Shock - Horror

John · #1 (**permalink**) 21-04-2007, 08:17 PM

I have been running a Humane rat trap in my garden in the hope of catching the rats that have been visiting me. As yet I hadn't caught anything, although they are still visiting me frequently.

The cheese I put in the last time had disappeared but the trap hadn't been sprung the last time I looked at it, three days ago. As it was empty I left it where it was until I did some shopping, which I did last night. Tonight I went out to the trap and shock, horror there was a hedgehog trapped in there. It could have been there for up to three days so I thought straight away that it could quite possibly be dead.

I gently lifted the trap up and took it to another part of the garden. I took my camera with me as well just in case it was alive. I gently eased it out of the trap and placed it on the grass, all the time watching for movement, which didn't come straight away.

I sat on a rock for twenty minutes and by then it was getting quite dark (8:20pm). I decided to put a bowl of water right next to the hedgehog and within minutes I could start to see it breathing, then the head moved slightly. Then it unfurled, stuck it's head over the bowl then ran into the undergrowth.

Phew!! I really thought I had unintentionally killed it.

Let that be a lesson to those that run humane traps. Check them regularly as you never know what could get trapped in them.

Below are some very poor shots. I deliberately didn't put the flash on for fear of freaking out the poor thing so obviously at 08:20pm, and virtually no light, the resulting shots were never be anything but record shots. To get three of those photos I had to go to ISO 1000.

The Humane trap I use.

John

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 21-04-2007, 08:23 PM

A happy ending then John. That's the main thing.
The hedgehog is obviously none the worse for it's ordeal.

J

Kymba · #3 (**permalink**) 21-04-2007, 08:28 PM

At least you got there in time John and the hedgehog doesn't look any worse for its ordeal.
Mind he doesn't look like he's hanging around long

Great Photo's

thunder · #4 (**permalink**) 21-04-2007, 09:54 PM

Quote
Let that be a lesson to those that run humane traps. Check them regularly as you never know what could get trapped in them.
Endquote

Yes, you never know what might wander/blunder in and when. I caught a Blackbird in my humane rat trap - it was mighty furious so can't have been in long when I found it.

henrya

mrs fish · #5 (**permalink**) 22-04-2007, 07:17 AM

Phew, I'm glad the hog is ok

I expect he went into hibernation mode that is why you thought he wasn't breathing, phew again

John · #6 (**permalink**) 22-04-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Phew, I'm glad the hog is ok

I expect he went into hibernation mode that is why you thought he wasn't breathing, phew again

Your possibly right about that. I just hope he is ok now and is out foraging for food tonight.

John

gez · #7 (**permalink**) 22-04-2007, 03:30 PM

As with any trap you must check it at least once a day this is the law... any more & it is certainly not a humane trap. to catch a rat in it make it more of a tunnel, try not to touch it with bare hands, also how do you plan to getthe rat out. as it is best not to just dump it somewhere else!...gez

John · #8 (**permalink**) 22-04-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gez

As with any trap you must check it at least once a day this is the law... any more & it is certainly not a humane trap. to catch a rat in it make it more of a tunnel, try not to touch it with bare hands, also how do you plan to getthe rat out. as it is best not to just dump it somewhere else!...gez

To be honest I was going to take it a few miles away and release it on the banks of a river. I can't kill it as I just can't intentionally kill an animal.

Regarding not touching it. The top is protected by a metal cover so you are in no danger of getting near the Rats teeth.

John

Lance Morgan · #9 (**permalink**) 22-04-2007, 04:35 PM

Contrary to popular belief, cheese is not a very good bait for rats and mice. Plain biscuit or mars bar bit is better

wildlifesnapper · #10 (**permalink**) 22-04-2007, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

To be honest I was going to take it a few miles away and release it on the banks of a river. I can't kill it as I just can't intentionally kill an animal.

Regarding not touching it. The top is protected by a metal cover so you are in no danger of getting near the Rats teeth.

John

Hi Jon,

Glad the hedgehog was Ok.Bet it called you a few names though

I think what gez means about not touching the trap with bare hands is that you will get your scent on it and the rats may be too wary to go in.

neil