Unidentified droppings - warning not pretty

[Janec]

Hi,
I'm hoping someone will know who these belong to.
I've found these in my polytunnel. At the moment I've got a bad rodent problem and I'm using heavy duty sonic scarers (they dance to these all night), and humane traps which are working. So far I've caught a few wood mice but mainly what I think are bank voles (very sweet). Apart from the damage they are doing (digging up the plants and eating the roots) these don't worry me. However, a couple of weeks ago I found some larger droppings and big plants had been knocked over. It happened again last night and someone has left these droppings. The modules the plants are in are about 30mm in diameter to give you an idea of the size.
I've had a squirrel in the tunnel before and some large toads who left droppings about the same size but not the same colour. I'm wondering if it's a rat.
If anyone has an idea please let me know. I think I'll need bigger traps whatever it is (humane of course!).
Jane

Photo follows - please don't look if squeamish

[Dogghound]

Look like brown rat, the lack of seeds and the fact that its in a polytunnel reduce the possibility of it being a bird.

[Janec]

Thanks, that's what I feared it was.
Does anyone know what size hole a rat can get through?
I may be able to restrict it's access.
Thanks
Jane

[Dogghound]

Around 1.5/2 inch.

[Wild-Woman]

They look quite ....well... 'wet' for a rat, although I'd agree as they're the right shape! Perhaps its got a jippy tum!

[Janec]

Thanks everybody.
I think I've fortified the polytunnel enough to stop any more rats getting in, (can I hear sniggering?).
I don't want to be overconfident though, I'll see what greets me tomorrow morning. He was definitely in there again last night as I had some plants in pots knocked over which are far too heavy for a mouse to move.
Thanks again

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

They look quite ....well... 'wet' for a rat, although I'd agree as they're the right shape! Perhaps its got a jippy tum!

If they are feeding of fruit and green vegetation rather than grain etc, they can look very similar to this. Ive found green, blue and orange rat droppings before too, which shows how weird they are.

[Janec]

I can confirm they have been eating green vegetation, all my plants

[Wild-Woman]

Oh dear. Beetroot would be very interesting then!