placed a mouse trap....................and he was proved correct.............but he now has a bigger problem!

 

[gramps]

Looking at the video it does look and sound very much like the squirrel traps I have.they are approx 20" x 10" x 10"

This is approx 14" x 6" x 6" ... small fox

 

[gramps]

I would say that you have a squirrel trap there.

As if by chance a friend of mine thought he had a mouse problem as he had spotted one under the Gas Barbecue so I last night I place my camera near his barbie where he had placed a mouse trap....................and he was proved correct.............but he now has a bigger problem!

Ouch my doze!!

 

[Cobra]

small fox

It would seem so

 

[Mr Badger]

Do be careful if using that trap with those foxes and badgers around. A fox could put its paw and leg into it to try to reach the bait, if the traps snaps shut then the trap could be stuck on its leg. Likewise, with a badger. Either could then injure themselves in panic trying to get the trap off.

Please do not try and use something like a Fenn trap, that really is a specialist job for trained people, as the risk of killing other small animals such as stoats, polecats, hedgehogs, etc. is just too high. They are fearsome traps and can leap around 18 inches off the ground when triggered, the spring is so strong. Also, it could be at least broken fingers for you if it goes off when you're trying to set it. Imagine a fox getting it's leg stuck in that after reaching in to investigate, it doesn't bear thinking about, particularly if it's that vixen with the cubs.

At least with a small, humane rat trap (as Cobra suggests) you can let the animal go unharmed if you've caught the wrong species. Do put a small dish of water and a bit of bedding in there for it too, and check the current law on setting traps for wildlife before considering using them (it's many years since I've had to do any). Please pay particular attention to animal welfare and the recommended intervals for checking your trap. If you cause any animal unnecessary suffering (including a rat) you can be prosecuted for it and end up with a criminal record. That's not an outcome any wildlife lover would want.

 

[gramps]

Do be careful if using that trap with those foxes and badgers around. A fox could put its paw and leg into it to try to reach the bait, if the traps snaps shut then the trap could be stuck on its leg. Likewise, with a badger. Either could then injure themselves in panic trying to get the trap off.

Please do not try and use something like a Fenn trap, that really is a specialist job for trained people, as the risk of killing other small animals such as stoats, polecats, hedgehogs, etc. is just too high. They are fearsome traps and can leap around 18 inches off the ground when triggered, the spring is so strong. Also, it could be at least broken fingers for you if it goes off when you're trying to set it. Imagine a fox getting it's leg stuck in that after reaching in to investigate, it doesn't bear thinking about, particularly if it's that vixen with the cubs.

At least with a small, humane rat trap (as Cobra suggests) you can let the animal go unharmed if you've caught the wrong species. Do put a small dish of water and a bit of bedding in there for it too, and check the current law on setting traps for wildlife before considering using them (it's many years since I've had to do any). Please pay particular attention to animal welfare and the recommended intervals for checking your trap. If you cause any animal unnecessary suffering (including a rat) you can be prosecuted for it and end up with a criminal record. That's not an outcome any wildlife lover would want.

Yes, I am conscious of the need for care in light of the other 'visitors' and will not be putting the trap out in such a cavalier way again.
The trap is specifically marketed as a humane rat trap and following @Cobra advice I have re-sited it nearer the hedge and away from the feeding area ... it is now surrounded by a tunnel of roofing tiles and weighted by heavy rocks and it will be checked daily.
If it appears that the other visitors still show interest in it or clearly access it in the same way as the fox did in the above video, I will abandon its use.
Sadly I have not seen any evidence of a hedgehog for a considerable time and being in the city I very much doubt I would see stoats or polecats (or similar 'exotic' species).

 

[Mr Badger]

Snip:

Sadly I have not seen any evidence of a hedgehog for a considerable time and being in the city I very much doubt I would see stoats or polecats (or similar 'exotic' species).

It can be surprising what turns up and where, perhaps not polecat if you're in the middle of a city (and/or outside their current range) but stoats and weasels are still reasonably widespread; after all, you've got foxes and badgers. Something to look forward to perhaps?

