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Plague of snails.
I have lived in the same house in Leeds for the last 33 years. During the
first 27 (approximately) of these years, I hardly ever saw a snail, although I did have a large number of slugs. During the last 6 (approx) years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of snails. On a wet evening after dark, if I go to post a letter in the local mail box, my feet inadvertently crunch a snail every tenth step, on average. I have just removed and killed about 50 of them from my bed of petunias, the bed being a mere 5 square metres in area. The snails are thick on the ground. It ihas reached the point where I would describe it as a plague. Is this problem local to Leeds, or has there been the same problem throughout the UK? What has caused the sudden increase in their population? I do not accept "global warming" as an answer -- far too easy, facile, and probably wrong. With global warming, Leeds nowadays has the same climate as Berkshire did 35 years ago when I lived there. Berkshire in 1972 did not have the plague of snails I am experiencing here in Leeds in 2007. Richard Chambers Leeds UK. |
Plague of snails.
"Dick Chambers" wrote in message
... I have lived in the same house in Leeds for the last 33 years. During the first 27 (approximately) of these years, I hardly ever saw a snail, although I did have a large number of slugs. During the last 6 (approx) years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of snails. On a wet evening after dark, if I go to post a letter in the local mail box, my feet inadvertently crunch a snail every tenth step, on average. I have just removed and killed about 50 of them from my bed of petunias, the bed being a mere 5 square metres in area. The snails are thick on the ground. It ihas reached the point where I would describe it as a plague. Is this problem local to Leeds, or has there been the same problem throughout the UK? What has caused the sudden increase in their population? I do not accept "global warming" as an answer -- far too easy, facile, and probably wrong. With global warming, Leeds nowadays has the same climate as Berkshire did 35 years ago when I lived there. Berkshire in 1972 did not have the plague of snails I am experiencing here in Leeds in 2007. Richard Chambers Leeds UK. Their prominence is probably due to the favourable weather conditions which they are experiencing. This site http://tinyurl.com/2mxdt8 explains this theory more fully. Regards, Emrys Davies. |
Plague of snails.
"Dick Chambers" wrote in message ... I have lived in the same house in Leeds for the last 33 years. During the first 27 (approximately) of these years, I hardly ever saw a snail, although I did have a large number of slugs. During the last 6 (approx) years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of snails. On a wet evening after dark, if I go to post a letter in the local mail box, my feet inadvertently crunch a snail every tenth step, on average. I have just removed and killed about 50 of them from my bed of petunias, the bed being a mere 5 square metres in area. The snails are thick on the ground. It ihas reached the point where I would describe it as a plague. Is this problem local to Leeds, or has there been the same problem throughout the UK? What has caused the sudden increase in their population? I do not accept "global warming" as an answer -- far too easy, facile, and probably wrong. With global warming, Leeds nowadays has the same climate as Berkshire did 35 years ago when I lived there. Berkshire in 1972 did not have the plague of snails I am experiencing here in Leeds in 2007. Richard Chambers Leeds UK. To start with Richard don't be a mug and get sucked in on this 'Global warming' thing. Like other crazes such as the Whip and Top, Hoola Hoop and Rubicks Cube and buzz words of the day, it will pass and it will be another fad, again the Government will find a way of making money out of it. This Summer is very much like 1951. Weather comes. Weather goes. We cannot change it we get what we get and anybody who thinks man can change this earth is off his rocker. Have you seen the speeded up animated picture of a Motorway which has been closed and left to nature for about 250 years I think it is? That has dealt with the weather and global warming, as far as Snails are concerned, lack of Thrushes, the wet weather we have had presented to us this year, (wasn't into snail counting in 1951) and yes we have thousands on the Isle of Wight. Mike -- The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association. 'THE' Association if you served in the Electrical Branch of the Royal Navy Reunion Bournemouth August/September 2007 www.rneba.org.uk |
Plague of snails.
