Spotting Wildlife

[annies1]

Hi all,

I'm kinda new to this wildlife lark, moved from the big city (well a very deprived area of it with only 1 tree for miles - that died becuase the kids stripped all the bark off) I now live in a semi rural area, main road in front with a big back garden and farmland behind. little woods, copse? a few yards away.

What I want to know is this:-we see lots of different type of birds in the back garden even had a pheasent and buzzards over head but I haven't yet seen a hedgehog, rabbit or even a fox - no mammals at all - oo acutally we've had a little mouse with big ears in the bird feeder.

We have a pond that is absolutely full of frog spawn and lots of big different coloured frogs, but how do I attract mammals or what signs do I look for to know it they have been there?

Strange question I know but hey ho every one has to learn. Thanks

[Bobbobthebob]

Most of our mammals are nocturnal and they also have a very good sense of smell so they're not quite as amenable to watching as other animals. You may be able to pull in badger, fox or hedgehog to your garden by leaving out a bit of milk or a bit of pet food. However you might just get rats (which you may or may not want to see!) or the local cats. If you have trees, perhaps some bat boxes? Place them at least 3m above the ground or anything else from which a cat can leap.

Foxes are at their most conspicuous during their breeding season around December through to beginning of Feb. The screaming of the vixens and the males coming in to find them means you should hopefully be able to see a few.

[dampflippers]

Please don't put milk out. Although hedgehogs like it, it can give then diahorrea. Best to put out plain water with your treats. Don't use fish flavoured cat food as that also makes them ill. There are threads on the mammal section giving lots of advice on hedgehogs.

Look for droppings and paw prints around the garden, and also look for gaps in hedges or fences with a worn path in the vegetation. In fact, once you get your eye in you will spot lots of possible signs. Hedgehogs usually have black poos if eating a normal diet of insects and slugs.

There is alot on the BBC breathingplaces web pages with suggestions of things to do in your garden:
BBC - BBC Breathing Places
BBC - Springwatch - Home
BBC - Autumnwatch - Home

KEEP A DIARY of what you see.

Go out at night with a torch to make sure you don't tread on anything. If it's warm enough, sit in the dark and listen to rustlings.

[annies1]

Thanks for the replies,

Lots of stuff to take on board, We had rats in the garden last year when we first moved in (thought the fat balls where going really quickly until myself and the hubby stayed up and watched the rats climbing the vertical metal bird feeding pole!)

Anyway we got some enclosed snap traps from the pest control contractor who visits work and started bringing the bird feeders in overnight - we never caught one in the trap but haven't seen any since (very strange!) So I think I am willing to take the chance and leave some food out for the hogs

Hope to be back here tormenting all you folks for track and scat I.D. soon