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|  » Stats |
Members: 50,158
Threads: 82,351
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Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, julong321 | |  | | 
17-01-2009, 09:07 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Shropshire
Posts: 2,599
| | | Re: Vole Spoon?
In the light of your comments, I've clarified my blog post. Many thanks, chaps.  |
17-01-2009, 05:07 PM
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Belvedere, Kent
Posts: 10,029
| | | Re: Vole Spoon?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger  I often get the feeling that the water voles are right behind me when I'm surveying. Tracking the surveyor must be there favourite game | Nah, playing hide and seek with photographers - that's their favourite game! 
Dave P.
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(a.k.a. "Horizontal Dave")
"A good man is hard to find, especially if he's hiding. In a field. With combat fatigues and a false beard." - Wilson Dixon |
23-02-2009, 02:06 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Shropshire
Posts: 2,599
| | | Re: Vole Spoon?
Taking the comments here into consideration, my fellow voler and I tested out out own 'vole spoon' and I'm pleased to say it worked really well. 
There are more details on my blog, if anyone's interested in making one, but basically it's a dinner plate spread with clay and balanced on a metal collar. The collar has legs that you can sink into the ground. You bait with apple, and only leave the plate overnight. The whole thing pulls out with a piece of string, to minimize impact on the bank. |
23-02-2009, 02:38 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,220
| | | Re: Vole Spoon?
That's really interesting vole-woman, I'll have a look on your blog too
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As I said... :-D |
23-02-2009, 02:53 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: On the southern boundary of the Lake District National Park.
Posts: 4,584
| | | Re: Vole Spoon?
I think you should patent the metal stand as a device to prevent sheep from escaping through small holes in hedges or to stop dogs from being attacked by wolves!
A good piece of work there vole-woman and I guess the only difficulty will be getting the clay to right consistencey and keeping it like that.
What have you christened it? A vole plate? |
23-02-2009, 03:28 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Shropshire
Posts: 2,599
| | | Re: Vole Spoon?
Thanks! The guy who made it keeps calling it The Whitchurch Plate. |
23-02-2009, 06:17 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bristol
Posts: 1,226
| | | Re: Vole Spoon?
Hi Kate,
As you might remember I was quite sceptical about the use of the vole spoon, but your results seem really encouraging. Thanks for updating us with the news, I must try and find time to catch up with your blog and see how your WVs are keeping.
I might have to bite my lip and try and make a spoon myself, I have the perfect location.
James
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23-02-2009, 07:21 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Shropshire
Posts: 2,599
| | | Re: Vole Spoon?
I haven't seen any voles yet this year, but there's been a latrine and lots of prints, so any day now I reckon. When I stand on the bridge, people call out "Are they back yet?" It's really nice.
Your scepticism was really helpful, because it's worth reiterating this is just a quick-burst method and not something to leave up for days or weeks. We laid ours at midday and I checked it at evening - the apple hadn't been touched and there'd been no activity at all. But by 8am next morning the voles had been out and eaten all the bait. It did help that I set the plate up between two active burrows! |
23-02-2009, 07:50 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bedfordshire
Posts: 692
| | | Re: Vole Spoon?
Hi VW
They are up and about in my area, I saw two a couple of weeks ago on a really awful day. I am hoping it stays warm so I can have a proper check at the weekend.
The Vole or evolved Whitchurch Spoon looks a good option for me and I will give it a go.
Roy
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23-02-2009, 07:53 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Shropshire
Posts: 2,599
| | | Re: Vole Spoon?
Quote:
Originally Posted by camo They are up and about in my area, I saw two a couple of weeks ago on a really awful day. | That's great to hear. | | | |
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