Your day's wildlife

[Red17]

Tried Peanut butter but didnt work.

We did catch a mouse a couple of months ago and released it at the bottom of the garden. I reckon its come back, which is why it recognises the trap.

At one point it was getting on the worktops by climbing up the boiler pipes, through the boiler then down the power cable. We stopped it getting on the counters but cant catch the little bugger.

 

[Red17]

Never mind about getting in, it is in! What kind of trap are you using, and what bait?

Got a couple of variations on humane traps as my wife is against killing it. We have had success with them before (possibly with the same mouse?)

Tried loads of baits, eg seeds, nuts, biscuits, fruit, flour, peanut butter and so on. If I leave a tiny amount by the trap it will take most things, it just knows not to go into the trap for the main bait.

 

[Poacher]

We empty the bird baths overnight when we remember, and refill with warmish water in the morning.
Ice had started to form on the deep bath when female Blackbird decided to have a bath. The first picture is when she got out. She then went in again, and once more.

Insanity seems to be contagious.
Male Blackbird must have been watching from the far end of the garden. Having seen her break the ice, he felt it was his turn.

I hope they both find somewhere safe and warm(?) to dry off before bedtime.

 

[Dave 123]

@Red17

Chocolate will do the trick.

 

[Gillstay]

Been trying to catch it for weeks but it seems to recognise the trap. It's sniffs around it but won't go in.

Try peanut butter and a raison in the trap.

 

[Gillstay]

You could also wash the trap then using latex gloves bait it and put it down. I never manage to catch rats if they smell my hands on the traps.

 

[Dave 123]

You could also wash the trap then using latex gloves bait it and put it down. I never manage to catch rats if they smell my hands on the traps.

I’ve heard this, but had a rat in a trap within minutes sometimes. On the other hand I’ve had it where the bait shrivels Because nothing happened!

 

[slowmotion]

At one point it was getting on the worktops by climbing up the boiler pipes, through the boiler then down the power cable. We stopped it getting on the counters but cant catch the little bugger.

View attachment 671247

We considered "humane" mousetraps and remote releasing a few years ago. After we found mouse shite in the crumb tray of the toaster, our attitude changed overnight. It was all out war. Forget some kind of eco-friendly poison. It doesn't work. However, the Rentokill Advanced mousetrap is very clever and has a wonderfully twitchy hair trigger mechanism. We had good luck with peanut butter but chocolate never worked.
Good luck.

 

[biggs682]

On the other hand I’ve had it where the bait shrivels Because nothing happened!

Use to get that on a Friday night many moons ago out on the town

 

[annedonnelly]

We did catch a mouse a couple of months ago and released it at the bottom of the garden. I reckon its come back, which is why it recognises the trap.

You need to take them further away than that. About a mile is recomended I think.

Years ago there was an article in our local Wildlife Trust's magazine about a youngster who lived on a farm somewhere in Northumberland who carried out tests using mice trapped in their farm house. He was marking them and taking them away and releasing them. There was at least one example where the mouse got back to the house (and into the trap again) quicker than the boy could get home.

 

[Dave 123]

Use to get that on a Friday night many moons ago out on the town

As I typed it I knew….

 

[biggs682]

You need to take them further away than that. About a mile is recomended I think.

Years ago there was an article in our local Wildlife Trust's magazine about a youngster who lived on a farm somewhere in Northumberland who carried out tests using mice trapped in their farm house. He was marking them and taking them away and releasing them. There was at least one example where the mouse got back to the house (and into the trap again) quicker than the boy could get home.

That doesn't surprise me at all

 

[Poacher]

Female Blackcap this morning, eating sunflower hearts in my garden.
Poor quality pic through a dirty window - I'll try to get a better photo if she becomes confident enough to visit frequently.

 

[geocycle]

@Poacher Interesting to see a Blackcap in winter. But I found this which suggests they might be using us as an overwinter ground https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/blackcap/migration/

 

[sheddy]

There is a heron on the bank. Honest.