"Anne Jackson" wrote in message ... The message from "Dick Chambers" contains these words: I have lived in the same house in Leeds for the last 33 years. During the first 27 (approximately) of these years, I hardly ever saw a snail, although I did have a large number of slugs. During the last 6 (approx) years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of snails. On a wet evening after dark, if I go to post a letter in the local mail box, my feet inadvertently crunch a snail every tenth step, on average. I have just removed and killed about 50 of them from my bed of petunias, the bed being a mere 5 square metres in area. The snails are thick on the ground. It ihas reached the point where I would describe it as a plague. Is this problem local to Leeds, or has there been the same problem throughout the UK? What has caused the sudden increase in their population? I do not accept "global warming" as an answer -- far too easy, facile, and probably wrong. With global warming, Leeds nowadays has the same climate as Berkshire did 35 years ago when I lived there. Berkshire in 1972 did not have the plague of snails I am experiencing here in Leeds in 2007. I have the same problem here, in Perth. I put it down to the much milder winters and the lack of thrushes in my garden. We used to have lots of thrushes, now we have none. -- AnneJ It can be something as simple as your local authority being better at rat control, rats in country/garden situations spend the winter hunting down hibernating snails and eating them, they consume very large numbers and so in spring you start from a low level, these days song thrushes appear much in decline a local vet pathologist tells me a combination of slug pellets and cats are responsible, we have both occasional slug pellets and cats but still have thrushes so I don't know! -- Charlie, gardening in Cornwall. http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk Holders of National Plant Collections of Clematis viticella (cvs) and Lapageria rosea |
Plague of snails.
In reply to Dick Chambers ) who wrote this
in , I, Marvo, say : I have lived in the same house in Leeds for the last 33 years. During the first 27 (approximately) of these years, I hardly ever saw a snail, although I did have a large number of slugs. During the last 6 (approx) years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of snails. On a wet evening after dark, if I go to post a letter in the local mail box, my feet inadvertently crunch a snail every tenth step, on average. I have just removed and killed about 50 of them from my bed of petunias, the bed being a mere 5 square metres in area. The snails are thick on the ground. It ihas reached the point where I would describe it as a plague. Is this problem local to Leeds, or has there been the same problem throughout the UK? What has caused the sudden increase in their population? I do not accept "global warming" as an answer -- far too easy, facile, and probably wrong. With global warming, Leeds nowadays has the same climate as Berkshire did 35 years ago when I lived there. Berkshire in 1972 did not have the plague of snails I am experiencing here in Leeds in 2007. Snails and slugs love this weather. See "too many seedlings" thread for some options on how to "deal" with them. Pro-snail rights campaigners please go elsewhere. |
Plague of snails.
"Dick Chambers" wrote in message ... I have lived in the same house in Leeds for the last 33 years. During the first 27 (approximately) of these years, I hardly ever saw a snail, although I did have a large number of slugs. During the last 6 (approx) years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of snails. On a wet evening after dark, if I go to post a letter in the local mail box, my feet inadvertently crunch a snail every tenth step, on average. I have just removed and killed about 50 of them from my bed of petunias, the bed being a mere 5 square metres in area. The snails are thick on the ground. It ihas reached the point where I would describe it as a plague. Is this problem local to Leeds, or has there been the same problem throughout the UK? What has caused the sudden increase in their population? I do not accept "global warming" as an answer -- far too easy, facile, and probably wrong. With global warming, Leeds nowadays has the same climate as Berkshire did 35 years ago when I lived there. Berkshire in 1972 did not have the plague of snails I am experiencing here in Leeds in 2007. Richard Chambers Leeds UK. I've lived in the same house in Leeds for the last 43 years. In the first few years I saw a lot of snails but few slugs. I haven't noticed any difference in the small variations since then. A few weeks ago I went to post a letter (honestly!) on a wet night. We've had a lot of those recently. I noticed a huge number of snails on the footpath so on my way back I collected them and saved them until morning to give to my hens. I haven't seen this phenomenon at any other time - but all that means is that I haven't seen it, not that it hasn't occurred. I certainly wouldn't describe the number as a plague, that's far too easy, facile and probably wrong. Nor is it a phenomenon (I don't see it as a problem) peculiar to Leeds, a son in Chippenham (Wiltshire) has similar variations in numbers of snails, a daughter has very many of both slugs and snails despite having ducks and hens - but she lives in Wales where it's always wet. A son in Leeds (Kirkstall) has only recently begun gardening and he's very upset by the destruction slugs and snails have wrought, he says he doesn't remember it being like this when he was at home - but it was never as wet as it has been recently when he was at home. Another son in Leeds (Chapel Allerton) has had an overgrown garden with a huge pond and a lot of snails and slugs for years - but I suspect he wouldn't even notice if there were differences in population. The daughter in France probably eats them if she has them. I saw absolutely no snails or slugs in April but we had no rain at all in that month and I expect they stayed safely underground. I doubt that you had as much rain in Berkshire in 1972 as we've had here in the last few weeks, it's been unseasonal. Snails and slugs thrive under damp conditions and become apparent, just because they're not seen doesn't mean that they're not there. Mary Leeds UK |
Plague of snails.
