We have had badgers on our allotment site for some years now. They dig holes, cause damage,eat our crops etc but we live with them. However, they have now decided to use my plot in 2 places as a communal latrine. Try as I might I cannot deter them. I've tried netting, bricks, wire mesh, jeys fluid, planted a prickly rose bush but still they keep coming back. It is getting disgusting.
I will need the ground for planting soon and
I'm getting desperate. Can anyone help with any more suggestions?
Beryl.
Badgers
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter
May I suggest LEAD! That is the only way to deter Badgers. Here they have gone under a crop of Barley and about one and a half acres will not be able to be harvested as it is a sloping site and too dangerous for the combine or tractors. This was previously set-aside land and I have already had a member of the RSPB question me why I have planted it up! He told me that I had no right to touch that land without consulting 'them' whoever 'them' are. My reply to him is not printable certainly not for your delicate ears!
Badgers hereabouts are totally out of control and a cull is long overdue.
JB.
Badgers hereabouts are totally out of control and a cull is long overdue.
JB.
Thanks Gilly - it is an idea. Moth balls would be quite smelly. Might be worth a try.
Johnboy, when you say 'lead' I presume you mean the shot gun variety. Not quite what I had in mind. I agree they are getting out of control but that is another story. I really want something to stop them fouling my soil.
Beryl.
Johnboy, when you say 'lead' I presume you mean the shot gun variety. Not quite what I had in mind. I agree they are getting out of control but that is another story. I really want something to stop them fouling my soil.
Beryl.
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Cider Boys
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Badgers have become a nuisance thanks to all the bunny huggers who can not accept that animals should be culled when their numbers grow too large.
There is good evidence that they can spread TB to cattle and in the West Country badgers numbers have increased to nuisance levels. It always surprises me that no-one cares a jot when motor vehicles injure and kill badger but if someone proposes a controlled cull the bunny huggers start jumping up and down in a raging protest.
I’m afraid under present legislation not much can be done, my allotments also suffer from the varmits and they seem to delight in scraping slots in my lawn to deposit their vile, evil, crafty crap, the dirty swine.
However they certainly are fine and attractive animals but you can have too much of a good thing, their numbers should be humanely controlled.
Barney
There is good evidence that they can spread TB to cattle and in the West Country badgers numbers have increased to nuisance levels. It always surprises me that no-one cares a jot when motor vehicles injure and kill badger but if someone proposes a controlled cull the bunny huggers start jumping up and down in a raging protest.
I’m afraid under present legislation not much can be done, my allotments also suffer from the varmits and they seem to delight in scraping slots in my lawn to deposit their vile, evil, crafty crap, the dirty swine.
However they certainly are fine and attractive animals but you can have too much of a good thing, their numbers should be humanely controlled.
Barney
Hi Gilly and Beryl,
Mothballs used to be made from Naphthalene and used to deter several things apart from Moths but today they are made from other ingredients which as usual do not have the same effect but twice the price.
For those who look upon Badgers as wonderful cuddly things I would thing again. They are exceedingly vicious and are an absolute menace in the countryside and when you consider that the protection order was made only to curry political favour as a vote catching exercise by a government trying to appear green when they are in truth are no such thing. I refer of course to the shooting and hunting brigade who have fought to keep fox hunting.
I am in favour of a properly organized humane cull of badgers and as you probably will have guessed that I am very very anti fox hunting.
I use the term lead but can assure you that I would never ever resort to such a practice.
JB.
Mothballs used to be made from Naphthalene and used to deter several things apart from Moths but today they are made from other ingredients which as usual do not have the same effect but twice the price.
For those who look upon Badgers as wonderful cuddly things I would thing again. They are exceedingly vicious and are an absolute menace in the countryside and when you consider that the protection order was made only to curry political favour as a vote catching exercise by a government trying to appear green when they are in truth are no such thing. I refer of course to the shooting and hunting brigade who have fought to keep fox hunting.
I am in favour of a properly organized humane cull of badgers and as you probably will have guessed that I am very very anti fox hunting.
I use the term lead but can assure you that I would never ever resort to such a practice.
JB.
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Primrose
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I wonder if they would be put off by the noise of human voices. I don't suppose this is a remotely practical idea, but if you could find a really old cheap transister radio, switch it on and wrap it in waterproof bag, perhaps the noise of human voices might make them wary of venturing onto your patch. Also, I don't know whetherlots of plastic carrier bags rustling in the wind, or other devices which make a noise might scare them off.
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Cider Boys
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Hello Primrose
The problem with most scaring devises is that the animals become conditioned to it and learn to ignore it. I would not expect a human voice transmitted on a radio to be recognised as human by a wild animal. Our voices contain many complex frequencies that are lost when reproduced by a radio, although we can still recognise the sound as a human I question whether an animal could. An electric fence is the only sure method I know.
Barney
The problem with most scaring devises is that the animals become conditioned to it and learn to ignore it. I would not expect a human voice transmitted on a radio to be recognised as human by a wild animal. Our voices contain many complex frequencies that are lost when reproduced by a radio, although we can still recognise the sound as a human I question whether an animal could. An electric fence is the only sure method I know.
Barney
[/quote]Primrose, The radio has been tried by a neighbouring garden with little effect.
I agree they are certainly NOT 'cuddly bunnies'. I came up against one early one morning while watering and was glad of the hose in my hand to ward him off. A very frightening experience.
They are wild animals and as such should be in the wild. I know we have encrouched on their habitat but to encourage them to where food is grown is plain daft. It is because of the Priddys Hard development in Gosport that we have them on our site.
I have to agree I think in the end culling will be the only option. In the meantime I want to grow my veggies, how can I stop them using my plot as a communal latrine?
A very exasperated Beryl.
I agree they are certainly NOT 'cuddly bunnies'. I came up against one early one morning while watering and was glad of the hose in my hand to ward him off. A very frightening experience.
They are wild animals and as such should be in the wild. I know we have encrouched on their habitat but to encourage them to where food is grown is plain daft. It is because of the Priddys Hard development in Gosport that we have them on our site.
I have to agree I think in the end culling will be the only option. In the meantime I want to grow my veggies, how can I stop them using my plot as a communal latrine?
A very exasperated Beryl.
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oldherbaceous
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Dear Beryl, most wild badgers would not go somewhere where they could smell the human scent, so i was wondering about an old well worn jumper, or even some hair from the barbers being left on your allotment.
But the trouble is, badgers like a lot of other wildlife are getting less scared of humans, and this is making for a lot of problems these days.
I must say, the badgers like many other people, must think your plot was the best one around.
But the trouble is, badgers like a lot of other wildlife are getting less scared of humans, and this is making for a lot of problems these days.
I must say, the badgers like many other people, must think your plot was the best one around.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
Wish it was as easy as that OH. Badgers although classed as 'wild animals' breed in such close propximity to humans now. They were encouraged with food trails to our our allotments from their set which was under a garage when space was needed to build the new roadway. We are also next to the playing fields so they are well and truly used to humans.
Don't where I would get human hair from but I could try the woolly jumper.
Beryl.
Don't where I would get human hair from but I could try the woolly jumper.
Beryl.
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Primrose
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Beryl - if you want human hair, why not try a few local hairdressers or barbers if you have some nearby? They may give you an odd look when you ask for their sweepings, but if you explain why you want it I'm sure they'll be happy to oblige. (But you will probably be known for ever after as The Badger Lady !) And if it doesn't work, at least the clippings will rot down in your soil.
Mmmm, yes it's an idea, thanks Primrose.
Beryl.
Beryl.