Hedgehogs

[rossthedog 76]

Any idea how to put hedgehogs off entering my tunnel traps

[Mr Muddy 141]

I’d also like to know the answer to that.

So far I’ve been lucky, but I do worry.

Water voles is another one.

[nod 285]

make the gap smaller

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

Ross; As Nod says, it needs small holes. I've personally watched hedgehogs vanish down seemingly stupid small holes. Two inches should stop them, while allowing much else. I wouldn't personally swear they couldn't manage three though.

 

They're deceptively small and lithe creatures, under all those spines.

[moley 115]

two inch mesh on your tunnel entrances will stop hedghogs, trouble is squirrels dont seem too keen to enter either, dont stop small bunnies , stoats, weasels or rats

[talpa 55]

I’d also like to know the answer to that.

So far I’ve been lucky, but I do worry.

Water voles is another one.

As already mentioned, reduce the access for Hedgehogs, but if you even think you have water voles you should not be setting killing traps and even live catch traps will see you in bother if you are found to catch one. Because of their decline many places are getting surveys to monitor numbers and correlating mink activity so your trapping activities may come under scrutiny.

Take care and work out how to tacle the issue appropriately

T

[moxy 617]

Because of their decline many places are getting surveys to monitor numbers and correlating mink activity

 

T

 

Still..!! I would have thought the GWCT had a handle on the situation by now??

 

If not they need to get their fingers out and start more doing rather than teaching..!!

[Mr Muddy 141]

 

I’d also like to know the answer to that.

So far I’ve been lucky, but I do worry.

Water voles is another one.

As already mentioned, reduce the access for Hedgehogs, but if you even think you have water voles you should not be setting killing traps and even live catch traps will see you in bother if you are found to catch one. Because of their decline many places are getting surveys to monitor numbers and correlating mink activity so your trapping activities may come under scrutiny.

Take care and work out how to tacle the issue appropriately

T

 

Thanks for the advice, always nice to hear from an expert.

 

I only said ‘I do worry’ not ‘I recklessly set traps near the f’ing things’ and yes I have read the Wildlife & Countryside Act.

 

The BPCA manual guidelines are, among other things: use live capture traps, check twice per day, etc, etc

Do not use spring traps within 5m of the water ways.

 

Thing is; on some parts of my patch water voles are ‘locally common’. I’ve seen them a good 10m from the water. I’ve also seen them the other side of a 4 foot wall from the river.

 

It might be the case that one of the old boys on here, who remembers when water voles were everywhere, might know a way to keep them out of tunnels. So well worth mentioning them along with the hedgehogs.

[talpa 55]

You seem to have your bases covered, without wishing to teach you to suck eggs - a detailed risk and env statement including what steps you take to mitigate wvole catches would give you extra back up in case you need to explain/justify things. I'd be wary of the 5m from waterways guideance, as you say you see them at 10m so survey with risk/env statement would mean you keep spring traps even further away - which means they would not be in the location of the rat activity in all likelihood.

I don't know of any way of keeping water voles out of traps I'm afraid but if I needed to do any rat control again in areas of wvole activity again I would look at the type of lure or bait(attractant) to attract rats as wvoles are pretty strict herbivores a meaty based bait would reduce miscatches as would traps that have seen a lot of Rat catches and have a good coating of smears/urine and droppings thereby making them more attractice to rats and putting off wvoles.( adding a thin panel of wood or ply to the base of cage traps helps them take on a good deal of 'rattiness ' and helps catch rates + greatly reducing neophobia.)

If its a pro paid job, I would speak to English Nature detail the rat problem and your r/env statement and get them to give guidance and get it in writing or email. Arses can never be over covered.