"Mary Fisher" wrote in message . net... What do you call a snail selling "The Big Issue"? :-) |
Plague of snails.
"Uncle Marvo" wrote in message ... What do you call a snail selling "The Big Issue"? :-) Causing trouble round here as well - I see ! I dunno :-( What do you call it ? Pete www.thecanalshop.com |
Plague of snails.
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Plague of snails.
"Uncle Marvo" wrote in message ... In reply to Pete Stockdale ) who wrote this in , I, Marvo, say : "Uncle Marvo" wrote in message ... What do you call a snail selling "The Big Issue"? :-) Causing trouble round here as well - I see ! Moi? A chap can have more than one interest, no? I dunno :-( What do you call it ? A slug. Not a very LOLy one that ! Are you a keen gardner then ? Pete |
Plague of snails.
In reply to Pete Stockdale ) who wrote this in
, I, Marvo, say : "Uncle Marvo" wrote in message ... In reply to Pete Stockdale ) who wrote this in , I, Marvo, say : "Uncle Marvo" wrote in message ... What do you call a snail selling "The Big Issue"? :-) Causing trouble round here as well - I see ! Moi? A chap can have more than one interest, no? I dunno :-( What do you call it ? A slug. Not a very LOLy one that ! Are you a keen gardner then ? It's all I do when I'm not boating or drinking. My garden is unusual though, to say the least. It's only just become above the water level again, a bit of a shame. |
Plague of snails.
"Mary Fisher" wrote in message . net... "Dick Chambers" wrote in message ... I have lived in the same house in Leeds for the last 33 years. During the first 27 (approximately) of these years, I hardly ever saw a snail, although I did have a large number of slugs. During the last 6 (approx) years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of snails. On a wet evening after dark, if I go to post a letter in the local mail box, my feet inadvertently crunch a snail every tenth step, on average. I have just removed and killed about 50 of them from my bed of petunias, the bed being a mere 5 square metres in area. The snails are thick on the ground. It ihas reached the point where I would describe it as a plague. Is this problem local to Leeds, or has there been the same problem throughout the UK? What has caused the sudden increase in their population? I do not accept "global warming" as an answer -- far too easy, facile, and probably wrong. With global warming, Leeds nowadays has the same climate as Berkshire did 35 years ago when I lived there. Berkshire in 1972 did not have the plague of snails I am experiencing here in Leeds in 2007. Richard Chambers Leeds UK. I've lived in the same house in Leeds for the last 43 years. In the first few years I saw a lot of snails but few slugs. I haven't noticed any difference in the small variations since then. A few weeks ago I went to post a letter (honestly!) on a wet night. We've had a lot of those recently. I noticed a huge number of snails on the footpath so on my way back I collected them and saved them until morning to give to my hens. I haven't seen this phenomenon at any other time - but all that means is that I haven't seen it, not that it hasn't occurred. I certainly wouldn't describe the number as a plague, that's far too easy, facile and probably wrong. Nor is it a phenomenon (I don't see it as a problem) peculiar to Leeds, a son in Chippenham (Wiltshire) has similar variations in numbers of snails, a daughter has very many of both slugs and snails despite having ducks and hens - but she lives in Wales where it's always wet. A son in Leeds (Kirkstall) has only recently begun gardening and he's very upset by the destruction slugs and snails have wrought, he says he doesn't remember it being like this when he was at home - but it was never as wet as it has been recently when he was at home. Another son in Leeds (Chapel Allerton) has had an overgrown garden with a huge pond and a lot of snails and slugs for years - but I suspect he wouldn't even notice if there were differences in population. The daughter in France probably eats them if she has them. I saw absolutely no snails or slugs in April but we had no rain at all in that month and I expect they stayed safely underground. I doubt that you had as much rain in Berkshire in 1972 as we've had here in the last few weeks, it's been unseasonal. Snails and slugs thrive under damp conditions and become apparent, just because they're not seen doesn't mean that they're not there. Thank you, Mary, for your interesting reply. Here in Leeds 17 (a couple of hundred metres to the West of the A61 Harrogate Road, and the same distance North of the A6210 Ring Road), the problem is not necessarily directly related to the recent prolonged wet weather. Of course, I take it for granted that we will always see more snails on a wet night. For the last six years, I have seen large numbers of snails on any wet night that God has sent. Summer 2006 was much drier than average, yet we still saw enormous numbers of snails that would appear on the few wet evenings that we did have. As I said in my original posting, I hardly ever saw a snail in the first 27 years I lived here, even on a wet summer evening. Now, and for the past few years, their numbers have become spectacular. I am fascinated by your low-key reaction : -- "I've lived in the same house in Leeds for the last 43 years. In the first few years I saw a lot of snails but few slugs. I haven't noticed any difference in the small variations since then.". Quite different from my own experience, which is spectacular, yet we live at most only a few miles apart. Richard Chambers Leeds UK. |
Plague of snails.
