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Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
In article , Druss
writes Do you know if hedgehogs eat young toads - about 1" long? I have a couple of baby toads in the garden and I expect they might be in danger of being snapped-up too ? I don't know, I think they tend to go for slightly smaller, slower moving things, though if they really are going to eat slugs then I guess toads wouldn't be out of the question, couldn't really taste much worse could they ? Quite possibly they could. I believe they excrete a foul tasting liquid purely to deter predators. -- Kay Easton Edward's earthworm page: http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
Kay Easton wrote:
In article , Tom Warner writes "Tim" wrote in message news:oprrxvodruwxhha1@localhost... On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:50:09 +0100, Stephen Howard wrote: On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:54:17 +0200, Tim wrote: There are quite a few local cats. Maybe I can rig up a cat-proof tunnel or similar, but they're pretty ingenious animals. Any extra wildlife in my garden is welcome. Ta. Apparently all you need do is place a saucer over the bowl of cat food. It appears that this will flummox the average cat, but will not deter the hedgehog. Ha, I like it ! I'll give it a try with a little bit, I don't want to stop it eating it's natural food (unless it's toads :-) ). Tim. You could try dog food, my cats at least wouldn't touch the stuff, but hedgehogs are not so fussy. ISTR dog food is not good for hedgehogs. Not high enough meat content. There is a tinned hedgehog food available, but I can't remember where I saw it. Dog food plus biscuit, well soaked, is fine. Cat food plus dog biscuit is also fine; even small quantities of bread&milk is fine. As Pat Morris used to say, the thing to remember is that all of these are junk food by hedgehog standards. Don't put out vast quantities, just enough to encourage the hhogs to visit as they trundle about eating what they should. regards sarah -- Waist deep, neck deep We'll be drowning before too long We're neck deep in the Big Muddy And the damned fools keep yelling to push on |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:50:09 +0100, Stephen Howard
wrote: On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:54:17 +0200, Tim wrote: There are quite a few local cats. Maybe I can rig up a cat-proof tunnel or similar, but they're pretty ingenious animals. Any extra wildlife in my garden is welcome. Ta. Apparently all you need do is place a saucer over the bowl of cat food. It appears that this will flummox the average cat, but will not deter the hedgehog. Regards Hmm, this would not work with Phil Collins (our cat) he would kick the saucer off of the bowl, and probably kick the hedgehog too, maybe even eat it if he could get hold of it ............... he is a BIG hungry cat !! |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
Kay Easton wrote:
In article , Tom Warner writes "Tim" wrote in message news:oprrxvodruwxhha1@localhost... On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:50:09 +0100, Stephen Howard wrote: On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:54:17 +0200, Tim wrote: There are quite a few local cats. Maybe I can rig up a cat-proof tunnel or similar, but they're pretty ingenious animals. Any extra wildlife in my garden is welcome. Ta. Apparently all you need do is place a saucer over the bowl of cat food. It appears that this will flummox the average cat, but will not deter the hedgehog. Ha, I like it ! I'll give it a try with a little bit, I don't want to stop it eating it's natural food (unless it's toads :-) ). Tim. You could try dog food, my cats at least wouldn't touch the stuff, but hedgehogs are not so fussy. ISTR dog food is not good for hedgehogs. Not high enough meat content. There is a tinned hedgehog food available, but I can't remember where I saw it. Dog food plus biscuit, well soaked, is fine. Cat food plus dog biscuit is also fine; even small quantities of bread&milk is fine. As Pat Morris used to say, the thing to remember is that all of these are junk food by hedgehog standards. Don't put out vast quantities, just enough to encourage the hhogs to visit as they trundle about eating what they should. regards sarah -- Waist deep, neck deep We'll be drowning before too long We're neck deep in the Big Muddy And the damned fools keep yelling to push on |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:50:09 +0100, Stephen Howard
wrote: On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:54:17 +0200, Tim wrote: There are quite a few local cats. Maybe I can rig up a cat-proof tunnel or similar, but they're pretty ingenious animals. Any extra wildlife in my garden is welcome. Ta. Apparently all you need do is place a saucer over the bowl of cat food. It appears that this will flummox the average cat, but will not deter the hedgehog. Regards Hmm, this would not work with Phil Collins (our cat) he would kick the saucer off of the bowl, and probably kick the hedgehog too, maybe even eat it if he could get hold of it ............... he is a BIG hungry cat !! |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
Kay Easton wrote:
In article , Tom Warner writes "Tim" wrote in message news:oprrxvodruwxhha1@localhost... On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:50:09 +0100, Stephen Howard wrote: On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:54:17 +0200, Tim wrote: There are quite a few local cats. Maybe I can rig up a cat-proof tunnel or similar, but they're pretty ingenious animals. Any extra wildlife in my garden is welcome. Ta. Apparently all you need do is place a saucer over the bowl of cat food. It appears that this will flummox the average cat, but will not deter the hedgehog. Ha, I like it ! I'll give it a try with a little bit, I don't want to stop it eating it's natural food (unless it's toads :-) ). Tim. You could try dog food, my cats at least wouldn't touch the stuff, but hedgehogs are not so fussy. ISTR dog food is not good for hedgehogs. Not high enough meat content. There is a tinned hedgehog food available, but I can't remember where I saw it. Dog food plus biscuit, well soaked, is fine. Cat food plus dog biscuit is also fine; even small quantities of bread&milk is fine. As Pat Morris used to say, the thing to remember is that all of these are junk food by hedgehog standards. Don't put out vast quantities, just enough to encourage the hhogs to visit as they trundle about eating what they should. regards sarah -- Waist deep, neck deep We'll be drowning before too long We're neck deep in the Big Muddy And the damned fools keep yelling to push on |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:50:09 +0100, Stephen Howard
wrote: On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:54:17 +0200, Tim wrote: There are quite a few local cats. Maybe I can rig up a cat-proof tunnel or similar, but they're pretty ingenious animals. Any extra wildlife in my garden is welcome. Ta. Apparently all you need do is place a saucer over the bowl of cat food. It appears that this will flummox the average cat, but will not deter the hedgehog. Regards Hmm, this would not work with Phil Collins (our cat) he would kick the saucer off of the bowl, and probably kick the hedgehog too, maybe even eat it if he could get hold of it ............... he is a BIG hungry cat !! |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
Kay Easton wrote:
In article , Tom Warner writes "Tim" wrote in message news:oprrxvodruwxhha1@localhost... On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:50:09 +0100, Stephen Howard wrote: On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:54:17 +0200, Tim wrote: There are quite a few local cats. Maybe I can rig up a cat-proof tunnel or similar, but they're pretty ingenious animals. Any extra wildlife in my garden is welcome. Ta. Apparently all you need do is place a saucer over the bowl of cat food. It appears that this will flummox the average cat, but will not deter the hedgehog. Ha, I like it ! I'll give it a try with a little bit, I don't want to stop it eating it's natural food (unless it's toads :-) ). Tim. You could try dog food, my cats at least wouldn't touch the stuff, but hedgehogs are not so fussy. ISTR dog food is not good for hedgehogs. Not high enough meat content. There is a tinned hedgehog food available, but I can't remember where I saw it. Dog food plus biscuit, well soaked, is fine. Cat food plus dog biscuit is also fine; even small quantities of bread&milk is fine. As Pat Morris used to say, the thing to remember is that all of these are junk food by hedgehog standards. Don't put out vast quantities, just enough to encourage the hhogs to visit as they trundle about eating what they should. regards sarah -- Waist deep, neck deep We'll be drowning before too long We're neck deep in the Big Muddy And the damned fools keep yelling to push on |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:50:09 +0100, Stephen Howard
wrote: On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:54:17 +0200, Tim wrote: There are quite a few local cats. Maybe I can rig up a cat-proof tunnel or similar, but they're pretty ingenious animals. Any extra wildlife in my garden is welcome. Ta. Apparently all you need do is place a saucer over the bowl of cat food. It appears that this will flummox the average cat, but will not deter the hedgehog. Regards Hmm, this would not work with Phil Collins (our cat) he would kick the saucer off of the bowl, and probably kick the hedgehog too, maybe even eat it if he could get hold of it ............... he is a BIG hungry cat !! |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
The message
from Kay Easton contains these words: In article oprrxj7yavwxhha1@localhost, Tim timnothy.cohsalpleangmer@a pk.at writes I'm afraid I don't have a photo but can anyone confirm the likely identity of the layer of these droppings. They're jet black, about 4" long and around as thick as my little-finger (1.5cm), straight and tapering to a point at one end. Not obvious remains of seeds or insects in them that I could make out. They only seem to appear overnight. I'm assuming it's a hedgehog, am I right? A bit long, but otherwise sounds about right. 4 " droppings would be some giant of a hedgehog; I've never seen them do droppings larger than an inch! Sounds more like fox to me; especially if the tapered point turns up. Janet |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message ... The message from Kay Easton contains these words: In article oprrxj7yavwxhha1@localhost, Tim timnothy.cohsalpleangmer@a pk.at writes I'm afraid I don't have a photo but can anyone confirm the likely identity of the layer of these droppings. They're jet black, about 4" long and around as thick as my little-finger (1.5cm), straight and tapering to a point at one end. Not obvious remains of seeds or insects in them that I could make out. They only seem to appear overnight. I'm assuming it's a hedgehog, am I right? A bit long, but otherwise sounds about right. 4 " droppings would be some giant of a hedgehog; I've never seen them do droppings larger than an inch! Sounds more like fox to me; especially if the tapered point turns up. Janet Could it be a badger? IIRC the badgers that trashed our lawn last autumn left 4" droppings and dark. But I cannot remember much else about their deposits. Jay |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