 

[gramps]

Epic fail last night ... went to the trailcam this morning to find that I hadn't clicked the SD card in properly last night! :banghead:
Then checked the rat trap and saw the crumbs leading to it had all gone, but the trap door was still open, so he hadn't taken the bait. Only he had taken the bait ... small piece of Bourbon biscuit held down with an elastic band!
Back to the drawing board.

 

[Gremlin]

Only he had taken the bait ... small piece of Bourbon biscuit held down with an elastic band!
Back to the drawing board.

Maybe not the rat, but something lighter got in the trap
When I first moved here I had dog biscuits I kept in my work bag disappearing and heard something
walking across the ceiling.
I thought it might be a rat so set a trap, bait went but trap not sprung, next night set a mouse trap and caught the culprit.
I use small pieces of Mars Bar, not so easy to carry off
I did see a mouse on my trailcam one night, but as no signs of it being in the flat I'm not worried

 

[Jannyfox]

Please, have a plan in place to dispatch this rat before you risk catching it, otherwise you'll end up dumping it alive for someone else to deal with. Also bear in mind that whatever you do, it has to be within the law.

 

[gramps]

I've sent for a rat trap (instant kill but not finger-breaker) that I will place inside of the humane trap wire cage, which will in itself be inside the tile & stone 'housing'.

 

[Tringa]

Is it possible for you to securely fix a tube to the entrance, perhaps a piece of drain pipe, so if the fox put its foot in, it would not be able get in far enough to trigger the trap?
Alternatively as the entrance looks square could you make a strong wooden tunnel that could be fixed to the existing opening?

Dave

 

[gramps]

Is it possible for you to securely fix a tube to the entrance, perhaps a piece of drain pipe, so if the fox put its foot in, it would not be able get in far enough to trigger the trap?
Alternatively as the entrance looks square could you make a strong wooden tunnel that could be fixed to the existing opening?

Dave

Yes Dave, putting it out in the open was a mistake, it is now in a tunnel made up of roofing tiles and heavy rocks.

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Buddy as far as I'm aware check trap once a day by law, would you do me a favour and check it twice daily please. As you are slowly starting to find out trapping rats is almost an art form. The problems with learning, are what you are finding, one has potential to catche the wrong species , with a break back trap such as the fen Chris mentioned one might not catch and kill cleanly !! There is so much to this and it's so important to get it right. You adore animals like I do mate i'm guessing this is already tricky for you at best probably much harder. With me looking after all those chucks and them being reared on a free range basis I've had to learn all this not easy for me either mate. I'd rather live and let live, but sadly with rats that it'n't always possible It's something I honestly feel is best learnt from another but that's impossible at this time sadly

I've a sneaking suspicion that the old chap that trapped at slimbridge might also be called Roger. I met him years ago he was helping my boss with a wildfowl collection clear a rat problem It was fascinating watching him read the ground, I thought I had a bit of a skillset with this he really brought home to me how little I knew. Most animals use regular routes the level he was reading the tracks and then using that info to site traps and catch was remarkable. Roger I haven't done much trapping for years and I suspect the laws might have changed a bit now, with the mention of smaller mustelids even though not yet caught on camera I think they might now be protected @ Cobra...Chris can you help me here?

The tunnel is good Roger be ware that the use of small sticks at the entrances to the tunnel can help prevent the wrong species entering a trap say birds for example . One can also use them inside the tunnel to guide the target species into the trap centrally

Something like a woodmouse could well have robbed your choccy biscuit without having the weight to trigger the trap.

Roger, We have talked on and off for yonks I know how much you care,go very slowly with this think every possibility through how ever unlikely a senario might be cover it . Buddy you have been living with these rats for ever.... we all do,tis just most of us don't see them or realize they are there . Any form of food will always bring them and that's when numbers can start to build and then suddenly it becomes problematic. Jan's words are echoing with me ,really you need a means of humane despatch ie an air rifle. For me drowning is not an option

It doesn't matter how well a trap is made or set if it doesn't kill cleanly that chance in a million or probably less,then you need to deal with that situation quickly and very humanely. I know we don't all adore our brown rat,but they still deserve not to suffer. When one starts trapping rats I feel strongly there is a deep moral obligation also taken on board to be able to kill that animal both swiftly and cleanly. If the way you are made means that's going to be hard for you, them maybe rethink this one.