The message from "'Mike'" contains these words: Have you seen the speeded up animated picture of a Motorway which has been closed and left to nature for about 250 years I think it is? Link ?? Jenny |
Plague of snails.
"Dick Chambers" wrote in message ... Here in Leeds 17 (a couple of hundred metres to the West of the A61 Harrogate Road, and the same distance North of the A6210 Ring Road), the problem is not necessarily directly related to the recent prolonged wet weather. Of course, I take it for granted that we will always see more snails on a wet night. For the last six years, I have seen large numbers of snails on any wet night that God has sent. Summer 2006 was much drier than average, yet we still saw enormous numbers of snails that would appear on the few wet evenings that we did have. As I said in my original posting, I hardly ever saw a snail in the first 27 years I lived here, even on a wet summer evening. Now, and for the past few years, their numbers have become spectacular. There's another consideration of course, you - and I - might not have been as observant during other times. /unless you have been doing a long research of course - I haven't. I am fascinated by your low-key reaction : -- "I've lived in the same house in Leeds for the last 43 years. In the first few years I saw a lot of snails but few slugs. I haven't noticed any difference in the small variations since then.". Quite different from my own experience, which is spectacular, yet we live at most only a few miles apart. There are local differences in everything. My neighbours curse daisies in their lawns and strive permantly to rid themselves of coltsfoot. I can grow neither despite many attempts. Mary |
Plague of snails.
"Anne Jackson" wrote in message ... The message from "'Mike'" contains these words: Have you seen the speeded up animated picture of a Motorway which has been closed and left to nature for about 250 years I think it is? They had Motorways 250 years ago! Sheesh, I'd never have believed that there were enough horses, carts and stagecoaches to warrant it! -- With the Earth being a reputed 36,000 Million years old, do you seriously believe that we of 2007, are the most advanced human beings which have blessed the surface? There is a poster in the Roman Villa at Brading here on the Isle of Wight which shows how the Roman Villa, which was the centre of a very prosperous community with farms, factories and a harbour in the very early part of the AD Century, ran into decay and was eventually covered 'by nature and natural causes' until it was rediscovered in the late 19th century,.nearly 2000 years later. And do you not think that there is quite likely to be far more intelligent life out there in space? Do you honestly believe that 'we' are far more clever than 'anything else'? Mike -- The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association. 'THE' Association if you served in the Electrical Branch of the Royal Navy Reunion Bournemouth August/September 2007 www.rneba.org.uk |
Plague of snails.
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Plague of snails.
On Jul 5, 9:57 am, "Mary Fisher" wrote:
A few weeks ago I went to post a letter (honestly!) on a wet night. We've had a lot of those recently. I noticed a huge number of snails on the footpath so on my way back I collected them and saved them until morning to give to my hens. Mary!!!!!! I cannot believe you gave them to the hens! Here (in France at the moment) I buy snails, to eat, no way can my hens, when I get them, have my snails. p.s. This p.m. I am going to Clermont Ferrand to see a hen house aka the Mary Fisher type one. It's not your Eglu but on the same principle, hopefully it will be as good, if not the removal van will be bringing an Eglu. Judith |
Plague of snails.
" wrote in message ups.com... On Jul 5, 9:57 am, "Mary Fisher" wrote: A few weeks ago I went to post a letter (honestly!) on a wet night. We've had a lot of those recently. I noticed a huge number of snails on the footpath so on my way back I collected them and saved them until morning to give to my hens. Mary!!!!!! I cannot believe you gave them to the hens! Here (in France at the moment) I buy snails, to eat, no way can my hens, when I get them, have my snails. Ours are not the kind you eat, our hens love snails, especially small ones, they fight over them. p.s. This p.m. I am going to Clermont Ferrand to see a hen house aka the Mary Fisher type one. It's not your Eglu but on the same principle, hopefully it will be as good, if not the removal van will be bringing an Eglu. I'd be interested to know about yours. Mary |
Plague of snails.