On Tue, 8 Jul 2003 07:19:42 +0100, Jay wrote:
"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message ... The message from Kay Easton contains these words: In article oprrxj7yavwxhha1@localhost, Tim timnothy.cohsalpleangmer@a pk.at writes I'm afraid I don't have a photo but can anyone confirm the likely identity of the layer of these droppings. They're jet black, about 4" long and around as thick as my little-finger (1.5cm), straight and tapering to a point at one end. Not obvious remains of seeds or insects in them that I could make out. They only seem to appear overnight. I'm assuming it's a hedgehog, am I right? A bit long, but otherwise sounds about right. 4 " droppings would be some giant of a hedgehog; I've never seen them do droppings larger than an inch! Sounds more like fox to me; especially if the tapered point turns up. Janet Could it be a badger? IIRC the badgers that trashed our lawn last autumn left 4" droppings and dark. But I cannot remember much else about their deposits. Jay Definitely 4" maximum, but not much less normally, say aound 3" might be a better average. It's straight, not in a heap like I'd expect a fox to do (do they do it like that?). I'll check if the end points up next time I spot one. I'd have thought a fox would have made a much thicker stool than that though, wouldn't it? The droppings are fairly firm by the time I discover them. It could be a fox, though I've never seen or heard any anywhere near, but I'm told there are some around. I doubt it's a badger - it's mostly open farmland around with only light copses for cover, and there's been no damage or diging. (Maybe I'm lucky). Tim. |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
On Mon, 7 Jul 2003 18:20:46 +0100, sw wrote:
Kay Easton wrote: In article , Tom Warner writes "Tim" wrote in message news:oprrxvodruwxhha1@localhost... On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:50:09 +0100, Stephen Howard wrote: On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 12:54:17 +0200, Tim wrote: There are quite a few local cats. Maybe I can rig up a cat-proof tunnel or similar, but they're pretty ingenious animals. Any extra wildlife in my garden is welcome. Ta. Apparently all you need do is place a saucer over the bowl of cat food. It appears that this will flummox the average cat, but will not deter the hedgehog. Ha, I like it ! I'll give it a try with a little bit, I don't want to stop it eating it's natural food (unless it's toads :-) ). Tim. You could try dog food, my cats at least wouldn't touch the stuff, but hedgehogs are not so fussy. ISTR dog food is not good for hedgehogs. Not high enough meat content. There is a tinned hedgehog food available, but I can't remember where I saw it. Dog food plus biscuit, well soaked, is fine. Cat food plus dog biscuit is also fine; even small quantities of bread&milk is fine. As Pat Morris used to say, the thing to remember is that all of these are junk food by hedgehog standards. Don't put out vast quantities, just enough to encourage the hhogs to visit as they trundle about eating what they should. regards sarah Right, I only want to keep it interested, and pay the occasional visit. I don't want to turn it into a junk-food junkie, or be dependent on me for food. If it's full of cat food it's not going to be eating any nasties in my garden either. Tim. |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
On Mon, 7 Jul 2003 20:08:17 +0100, Janet Baraclough
wrote: The message from Kay Easton contains these words: In article oprrxj7yavwxhha1@localhost, Tim timnothy.cohsalpleangmer@a pk.at writes I'm afraid I don't have a photo but can anyone confirm the likely identity of the layer of these droppings. They're jet black, about 4" long and around as thick as my little-finger (1.5cm), straight and tapering to a point at one end. Not obvious remains of seeds or insects in them that I could make out. They only seem to appear overnight. I'm assuming it's a hedgehog, am I right? A bit long, but otherwise sounds about right. 4 " droppings would be some giant of a hedgehog; I've never seen them do droppings larger than an inch! Sounds more like fox to me; especially if the tapered point turns up. Janet Ah .... but on the other hand could it be the return of "Spiny Norman", the giant hedgehog that was known to track the gangster Dinsdale Piranha?? http://www.ironworks.com/comedy/python/piranha.htm Geoff |
Animal dropping identification - hedgehog?
On Mon, 7 Jul 2003 20:08:17 +0100, Janet Baraclough
wrote: The message from Kay Easton contains these words: In article oprrxj7yavwxhha1@localhost, Tim timnothy.cohsalpleangmer@a pk.at writes I'm afraid I don't have a photo but can anyone confirm the likely identity of the layer of these droppings. They're jet black, about 4" long and around as thick as my little-finger (1.5cm), straight and tapering to a point at one end. Not obvious remains of seeds or insects in them that I could make out. They only seem to appear overnight. I'm assuming it's a hedgehog, am I right? A bit long, but otherwise sounds about right. 4 " droppings would be some giant of a hedgehog; I've never seen them do droppings larger than an inch! Sounds more like fox to me; especially if the tapered point turns up. Janet Ah .... but on the other hand could it be the return of "Spiny Norman", the giant hedgehog that was known to track the gangster Dinsdale Piranha?? http://www.ironworks.com/comedy/python/piranha.htm Geoff |
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