Up to the apiary what did we see? One hive pictured with just tracks, next hive pictured obvious mutation of the doorway to the point of opening the slide!
Any thoughts apart from buy a camera alarm?
Any thoughts apart from buy a camera alarm?
Who's been chewing my house?
- Thread starter Drinkstone
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OP
Nice one and yes they are here...........shotgun not camera then
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Mink?
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The fox had a go at my hen coop a couple of weeks ago and the splinters on the ground look very similar to the debris he left behind trying to bite his way through the door at the back of the coop. (He didn't get in and with my rabble of hens he would have had a bloody nose if he had made any sort of hole that they could peck through). Probably got off lightly !!
Bee-Key-Pur
Field Bee
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Could be a rat...
Cazza
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Hi Drinkstone
I think Muntjac. - I have had similar.
"Vermin Fawlty vermin".
Cazza
I think Muntjac. - I have had similar.
"Vermin Fawlty vermin".
Cazza
drstitson
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"shotgun not camera then'
not unless you have a FAC and are specifically allowed to buy and use slugs since normally cartridges are a strict no-no for anything larger than rabbit.
not unless you have a FAC and are specifically allowed to buy and use slugs since normally cartridges are a strict no-no for anything larger than rabbit.
Cazza
Queen Bee
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Just noted "Normal for Norfolk" location.
I actually saw this (NFN) on a child's notes years ago. (Sorry, totally off topic.)
Cazza
susbees
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If Muntjac are supposed to go for the most juicy and tender shoots...then why would they try an entrance block? Why would they be interested in bees/brood? This was a focused attempt to get in.
Likewise foxes which tend to look for weakspots and cause generally not a lot of damage to structures. Can't see the footprint, other than human. Would help - and easily dispel deer.
Badgers do splinter wood in a focussed attempt to get into poultry and bees, although I only have direct experience of the former. Scary thing a hungry badger. Rats don't gnaw big splinters and mink squeeze through gaps.
Any badgers in the area? A young one might have had a go....an older one would have carried on ripping. Look for triangular hairs trapped in the timber or nearby hole in a fence probably with visible run - you can feel the shape by rolling between the fingers.
Just guessing of course...
Likewise foxes which tend to look for weakspots and cause generally not a lot of damage to structures. Can't see the footprint, other than human. Would help - and easily dispel deer.
Badgers do splinter wood in a focussed attempt to get into poultry and bees, although I only have direct experience of the former. Scary thing a hungry badger. Rats don't gnaw big splinters and mink squeeze through gaps.
Any badgers in the area? A young one might have had a go....an older one would have carried on ripping. Look for triangular hairs trapped in the timber or nearby hole in a fence probably with visible run - you can feel the shape by rolling between the fingers.
Just guessing of course...
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Midland Beek
Drone Bee
Badgers? But I have no sympathy for people that do not even fit mouseguards. The mice would have been in there the first frost.
OP
Like the way your thinking Susbees, I am still in favour of Muntjack as I know I have them in the garden and Cazza has had experience...of muntjack that is!
I am guessing the Muntjack can scent the honey maybe.
I am guessing the Muntjack can scent the honey maybe.
Cazza
Queen Bee
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I'm still saying deer. No badgers round here and I have seen the same splintering at the back of a hive. Deer seem to nibble anything when it snows.
C
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Looks like claw marks on porch roof, so my money is on badger. Anyway as already said, why wood muntjack go after hard dead wood
TOBY-3652
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Grey squirrel i think
keith pierce
Field Bee
Foots prints in the snow look too round ti be muntjak and there seems to be nail marks on the landing board.Acording to spring watch last night, badgers really dont come out in the cold when the ground is frozen and have no food sourse.
Luminos
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Coypu do that to wood here - not sure if you have them where you are.
Their back feet are webbed, so you could tell by the footprints.
Their back feet are webbed, so you could tell by the footprints.