Dick Chambers writes
I have lived in the same house in Leeds for the last 33 years. During the first 27 (approximately) of these years, I hardly ever saw a snail, although I did have a large number of slugs. During the last 6 (approx) years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of snails. On a wet evening after dark, if I go to post a letter in the local mail box, my feet inadvertently crunch a snail every tenth step, on average. I have just removed and killed about 50 of them from my bed of petunias, the bed being a mere 5 square metres in area. The snails are thick on the ground. It ihas reached the point where I would describe it as a plague. Is this problem local to Leeds, or has there been the same problem throughout the UK? What has caused the sudden increase in their population? I don't know about anywhere else (always had snails in Kent and Sussex, but not in quantity) but same experience as you in Leeds - first few years, slugs but no snails, now, lots of both. The other thing that has changed over the period is that it has got noticeably wetter. The stream in the Nature Area we look after has gone from being a trickle to being a real stream, the boggy area in the local park is now a real pool in winter and boggy most of the year, and there has been a huge increase in plants like lesser celandine which like damp conditions. I can understand why this should lead to an increase in molluscs generally, but not quite sure it should be the *snails* that have increased - the shell, I would have thought, would make them better able to cope with dry conditions. Though on second thoughts, perhaps the fact they need a shell is an indication that they aren't as able as slugs to cope with slightly(1) drier conditions. (1) - we're talking relative here - nowhere in Leeds has ever been truly dry ;-) -- Kay |
Plague of snails.
On 5 Jul, 11:30, "JennyC" wrote:
Have you seen the speeded up animated picture of a Motorway which has been closed and left to nature for about 250 years I think it is? Link ?? I've looked around - I was so curious! Found nothing. But I had this when I wanted to do a green bridge using an old foot bridge in Manchester last year. I'm still really into the idea. It could be so fun ;o) http://cjoint.com/?hfocMPQtEU |
Plague of snails.
"La Puce" wrote in message oups.com... On 5 Jul, 11:30, "JennyC" wrote: Have you seen the speeded up animated picture of a Motorway which has been closed and left to nature for about 250 years I think it is? Link ?? I've looked around - I was so curious! Found nothing. But I had this when I wanted to do a green bridge using an old foot bridge in Manchester last year. I'm still really into the idea. It could be so fun ;o) http://cjoint.com/?hfocMPQtEU I believe the animation was on TV but I would love to see it again. On the same theme, anyone who knows the Winchester by Pass of old, and those traffic lights :-(( would find it hard to find now :-)) The cutting has been filled in and 'sloped' to match the contours of the land and is now all grass and shrubs :-)). The Worthy Down cutting is another matter :-(( Mike -- The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association. 'THE' Association if you served in the Electrical Branch of the Royal Navy Reunion Bournemouth August/September 2007 www.rneba.org.uk |
Plague of snails.
"K" wrote in message ... .... (1) - we're talking relative here - nowhere in Leeds has ever been truly dry ;-) Too many pubs. Mary |
Plague of snails.
In message , Charlie Pridham
wrote It can be something as simple as your local authority being better at rat control, It will be irresponsible cat owners allowing their 'pets' to roam and destroying the local bird population. -- Alan news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com |
Plague of snails.
"Alan" wrote in message ... In message , Charlie Pridham wrote It can be something as simple as your local authority being better at rat control, It will be irresponsible cat owners allowing their 'pets' to roam and destroying the local bird population. -- Alan For 'pets' read ""VERMIN"" Kindest regards to all who are trying to 'garden'. Mike -- The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association. 'THE' Association if you served in the Electrical Branch of the Royal Navy Reunion Bournemouth August/September 2007 www.rneba.org.uk |
Plague of snails.
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Plague of snails.
