Comments for Tales from the Wood - The Diary of a Badger Watching Man

Comment on Tortoise Safari – A Holiday Diversion by Allan MAr

Allan MAr — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:53:04 +0000

I wouldn’t worry too much, Turkey’s got loads of wild places once you get away from the coastal resorts. I’m in Ankara (working) and saw a tortoise today on a hillside next to a reservoir there. You can’t get much further from the coast than that! Fortunately the locals think it’s bad luck to harm them, so I guess they’ll survive for a goodly while yet.

Comment on New Chickens by Badger Watching Man

Badger Watching Man — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:57:16 +0000

Hi Ariadnesdaughter

I have to agree with you. Our new chickens are particularly handsome. If you see them close up, there is a lovely green sheen to their dark feathers.

I find them fascinating birds. They have have personality and character. When I’m working in the vegetable garden I often just sit and watch them as they scratch and peck and go about their chickeny business. I think everyone should keep chickens if they have the space – they’re not much trouble and the eggs are worth it.

All the best

BWM

Comment on New Chickens by ariadnesdaughter

ariadnesdaughter — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:49:39 +0000

My daughter was just telling me this morning that she wants to raise some chicks. They are hatching some in school. I think chickens are beautiful! (that sounds kind of silly) and have always wanted to have some here.

Comment on How to Recognise a Badger Sett by Badger Watching Man

Badger Watching Man — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:49:43 +0000

Hi Mogsie, and thanks for writing in

It sounds like an interesting house and an interesting garden! Badgers tend to prefer dry spots, but I’ve heard of enough setts in odd places not to be surprised by anything.

You know the holes are active, which is a great start. Have you seen any other badger signs? Big spoil heaps, paths and latrine sites are the obvious ones. I would suggest the next steps are to record what’s coming in and out. The modern, hi-tech way is with a trailcam, which gives you definite (but expensive) results. The other, simpler way is with a track trap. Since I don’t possess a trailcam this is the method I prefer. Besides, simple is good. Smooth a patch of loose earth outside the holes. If necessary, spread a little sand or fine earth. Next day, have a look at the tracks there. There’s only a few animals that tend to live in holes, so it should be easy to identify the tracks after a quick browse on the internet.

It isn’t foolproof – rain can spoil tracks, or the hole may not be used every night. But it’s easy to do and pretty definite.

Hope this helps – let me know how you get on.

All the best

BWM

Comment on How to Recognise a Badger Sett by mogsie

mogsie — Thu, 03 May 2012 00:26:09 +0000

i have just bought a house with a large overgrown garden which borders a river,
i am clearing out the garden and have found a group of holes in the far corner of the garden beside the river. they look too big to be rabbit or fox holes. the previous owner has dumped a load of twigs, branches and grass cuttings there which i am clearing out. i am worried that i might be disturbing whatever is living there. tried the stick over hole test and definitely something there. since the house is not currently habitable i am not going to be there at sunset to try and identify what is there. anyone give me any suggestions or advice?

Comment on Fieldnotes: 21st April 2012 – First Cub of the Year by Badger Watching Man

Badger Watching Man — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:28:06 +0000

Hey John – good to hear from you. I missed you.

I’ll pop over to your new place soon.

All the best

BWM

Comment on Fieldnotes: 21st April 2012 – First Cub of the Year by john wooldridge

john wooldridge — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:34:33 +0000

Hi, tis I murphyfish the long lost blogger. I’ve started to write once more and would love to have you along for the ride me dear, find me here at ;-

http://gairdh.blogspot.co.uk.

tis not what you may expect from me but I’m getting there.

John

Comment on How to Recognise a Badger Sett by derek sloat

derek sloat — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:37:36 +0000

Good news maisey the jack russel came home at 3.15 am she must have released herself and ran home in the dark the hole was about amile from our house im so happy. Bye

Comment on How to Recognise a Badger Sett by derek sloat

derek sloat — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:58:37 +0000

Do rabbits use vacant badger holes, our jack russel dog went down a hole, she has got herself stuck, i tried digging near the entrance, where i notest the holes getting alot bigger so i stopped digging, the rspca wont do anything before the first 48 hours. Because they think it might be a active set, ther was no signs of activity when i started digging of course it shore looks like badgers have bean clearing the enterance now. Any help would be great we just want our dog back it was 3-4 pm yesterday that she got stuck thanks
Mr & mrs sloat from sidley east sussex.

Comment on Fieldnotes: 10th May 2009 – More fox cubs by Steve

Steve — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:13:16 +0000

Excellent footage! This video proves that the ‘tell tale signs’ of a fox den are not always present i.e no vast quantities of bones outside the den, no items outside that have been brought back for the cubs to play with!
You were either very close BWM or your camera has great zoom! I’m hoping to get similar footage this year of our cubs, can’t be long now until I see the family hunting together!