A real tough one Roger, you won't often get me this serious for this long , I don't really want this post to influence you either way . I just want to make you aware as I possibly can of what can happen and what you are taking on.

Oh back to blue tit just brief so I can say thanks for the thoughts........... I've never ever noticed a size difference in blue tits before , they must just be a freak pair weird!!

take care

stu

 

[gramps]

Buddy as far as I'm aware check trap once a day by law, would you do me a favour and check it twice daily please. As you are slowly starting to find out trapping rats is almost an art form. The problems with learning, are what you are finding, one has potential to catche the wrong species , with a break back trap such as the fen Chris mentioned one might not catch and kill cleanly !! There is so much to this and it's so important to get it right. You adore animals like I do mate i'm guessing this is already tricky for you at best probably much harder. With me looking after all those chucks and them being reared on a free range basis I've had to learn all this not easy for me either mate. I'd rather live and let live, but sadly with rats that it'n't always possible It's something I honestly feel is best learnt from another but that's impossible at this time sadly

I've a sneaking suspicion that the old chap that trapped at slimbridge might also be called Roger. I met him years ago he was helping my boss with a wildfowl collection clear a rat problem It was fascinating watching him read the ground, I thought I had a bit of a skillset with this he really brought home to me how little I knew. Most animals use regular routes the level he was reading the tracks and then using that info to site traps and catch was remarkable. Roger I haven't done much trapping for years and I suspect the laws might have changed a bit now, with the mention of smaller mustelids even though not yet caught on camera I think they might now be protected @ Cobra...Chris can you help me here?

The tunnel is good Roger be ware that the use of small sticks at the entrances to the tunnel can help prevent the wrong species entering a trap say birds for example . One can also use them inside the tunnel to guide the target species into the trap centrally

Something like a woodmouse could well have robbed your choccy biscuit without having the weight to trigger the trap.

Roger, We have talked on and off for yonks I know how much you care,go very slowly with this think every possibility through how ever unlikely a senario might be cover it . Buddy you have been living with these rats for ever.... we all do,tis just most of us don't see them or realize they are there . Any form of food will always bring them and that's when numbers can start to build and then suddenly it becomes problematic. Jan's words are echoing with me ,really you need a means of humane despatch ie an air rifle. For me drowning is not an option

It doesn't matter how well a trap is made or set if it doesn't kill cleanly that chance in a million or probably less,then you need to deal with that situation quickly and very humanely. I know we don't all adore our brown rat,but they still deserve not to suffer. When one starts trapping rats I feel strongly there is a deep moral obligation also taken on board to be able to kill that animal both swiftly and cleanly. If the way you are made means that's going to be hard for you, them maybe rethink this one.

A real tough one Roger, you won't often get me this serious for this long , I don't really want this post to influence you either way . I just want to make you aware as I possibly can of what can happen and what you are taking on.

Oh back to blue tit just brief so I can say thanks for the thoughts........... I've never ever noticed a size difference in blue tits before , they must just be a freak pair weird!!

take care

stu

Thanks Stu, yes difficult but I don't want to encourage rats and feeding the foxes creates the issue.
I think the active rat trap inside the passive 'tunnel' is the right way to go, it's on its way

 

[Cobra]

Buddy as far as I'm aware check trap once a day by law,

Yes every 24 hours is the required law.

I think they might now be protected @ Cobra...Chris can you help me here?

Most of our indigenous wildlife is protected.

are what you are finding, one has potential to catche the wrong species , with a break back trap such as the fen Chris mentioned one might not catch and kill cleanly !!

I'm curious, how many fen traps have you set?
Its the cheap end of the market rat and mouse traps that are the problem.

one has potential to catche the wrong species

Then you make sure you use the correct bait for the target species.
all I can do is offer basic advice, I can't in part 30 years of knowledge in a few lines of text though.

