Embarrassing question

[jennyb]

Do badgers defecate (for want of a word that would not be censored!) right outside their own setts?

I read the "Holes" thread (Holes ?) with interest because I am investigating some holes in my garden. I think they are badger holes and have been laying sultana trails from them for the last week in the hope of coaxing the occupants onto my lawn in the hope that I can identify them (see yet another thread).

The main hole is large with a mound of soil outside (including unidentifiable footprints because it's been raining). On top of the mound of soil there is some excrement - definitely not rabbit! I have photos of the p** but did not want to put you off your dinner so have not posted it.

Would badgers really do that outside their front door? If not, is it another animal that is p**ing outside someone else's hole? If not, could the hole be occupied by something else like a fox that p**'s outside it's front door?

This is the hole.....



Jenny

[Wild-Woman]

Feaces are very good territory markers. Foxes do likewise.

[jennyb]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Feaces are very good territory markers. Foxes do likewise.

I've just found an interesting page on the BBC web site
BBC - Science & Nature - UK Wildlife - Droppings field guide which basically says that badgers like to place their droppings into pits which they dig out prior to use, unlike foxes who usually leave droppings on tussocks or mounds.

Since I found mine on a mound, I guess it is more likely to be a fox.

Jenny

[Mr Mag00]

badger latrines tend only to be scrapings, an inch or 2 deep like a deep saucer/bowl, more than deep holes.

[gmsmith]

Hi Jenny. I was out walking with my better half 'Jenny' when we saw some other walkers out with their dogs. Once we passed and a bit further down the track I said to Jen, 'that was a good shot' she said what are you on about, I said. 'Looks those dogs we have just passed have been digging holes and it looks like one has been a clever boy and pooped in one of the holes'. She just burst out laughing and said, 'wally, thats badger droppings they dig holes to do their toilets in'. astounded I spent the rest of the walk looking for other evidence and was amazed at how many 'toilets' there were. So there we go, long way round but Badgers dig holes in the ground for there do doos.

Geoff

[jennyb]

Okay. It sounds as if my badger hole is in fact a fox hole. I would love to get a photo of its inhabitants!

Now, I need to get back out there looking for badger latrines because I know there are badgers out there somewhere.

Thanks for all the help.

Jenny

[Earth Hart]

As Mr Mag00 has said, badgers have latrines, these are usually some way away from their sett. The hole looks more like a rabbit's than a fox & rabbits deficate all over the place. Deficate! I am being polite, I meant to say ShARGh

[speckled wood]

Birds too have latrines, seems to be my shoulder when I am out on the pushbike.

[clairey]

In my experience badgers don't always dig a pit, sometimes they get caught short so to speak! I've also seen dungpits outside holes so you never know. What was the dung like Jenny? Did you try looking for hairs in the spoil?

[jennyb]

Originally Posted by clairey

In my experience badgers don't always dig a pit, sometimes they get caught short so to speak! I've also seen dungpits outside holes so you never know. What was the dung like Jenny? Did you try looking for hairs in the spoil?

I did not see any hairs, but I may not have looked closely enough. The dung was solid and dark.

I have been out and looked again at the holes. There are several of them. One of them is classic badger shape - tipped over "D" and the others, including the one with the pile of soil and the dung, are round. These holes are quite close together so it must be a labyrinth underneath. Outside the D shaped hole I saw some scratch marks which could have been badgers but I found no hairs.

Jenny