local wildlife (fur,feathers and beasties)

[Doug Tait]

I think Vole holes are generally recognised as being roughly the size of a golf ball, no larger than 1.5-2 inches across depending on the ground they are dug in. Can you see any tracks or runs on the grass in your paddock? In the rougher grass on the Moor here they stand out like little motorways.

 

I'd agree with Stubby about the holes in pics posted by lux, look like they belong to a Vole.

 

19 minutes ago, sandspider said:

Isn't that quite big for a vole? Rat? Have similar in our paddock, unless they're just big mouse holes.

 

[sandspider]

Yes, lots of tracks and runs in the grass, and lots of mice! Mind you, we might have voles too, we are near a stream and woodlands.

 

The ones i think are mouse holes are maybe 2/3 golf ball size? Table tennis ball size, maybe!

[Doug Tait]

May be vole or mouse, but I think rat holes are more obvious by the material they've dug out left lying at the entrance in a kind of fan shape.

[sandspider]

Done a bit of googling, and you seem to be right. Have seen the odd rat here, but not seen any bigger holes with the spray of material as you describe. Hopefully they're living elsewhere! Probably the stream...

[Doug Tait]

6 hours ago, sandspider said:

Yes, lots of tracks and runs in the grass, and lots of mice! Mind you, we might have voles too, we are near a stream and woodlands.

 

The ones i think are mouse holes are maybe 2/3 golf ball size? Table tennis ball size, maybe!

Have a close look around the hole. I might be wrong but I've a feeling that field voles habit is to nibble at things round the entrance which can form a little clearing, but mice don't like to hang about the entrance to their holes so they're overgrown and hidden.

 

I can usually tell if it's a rat hole by the old dog's reaction. He'll dig, bark and pull clumps of nettles with his mouth, but doesn't bother about mice or vole holes. The other dog will hunt those mice and vole motorways for hours but not interested in rats.

[Doug Tait]

Late night visitor enjoying peanuts, had a fox beside it briefly but I wasn't quick enough with the camera

 

 

[Doug Tait]

Was at the local dealer to collect a saw, when I got out the pickup this hedgehog wandered straight up to me in the car park looking a bit wobbly.

 

Had a little wound on its stomach near the back leg that I suspect was infected. Gave it a ride to the local rescue centre where it can recuperate. Bit embarrassed about its box, would've been far better in a husky one!

 

 

[gary112]

33 minutes ago, Doug Tait said:

Was at the local dealer to collect a saw, when I got out the pickup this hedgehog wandered straight up to me in the car park looking a bit wobbly.

 

Had a little wound on its stomach near the back leg that I suspect was infected. Gave it a ride to the local rescue centre where it can recuperate. Bit embarrassed about its box, would've been far better in a husky one!

 

 

Good on ya Doug,but,would have been better in a Husky box👍

[David Cropper]

1 hour ago, Doug Tait said:

Was at the local dealer to collect a saw, when I got out the pickup this hedgehog wandered straight up to me in the car park looking a bit wobbly.

 

Had a little wound on its stomach near the back leg that I suspect was infected. Gave it a ride to the local rescue centre where it can recuperate. Bit embarrassed about its box, would've been far better in a husky one!

 

 

Good man, Doug.

[Ben R]

On 22/04/2021 at 20:54, Commando said:

Found these under a drain cover, thinking cave spiders mentioned earlier in post....they look nasty!

Yes, it's a cave spider. Either Meta menardi (most common so likeliest) or possibly the near identical but rarely recorded M. bourneti. A bit saggy, but another telling feature of your photo is the distinctive teardrop-shaped egg sac which hangs eerily from the ceilings of their dwellings (like something from a horror movie such as 'Invasion Of The Body Snatchers' or 'Alien').

Despite the fearsome appearance, my impression of Meta is that it has a calm, laid back disposition. Whenever i've seen them they mostly remain very still - no unsettling scampering about like the house spiders (Tegenaria) that suddenly race across the carpet in country cottages. There are plenty of pictures of people with a Meta resting on their hand, arm etc which further suggests they don't bite readily. If that helps reassure any arachnophobes!