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Lord there's a question...how many,jeepers it's years back Chris could you answer that chestnut lets just say more than a few .

I was originally taught as part of a foresty course straight out of school, Not specifically rat more rabbit grey squirrel ,then again trapping reoccurred with the poultry more specifically rat fen mark iv and occassional mink (fen mark vi ) and live catch. Those two traps are the only ones of that type I have used Dependent on circumstances not always with bait Always in tunnels the fen jumps tunnel is essential,To the best of my knowledge also a legal requirement,i'm right aren't I one cannot set a fen in the open it has to be in a tunnel . Chris as far as I can remember the fen became the only legal trap of it's type sometime around then ,but I'm scratching to remember I've this vague recollection of some other traps being banned as inhumane . it must be around the time you started 30 years back ?? it might be the 1981 wildlife and countryside Act i'm referring to??




Most of our indiginous are protected, agreed, but I believe laws have changed relating to weasel and stoat fairly recently and possibly the corvids ?,But i'm so out of the loop now I've not researched it's not terribly relevent to me now. I'm not even sure whether the larsen can still be used I have a hunch there is a license to be applied for? Hence my question to you specifically on stoat and weasel . Funny ok not really.......................... the last rat I came across was in the canteen on site I kid you not where we eat (insert expletive of choice)

In part that was my point to Roger there is a massive skillset in the use of traps of course you can't pass that on on a forum just the basics. no one could impart a 30year skillset That's why I mentioned the guy who used to trap at slimbridge : an effort to get across the skill level . Chris when I worked at the Domestic Fowl trust they sold fens, poultry keepers get rats,it was my job to try and teach ,never something I was terribly happy about.

ii'll disagree on one bit of your reply which is scary you at this for 30years an all One doesn't always use bait with a tunnel trap and fen, The dark tunnel can appeal to more than one species with no bait in place at all Sure a skillset will narrow that because of knowledge on placement and reading the signs but a beginner doesn't have that to draw upon..

 

[gramps]

Well the rat had the run of the garden for almost the entire night last night, the vixen made just one appearance and there was no sign of the dog, or the badgers. The last clip of the rat saw it toddling off down toward the lower part of the garden and the first part of the next clip (a few seconds later) showed the vixen trotting down after him ... no idea if she caught it but there was no further sign of the rat throughout the night. No activity at all in the garden after 4am, which is unusual, I would have expected to see more visits, especially as there was still food in the garden when I checked this morning.

 

[sphexx]

Well the rat had the run of the garden for almost the entire night last night, the vixen made just one appearance and there was no sign of the dog, or the badgers. The last clip of the rat saw it toddling off down toward the lower part of the garden and the first part of the next clip (a few seconds later) showed the vixen trotting down after him ... no idea if she caught it but there was no further sign of the rat throughout the night. No activity at all in the garden after 4am, which is unusual, I would have expected to see more visits, especially as there was still food in the garden when I checked this morning.

You say “the rat” but there will be more than one, possibly many more especially in an urban area where people are constantly feeding birds.
I expect I shall be unpopular for this but:
1. You are asking for trouble (ie rats) putting food out at night, maybe a few scattered peanuts would be OK.
2. There’s no such thing as a ”humane” non lethal trap. If one traps rats or mice and releases them far away what happens to them, and does one check if they are suckling females before transporting them ... and then what? How would you feel about someone trapping “nuisance” foxes or badgers and releasing them far away (which the RSPCA does with foxes). Rats are essentially the same as foxes and badgers, except maybe more intelligent and great creatures in their own right despite being a terrible pest.
3. Fenn traps are excellent and very “humane” used correctly in tunnels (illegal else, I believe) but tricky to use if you have any problem with your hands — I gave up using them for that reason.
4. Someone mentioned taming wild badgers. Many years(50?) ago I saw on TV a couple of people who fed a largish number of badgers every night inside their conservatory (they & the badgers together) and at the time I thought it was a good way to get diseases passed between species (badgers have TB of course but there may be others, both directions), this was long before Wuhan & ”wet markets” were a matter of discussion. Maybe we aren’t in a position to criticise the Chinese quite so much?

