Poo expert needed please

[christina]

Wandering around the garden today I found, in one small area, what looks like three different poos. I wonder if anyone can identify them for me please? Also, one of our apple tree bark has been stripped off, anyone know what critter does this please?







and finally, the bark stripped from an apple tree


Thank you for trying to ID these. I just want to know what kind of critters visit our garden at night or when we are not looking lol..

Christina

[sbeau66]

i,m no expert but i think the hairy one is an owl pellet, and probably rabbits nibbling the tree bark, you ought to get some wrap around protection for the trees cuz the rabbits will kill them evetually,,,

[christina]

Thank you Sbeau, I was hoping someone would say owl pellet. We sometimes hear an owl late at night. If the tree hasn't been killed already, we will get some wrap for it. Thank you for your help.

[sbeau66]

if youre not squeamish, pick apart the owl pellet, and there should be fur and small mouse bones, that'll tell you for sure!!

[christina]

No squeamish at all...will go outside now and have a delve around lol...I did see something inside one of them this morning which I thought was a piece of peanut but that could be bone...will be back!

[christina]

Definitely bone in the pellets.

On my way back to the house I spooked a GSW from the feeder and then realised that all the birds were alarm calling, as I approached the feeding station I spooked another bird...and it was a sparrowhawk. Everytime I go into the garden without my camera the sparrowhawk is around grrr lol

Thank you so much Sbeau for all your help. It is much appreciated.

[Dogghound]

1. Hard to make out, which is the dropping? the bottom part looks like a rabbit dropping
2,3,4. Can you give a size
5. Size?
6. Same as 1.
7. Rabbit damage.

Also are you in the countryside? what sort of habitat etc.

[christina]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

1. Hard to make out, which is the dropping? the bottom part looks like a rabbit dropping
2,3,4. Can you give a size
5. Size?
6. Same as 1.
7. Rabbit damage.

Also are you in the countryside? what sort of habitat etc.

number 1 is two pieces of poo against the apple tree, amongst some leaves and it appears to have been squashed (probably by the bark chewing rabbit) but its definitely too large to be rabbit poo, it resembles number 5 but a squashed version.
2,3 and 4 has been established as an owl pellet, bone included
number 5 is between 5-7 cm long and the tiny black bits are approx 1 cm. They could be rabbit droppings but seem a bit on the long side, the rabbit droppings we have here are round lol.
number 6 is the same photo as number 1, sorry lol.

We are in the countryside, have rabbits in garden, have foxes visiting. We have conifer trees, fruit trees, laurel bushes, willow tree, a fishpond and some privet and a lawn (but a wildlife/wildflower friendly lawn).

I was hoping someone would say badger poo or stoat or weasel too!

Thank you for having a go dogghound.

[Dogghound]

2,3,4 are likely to be from a fox, they could have been mustelid as they are very twisted. They are not owl pellets.

No badger droppings here im afraid, 5 looks abit weird carnt quite decide it.

[christina]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

2,3,4 are likely to be from a fox, they could have been mustelid as they are very twisted. They are not owl pellets.

No badger droppings here im afraid, 5 looks abit weird carnt quite decide it.

The furry one is about one inch and less. It consists of fur (from the colour I would say rabbit) and some bone.

If it helps, number five appears to have some seeds in it and looks like a suet fat ball...we do have suet fat balls up for the birds so I wonder if the owner of number 5 had managed to pick up the lumps which fall out of their containers? (only guessing).

Mustelid, I would be so chuffed if you are right! lol...

Thanks for having a go. (no pun intended there!).

Christina