On 5/7/07 16:54, in article , "Uncle
Marvo" wrote: In reply to Alan ) who wrote this in , I, Marvo, say : In message , Charlie Pridham wrote It can be something as simple as your local authority being better at rat control, It will be irresponsible cat owners allowing their 'pets' to roam and destroying the local bird population. Er, a bit harsh, maybe. I thought it was the prerogative of cats to roam. You can't keep them locked in, can you? I am not being funny, I have a genuine interest in this. I don't have a cat. I thought all cats had access to a flap so they could go out and do what cats do. Dogs are "taken" out. Cats aren't. Is there a reason for this? Lots of cats are house cats and never, ever go outside. Dogs are either let out or taken out, I agree. Personally, I think it's cruel to keep cats cooped up in a house all the time, looking through the window at the wildlife! However, friends in e.g. USA have explained to me that their cats are house cats because of the number of predators that can harm them. Here - apart from man, there are only two dangers I can think of for cats, dogs and foxes. Cats are said by some to account for the loss of millions of songbirds in Britain every year. -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk (remove weeds from address) |
Plague of snails.
In message , Sacha
wrote Lots of cats are house cats and never, ever go outside. Dogs are either let out or taken out, I agree. Personally, I think it's cruel to keep cats cooped up in a house all the time, looking through the window at the wildlife! However, friends in e.g. USA have explained to me that their cats are house cats because of the number of predators that can harm them. Here - apart from man, there are only two dangers I can think of for cats, dogs and foxes. Foxes are not a problem for cats otherwise there would be no problem with the number of cats in my neighbourhood. There was a documentary on TV some years ago about the urban fox. It showed a few encounters between cats and the fox. They either avoided each other or the cat always won. I guess that most dogs kept as pets wouldn't know what to do with a cat if they actually caught one. Cats are said by some to account for the loss of millions of songbirds in Britain every year. I find the remains of a bird (lots of feathers) in my urban garden about once a week. While a few years ago I had many birds visiting my garden I hardly see any now. The number of problem feline pets has increased dramatically. Apart from killing birds, shitting in newly planted flower beds they also **** on everything to mark 'their ' territory. In an urban environment the territories are on 'time share' so many cats will **** on the same plants. Why cannot antisocial cat owners see that their pet is _always_ someone else's problem! I bet that if the same owners were infested with roaming rats they would be the first to complain. For their neighbours the roaming cat is often the problem! -- Alan news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com |
Plague of snails.
On Jul 5, 12:28 pm, "Mary Fisher" wrote:
p.s. This p.m. I am going to Clermont Ferrand to see a hen house aka the Mary Fisher type one. It's not your Eglu but on the same principle, hopefully it will be as good, if not the removal van will be bringing an Eglu. I'd be interested to know about yours. Mary, I went to Clermont but got sidetracked and got home at 7p.m. French time and actually achieved very little today. I am having dinner tomorrow night with a friend who has told me about the alternative egglus so I will try and find out a link so that both you and I can have a look. Judith |
Plague of snails.
On Jul 5, 1:49 pm, Martin wrote:
Have you thought what you are going to put in the removal van for the return trip? Do you know, I never thought of that!!! What do you suggest? Judith |
Plague of snails.
On 5/7/07 19:35, in article , "Alan"
wrote: In message , Sacha wrote Lots of cats are house cats and never, ever go outside. Dogs are either let out or taken out, I agree. Personally, I think it's cruel to keep cats cooped up in a house all the time, looking through the window at the wildlife! However, friends in e.g. USA have explained to me that their cats are house cats because of the number of predators that can harm them. Here - apart from man, there are only two dangers I can think of for cats, dogs and foxes. Foxes are not a problem for cats otherwise there would be no problem with the number of cats in my neighbourhood. There was a documentary on TV some years ago about the urban fox. It showed a few encounters between cats and the fox. They either avoided each other or the cat always won. Foxes will kill cats. I've had friends who have lost cats that way, e.g. out on a wild and untamed piece of hillside above their house. I'm not talking about urban foxes only - we have both cats and foxes in the countryside, too! I guess that most dogs kept as pets wouldn't know what to do with a cat if they actually caught one. ?! Cats are said by some to account for the loss of millions of songbirds in Britain every year. I find the remains of a bird (lots of feathers) in my urban garden about once a week. Possibly a sparrow hawk is using your garden as meals on wheels. That's a classic sign of their presence. snip -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk (remove weeds from address) |
Plague of snails.
Snip
Given that I now seem to have badgers undermining my garage and that of my neighbours, . . . Snip I suggest that if they have just started undermining, now would be a good time to disturb them - Contact your local council, they may be able to help. If you could get rid of them but do not, you'll never get rid of your garage and you'll live to regret the badgers' presence when they start digging up your garden and lawn in search of worms. Your neighbours will not be too pleased either. Badgers should be as far from human habitation and roads as possible. It does them no good in the long run to live close to us and cars will help to keep their numbers down - is that what you want? Geoff |
Plague of snails.