We are in a near drought where I am, perhaps putting out water might work? Maybe water the grass to encourage earthworms for the badgers, foxes too probably .

 

[sphexx]

Just on bait for traps or shooting (air rifle) I’ve found peanut butter either in a trap or on something that can’t be moved, to be really good because it (obviously) can’t be carried off

 

[gramps]

You say “the rat” but there will be more than one, possibly many more especially in an urban area where people are constantly feeding birds.
I expect I shall be unpopular for this but:
1. You are asking for trouble (ie rats) putting food out at night, maybe a few scattered peanuts would be OK.
2. There’s no such thing as a ”humane” non lethal trap. If one traps rats or mice and releases them far away what happens to them, and does one check if they are suckling females before transporting them ... and then what? How would you feel about someone trapping “nuisance” foxes or badgers and releasing them far away (which the RSPCA does with foxes). Rats are essentially the same as foxes and badgers, except maybe more intelligent and great creatures in their own right despite being a terrible pest.
3. Fenn traps are excellent and very “humane” used correctly in tunnels (illegal else, I believe) but tricky to use if you have any problem with your hands — I gave up using them for that reason.
4. Someone mentioned taming wild badgers. Many years(50?) ago I saw on TV a couple of people who fed a largish number of badgers every night inside their conservatory (they & the badgers together) and at the time I thought it was a good way to get diseases passed between species (badgers have TB of course but there may be others, both directions), this was long before Wuhan & ”wet markets” were a matter of discussion. Maybe we aren’t in a position to criticise the Chinese quite so much?

We are in a near drought where I am, perhaps putting out water might work? Maybe water the grass to encourage earthworms for the badgers, foxes too probably .

Thanks for commenting Richard, I take onboard all of your comments
I fully realise (as I have said) that my initial idea of trapping the rat was not well thought-out and has been abandoned ... a proper rat trap was delivered today and has been baited with peanut butter and placed inside the wire cage, which is inside the tunnel of roofing tiles.
I am sure that there are many rats in the neighbourhood but the remaining sightings from my trailcam always show a single rat coming and going from exactly the same direction of my neighbours garden. I cannot be sure of course but I do believe it is the same rat, just as I believe that the other rat (which came from the rear hedge and has not been seen for days) was taken by the dog fox a few days ago.
I am not anti-rat per se but neither am I 'fluffy-woolly' about them, they are vermin and spread disease in addition to causing damage.
The simple fact is that I do want the foxes and badgers to visit my garden but I do not want rats visiting.
I do not ever intend to try to make 'pets' of any wild animal species but I feel that wildlife needs all of the help it can get nowadays ... I hadn't thought about water but you are right, it is a good point and I will put some out tonight ... watering the lawn is too much for me to do to any useful effect, our ground is so hard and unfruitful that I doubt the number of available worms would make the process energy efficient!
At the moment Richard, like many other people, I am confined to my home with the only refuge being the garden,
The opportunity to watch the wildlife on my trailcam video clips gives me some compensation for the loss of my regular trips to the reserves. I make no apology for trying to encourage wildlife into my garden, nor for rejecting vermin and certainly do not see my garden as anything resembling the wet market of Wuhan.

 

[sphexx]

