Badgers

[Beryl]

Thanks Sarah for the offer. I will think about it. My only concern is would hair blow away. Our site is very windy.

Beryl.

[Sarah]

I was thinking old tights stuffed with it and pushed into the soil at intervals might work. I'm sure any hairdresser would be happy to help. I'm not sure if dog hair would do the same job, but might be less embarrassing to collect!

[Beryl]

I tried the old jumper weighted down with bricks last night and they just tossed it aside and dug and performed as usual.
I don't really think hair is going to be much different.
I think they are just too used to humans to bother.

It's the powers that be that need to re-think where they entice these animals to. I'm all for sharing but this is getting riduclous. I may have to give up and not use the area.

Thanks for all you suggestions.

Beryl.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Beryl, sorry the idea didn't work, i did say wildlife is getting less scared of humans and i think this proves the point.

I really can't think of any other ideas, apart from putting a single strand of electric fence round your allotment run from a battery.

Is it just your allotment, or are they using other peoples?

[Beryl]

I think I would have to make enquiries at the Council for the electric wire OH. Not sure if they would agree and fencing off my plot would not be very pratical as the other plotholders use the pathways.

As far as I can tell it is just my plot they have decided they like. It has also been suggested to me to lay food trails leading away from my plot but that means night patrols and for intellegant animals I think they could easily give me the run-a-round for quite sometime don't you.

Thanks for your kind thoughts. At least it does me good to have a good moan.

Beryl.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Beryl, i googeled (Badger damage) this morning and it came up with a few interesting things, might be worth you having a look if you have not already done so.

One of the sites reckons the fouling can stop after a couple of weeks.
Also you might be able to push the council on health an safety grounds, since the ground is used for veg growing, just a thought.

[Beryl]

Definitley doesn't stop after 2 weeks OH. A few months kip and they have come back to the same place as last year. I had the same problem then, hoping once they hibernated that would be the end of it.

H & S might be worth looking into, except it was the council that agreed to them coming in the first place. They had the artificial set built at great expense so I can't see them being very co-operative.

I will give it some thought - thanks.

Beryl.

[Beryl]

I did a bit of research as you suggested OH, Came across the DEFRA website and their Badger leaflet advice to householders. Not much I didn't know except that they dig the dung holes to mark their territory. They couldn't offer any advice except to dig out the holes and move them elsewhere which is what I have been doing. Dung holes are not considered as causing any damage in any way.

I think I'm on a losing battle with this one. Maybe I will just have to let them get on with it and work round them.

Thanks again.
Beryl.

[newbie]

Hi Beryl
Some years ago we had a simialr problem in our garden, Although I can not in any way condone or advocate it - we had a night visit from some dodgy men in a van with dogs. We heard the comotion as the dogs were let run in the neighbouring field where the set was and rang the police (who turned up 2 days later )The following day there was evidence of a disturbance near the set but no sign of any badgers - we never saw them again...I doubt the dogs had the whole family, I'm sure they just moved on....

[Beryl]

That sounds like 'Badger Baiting' to me Newbie which as you probably know is illegal.

Dogs are allowed on the allotment but only if kept on a lead.

Beryl.

[newbie]

I know Beryl - and I deplore any animal curelty like that. It was very frustrating that the Police took so little notice - I was just recounting a sad story, I didnt mean to imply it was a method for getting rid of the bagers

[alan refail]

I was involved in some "deterrent" discussion last year about foxes. Click HERE.

I have no idea whether it would work with badgers, but it may be worth a thought and a try. I know whose pee I'd rather have round my garden

[Beryl]

Already been tried Alan but thanks for the thought.

Beryl.