Who caused this damage?

S-J · #1 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 05:15 PM

I wonder whether anyone can suggest who caused this relatively minor but widespread damage in our garden - we think during last night. We are about 8 miles WNW of Norwich. The garden is large and open, but surrounded by a 6-ft wooden fence of overlapping wooden slats. We can find no point of entry other than a (certainly not new) gap of about 4" diameter at the bottom corner of the gate. Thanks, all!

lilyrose · #2 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 05:40 PM

Is that a hedgehog dropping?

The Woodman · #3 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 06:02 PM

It looks like one to me.

The damage appears to be restricted to areas where the grass is either drying out through lack of water - not possible in Cumbria! - or more likely, under stress through another reason.

My guess is that a hedgehog has been snouting for leatherjackets or similar root eating larvae that are debilitating the grass.

S-J · #4 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 10:02 PM

thanks, both - my partner will be pleased to hear that - he seems to have a special love for hedgehogs! here i go to the hedgehog pages, to find out how to encourage them and make them happy so that hopefully they won't continue to mess up what i'm trying so hard to turn into a lawn ... i wonder whether we could set up a camera ...

S-J · #5 (**permalink**) 06-09-2009, 10:30 PM

ok, i've done some reading: "They are solitary animals ...". i can only think, then, that this must have been one very busy (and very hungry) hedgehog - he covered several areas totalling some 50-60 sq m in one night!

tomorrow i shall go and check the woodpile (from a distance), buy some straw, put down a plate of dog food and a dish of water. part of me wants to go to the nursery, too, to get whatever i need to deal with the lawn caterpillars - but maybe they can stay for a bit, and my newest friend can deal with them instead! anything else i should do?

thanks again for your input.

Marcia · #6 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 01:32 PM

Hi SJ and welcome to WaB.

Hedgehogs are solitary beings in the sense that they don't live in a community but they're pleased to share their territories with other hedgehogs, so it's very possible that you might have more than one visiting your garden.

Their population is in serious and dangerous decline so it's important to help them as much as we can providing food and shelter. Dog food and water are great; other treats like sultana, nuts, dry mealworms are very welcome too.

If you happen to see your hoggies visitors, do check if they are not too small, injured, wobbling or out in daylight. They will be going into hibernation in just 2 months so they need to be fit and fat to survive, otherwise they'll need to be rescued and cared for until next spring.

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society is a good source of information. Or you can also join us in this thread.

Good luck.

Marcia

S-J · #7 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 05:41 AM

[sorry - posted in duplicate and subsequently deleted]

S-J · #8 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 05:53 AM

thanks, marcia.

our visitor(s) did return the following night but, by the look of it, not again last night.

when we walked around yesterday we found some rather bigger droppings as well, and (now with the benefit of input from Natural England also) are wondering about a family of foxes - though we still can't see how an adult can get in.

having lived in south africa for more than three decades, i'm very familiar with the concept of a threatened species and most certainly will follow up both your suggestions. fortunately the "comfort food" seems to overlap - and i'll see, too, whether we can't pick up a footprint or two in some soft earth around the food/water.

exciting times!

Bumblebeebob · #9 (**permalink**) 08-09-2009, 10:11 AM

Could be Fox damage, they are partial to Leather Jackets as well, a six foot fence isn't really a barrier to a Fox, they sleep on my neighbour's shed roof & I'm not sure how they get up there! I can never tell who digs the holes in my garden as there are Badgers & Foxes passing through. Hole digging has increased in the past couple of weeks, a sure sign it's Leather Jacket season!

davecatt · #10 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S-J

thanks, marcia.

our visitor(s) did return the following night but, by the look of it, not again last night.

when we walked around yesterday we found some rather bigger droppings as well, and (now with the benefit of input from Natural England also) are wondering about a family of foxes - though we still can't see how an adult can get in.

having lived in south africa for more than three decades, i'm very familiar with the concept of a threatened species and most certainly will follow up both your suggestions. fortunately the "comfort food" seems to overlap - and i'll see, too, whether we can't pick up a footprint or two in some soft earth around the food/water.

exciting times!

Hi
I,ve seen adult foxes clear a six foot fence, they take a run at it then scrabble up. Check the fence for scratch marks and the top edge for hair from the under belly probably a light ginger colour.
Dave