Nocturnal Raiders

[Wagstaff]

Hi, I'm Wagstaff, and hoping that someone can answer my question below.

I've been putting fatballs out for the birds over the last couple of months, but I've noticed recently that partially eaten ones have been disappearing overnight.
Everything has suddenly gone, including the green net bag, which is usually still there when the birds have finished off the fatballs.

What nocturnal raider is doing this?

[Bub-les]

Most likely rats

[m1.carson]

Originally Posted by Bub-les

Most likely rats

I'd second that, squirrels by day, rats by night.

Max.

[Wagstaff]

Thanks for the response Bub-les.

The balls are suspended from thin buddleia branches, about 7ft high, and attached using ordinary garden wire. Could rats climb up and reach them?

Wagstaff

[Bub-les]

Surprising where they can get to ..... its possible is there any chance a jackdaw or similar may have pulled the fat balls from the twigs before dark?

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Wagstaff

Thanks for the response Bub-les.

The balls are suspended from thin buddleia branches, about 7ft high, and attached using ordinary garden wire. Could rats climb up and reach them?

Wagstaff

Rats are incredibly agile + adept climbers- especially if food is available. I suspect they are the most likely culprit.

[snowdrop]

That tail of theirs certainly comes in handy when balancing on thin branches. They wrap it around a few times leaving the front legs free to handle the food. I've seen it happen and was surprised how agile they are. Got round the problem by lengthening the string till the food hung away from the branches although this lowered the food a tad the birds didn't mind.
The magpies have been raiding my home made coconut feasts though and cleaning them out in less time than it takes to say Jack Robinson. Guess I'll remove them altogether bebore they start resembling well dressed Billy Bunters.

[Wagstaff]

My thanks to all of you who've replied.

I'm just surprised that the concensus of opinion concludes that it is "rats"!
The fatballs are still there when darkness falls, so I don't think it could be a jackdaw.
If it is rats then they must jump across about 18 inches to reach the food, or drop down onto from above - both precarious operations, followed by quite a fall.

Anyway, thank you all once again for your thoughts.

Wagstaff

[Kayleigh]

I put a fat ball onto the top of a compost bin for the blackbirds. The next day the fat ball had gone and a rat was in the garden looking for more..I no longer put food down all the feeders are hung in trees. I made hooks out of old coat-hangers..I have not seen the rat for a week now.

[ChrisJB]

My mum's keep vanishing too, but the culprit is one big, bold Grey Squirrel, who has no shame and does it whilst on full view.

Regards, Chris