Thanks for commenting Richard, I take onboard all of your comments
I fully realise (as I have said) that my initial idea of trapping the rat was not well thought-out and has been abandoned ... a proper rat trap was delivered today and has been baited with peanut butter and placed inside the wire cage, which is inside the tunnel of roofing tiles.
I am sure that there are many rats in the neighbourhood but the remaining sightings from my trailcam always show a single rat coming and going from exactly the same direction of my neighbours garden. I cannot be sure of course but I do believe it is the same rat, just as I believe that the other rat (which came from the rear hedge and has not been seen for days) was taken by the dog fox a few days ago.
I am not anti-rat per se but neither am I 'fluffy-woolly' about them, they are vermin and spread disease in addition to causing damage.
The simple fact is that I do want the foxes and badgers to visit my garden but I do not want rats visiting.
I do not ever intend to try to make 'pets' of any wild animal species but I feel that wildlife needs all of the help it can get nowadays ... I hadn't thought about water but you are right, it is a good point and I will put some out tonight ... watering the lawn is too much for me to do to any useful effect, our ground is so hard and unfruitful that I doubt the number of available worms would make the process energy efficient!
At the moment Richard, like many other people, I am confined to my home with the only refuge being the garden,
The opportunity to watch the wildlife on my trailcam video clips gives me some compensation for the loss of my regular trips to the reserves. I make no apology for trying to encourage wildlife into my garden, nor for rejecting vermin and certainly do not see my garden as anything resembling the wet market of Wuhan.

Thanks, the more ranty parts of my post were not directed at you, and I think there’s no chance of your garden becoming a second Wuhan .

Worms. I have one of those big Council supplied, can’t remember if I paid for it) plastic compost bins for veg waste & grass clippings etc. Its main use turned out to be breeding worms for my ducks! They congregate under the lid (worms, not ducks) at times in the spring/summer and can be harvested from there, any loose compost heap kept moist would be of interest to badgers I would think. Of course they may make mess of your, probably neat, garden — mine is the opposite of neat and could be better described as wildlife habitat .

 

[gramps]

any loose compost heap kept moist would be of interest to badgers I would think. Of course they may make mess of your, probably neat, garden — mine is the opposite of neat and could be better described as wildlife habitat .

No neat garden here
The badgers like a small corner of the top level of the garden, where they have been digging, next to the fence ... I did read that they also like underground wasp nests (never knew there was such a thing) but in the diggings I have discovered some light material with a sort of honeycomb structure that I guess could be nest material.

 

[sphexx]

No neat garden here
The badgers like a small corner of the top level of the garden, where they have been digging, next to the fence ... I did read that they also like underground wasp nests (never knew there was such a thing) but in the diggings I have discovered some light material with a sort of honeycomb structure that I guess could be nest material.

Underground Common Wasp nest are definitely not something you want to stumble across .

 

[AdamSi]

Again maybe unpopular but if the rats become a daylight problem a .22 does a good job of sorting out the issue but to be fair id expect the foxes to sort them out

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Roger I was so thrilled at your trail cam vids it's so hard ( SO HARD) being stuck at home ,I so want you to keep going and get a bit of relief from lockdown with your new neighbours . Rich's post made me wonder I don't go fishing but can one buy worms say for bait? Or maybe tiger worms for compost bins . I've no ideas on cost i've never bought worms. ok I have nowSadly more than I thought ...a lot more which would rule them out probably as a short term use long term though might be an idea ,Fancy becoming a worm farmer mate .

https://www.originalorganics.co.uk/...MI7umNwrb-6AIVFM53Ch2MWA_nEAkYASABEgIyi_D_BwE

Roger it's tough talking about trapping you have been completely adult about this ( as expected mate ) but regardless you have my thanks.

Not only common wasp make ground nests,there are also solitary bees that nest in the ground, it might be them brock was after. I'd guess that the bumble bees nest are a bit further on then the commonwasp right now?

Rich great posts ,I wish I could think of a workaround the worms idea is inspired


All the luck with it Roger

 

[Solo man]

@gramps can I ask what you have set your PIR interval and sensitivity to?.

 

[gramps]

@gramps can I ask what you have set your PIR interval and sensitivity to?.

Certainly Lee, originally I left it at the default settings but I found that I would miss some action at the end of the clip.
I now have sensitivity on 'High' and the interval at 5 seconds. I've had up to 50 video clips during the night (average around 30) and a couple have been of nothing but it has enabled me to see some continuity in activity on clips that are good (most).
I find the Eneloops are easily lasting 3 nights with it being set to come on at around 8:15pm and off at 6:am and then I recharge them just to be on the safe side ... they might last 4 nights or more but I don't want them to conk out mid-flow.