Wildlife & Gardens

Just had the security lights come on, when I opened the door there was a bloody great Moose standing in my drive

 

What flavour ?

 

Meat.

 

Sorry about that m8. Got lost on the way back from a night out.

 

My son has the same problem (near Brentford of all places). Apparently they hate lavender so he has it at the front of all beds. Not a total deterrent, but it helps.

 

Is it now loose about your hoose?

 

Two squirrel kits are out and about.
I heard a commotion in the bathroom at 6.40am yesterday and one had got itself through the window left open for Ford and Persephone.

Leaping all over the shop,I managed to help it out via the washing bowl as a kind of trampoline.

Little puddle on the floor though. It's my age I expect!

I have named them Doug and Dinsdale.

" Born on probation..."

 

Now before reading this, if in the past someone had said they had a Squirrel Kit, I would thought to myself. I bet that’s not going to take as long as the Tirpitz or a Lancaster bomber. - You learn something everyday.

 

Yeah all these fancy animals and birds are great.


But it's the mosquito that gets the most applause from us humans.

 

Birds decimating the food and nesting like crazy.

Little hog out last night at 9pm and a couple of foxes.

Spindley Tail Fox ( STF) and a stout fox with a plump tail (SFWPT) first to my serving.

Persephone watching on with amazement.

 

Yes our cat likes to sit on the patio with me and watch the foxes coming to eat. Though I've caught her “seeing them off” on the wildlife camera when she’s down the garden after dark. She’s seen off the muntjac too after a bit of a “what the hell are you?” stand off.

 

Yes Sephers does take a meatball or two,I've seen her looking pleased with herself and washing her face!

Very good viewing.

 

Outstanding!

 

Does anyone have a tortoise?

A couple I coach have a relative whose animal is very aggressive.

Bites toes,attacks dogs and is rather nippy.

Named Usain Bite.

I've not realised they can be so pugilistic.

 

Some of our regular visitors.

 

Wow a peacock visiting your garden !?
We have ducks looking to set up home in our garden each spring but with two ponds that they would absolutely wreck, I have to go out and chase them away . Always a strange experience as they always seem semi tame and waddle off and have to be actively chased around the garden before they finally get the message and fly off. Once we had a pair of mandarin ducks. Absolutely beautiful but I couldn’t let them stay. Ducks literally need a 2 metre pond to keep them happy. I bet you have to be careful where you tread on your lawn !!

 

That's a shame. We have muntjac and roe deer but no dog, so no issues (though our wildlife camera has caught our cat and the muntjac fronting up before the deer backed down (she's seen off a fox too)). How big is your dog if baby deer can get through the fence but the dog can't get out (your avatar suggests about 5 feet tall?) !?!? I don't see any solution other than to beef up (venison up?) the fence which could be expensive with a big garden. Are you sure there isn't a hole ? - do you see where they get through ? Young deer will grow quickly so maybe it will be gone as an issue in a month or so... ? ...until next year of course....

 

What do you mean by 'gaps'? Can't you just get a fence with narrower mesh?

 

Not cheap for a big garden though ! (I believe by "big garden" HH24 means c54 acres)

 

You need to sue the **** off the supplier who told you it was "deer proof fencing" !!

 

Fair enough. Cover the whole lot with narrow mesh chicken wire?

 

...but then you'll stop all the chickens too !

 

Yes we’re very lucky, there’s over half a dozen living at the other end of our lane and the males regularly visit in the summer.

The ducks do definitely wreck the pond! Very impressed you had Mandarin ducks, they are so beautiful.

 

Would love to have deer but understand the issue with your dog, such a shame. Hope you manage to deer proof your garden @HappyHornet24

 

Yes they were beautiful, but a bit too close for decent photos !!

 

Gorgeous, such beautiful birds.

 

Just been out to put out more ground food for blackbirds robins etc and there's a fox curled up by the hedge.

Seemed unconcerned by my presence and hasn't touched food I've left.

Fox Foundation lady thinks it's a mum having cub respite!

She certainly seems familiar and in good shape,well nourished.

 

Tasty, too!

 

NO!