On 6/7/07 09:16, in article gum-uwief,
"Zhang DaWei" wrote: On Thursday 05 Jul 2007 23:20, Sacha ) wrote: Foxes will kill cats. I've had friends who have lost cats that way, e.g. out on a wild and untamed piece of hillside above their house. I'm not talking about urban foxes only - we have both cats and foxes in the countryside, too! At least one fox has, over the course of a few years, killed a number of almost feral cats that live in some wooded rough ground behind us. Given that I now seem to have badgers undermining my garage and that of my neighbours, I wonder how badgers get on with cats. Anyone happen to know? I don't think many cats will take on a badger if you ever get a close look at a badger's teeth and claws. They can bit a man's leg through to the bone. The presence of the badgers has meant I've had to put a complete halt to demolishing the garage (it is made of asbestos sheeting and really needs to come down, but I don't want to do it and harm the badgers in any way, and, in any case, it would be illegal, and, I think correctly illegal, to do so Problem is, once you've got them, you've got them. Some setts are hundreds of years old and I don't know if it's possible to get permission to move them on. -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk (remove weeds from address) |
Plague of snails.
"Zhang DaWei" wrote in message -uwief... ... The presence of the badgers has meant I've had to put a complete halt to demolishing the garage (it is made of asbestos sheeting and really needs to come down, but I don't want to do it and harm the badgers in any way, and, in any case, it would be illegal, and, I think correctly illegal, to do so Badger tastes good Mary |
Plague of snails.
On 6/7/07 09:58, in article ,
"Martin" wrote: On Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:20:30 +0100, Sacha wrote: On 5/7/07 19:35, in article , "Alan" wrote: In message , Sacha wrote Lots of cats are house cats and never, ever go outside. Dogs are either let out or taken out, I agree. Personally, I think it's cruel to keep cats cooped up in a house all the time, looking through the window at the wildlife! However, friends in e.g. USA have explained to me that their cats are house cats because of the number of predators that can harm them. Here - apart from man, there are only two dangers I can think of for cats, dogs and foxes. Foxes are not a problem for cats otherwise there would be no problem with the number of cats in my neighbourhood. There was a documentary on TV some years ago about the urban fox. It showed a few encounters between cats and the fox. They either avoided each other or the cat always won. Foxes will kill cats. I've had friends who have lost cats that way, e.g. out on a wild and untamed piece of hillside above their house. I'm not talking about urban foxes only - we have both cats and foxes in the countryside, too! A kitten we gave away was killed by a fox. Buzzards will also take small cats, dogs and kittens. -- Sacha http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk (remove weeds from address) |
Plague of snails.
"Dick Chambers" wrote in message ... I have lived in the same house in Leeds for the last 33 years. During the first 27 (approximately) of these years, I hardly ever saw a snail, although I did have a large number of slugs. During the last 6 (approx) years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of snails. On a wet evening after dark, if I go to post a letter in the local mail box, my feet inadvertently crunch a snail every tenth step, on average. I have just removed and killed about 50 of them from my bed of petunias, the bed being a mere 5 square metres in area. The snails are thick on the ground. It ihas reached the point where I would describe it as a plague. Last night I went to a neighbour's house, three doors away. When I returned home at 9.55 it had been raining and the pavement in front of her house and her neighbour's were heavily populated by snails and slugs. The pavement in front of the next house and ours were empty of them. Now that IS a strange phenomenon. Mary |
Plague of snails.
On Fri, 6 Jul 2007 10:09:24 +0100, "Mary Fisher"
wrote: Last night I went to a neighbour's house, three doors away. When I returned home at 9.55 it had been raining and the pavement in front of her house and her neighbour's were heavily populated by snails and slugs. The pavement in front of the next house and ours were empty of them. Now that IS a strange phenomenon. Mary We rarely get snails and slugs in our garden. We have no plants that they eat. Steve -- Steve Wolstenholme Neural Planner Software Ltd EasyNN-plus. The easy way to build neural networks. http://www.easynn.com |
Plague of snails.
"Zhang DaWei" wrote in message -uwief... On Friday 06 Jul 2007 09:47, Mary Fisher ) wrote: Badger tastes good I bet it's nothing like that black and white aniseed or liquorice rock you used to buy at the seaside. You're right. Mary |
Plague of snails.
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Plague of snails.
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