D-RATS! The garden has gone quiet!

OK there's a good reason why the garden has gone quiet, more on that shortly, but first, the last of the more happier videos.

Falling is always inevitable.... The grey squirrels still haven't quite mastered feeding from the lampshade

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51610349027/

A flock of house sparrows invade the feeders, and very likely the broods that have grown up in next doors eaves....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51612054280/

Now the bit I have been hoping not to see, but amazed its not happened sooner, the unwelcome visitors, rats, one, two, and very likely more. For the first time since the feeders first went up around four years ago, we've seen rat activity. As a result, all the feeders have been removed to reduce the plentiful food supply.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51610357317/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51612060920/

And now the post feeder removal videos.

Our regular house sparrows looking for the feeders that have had to be removed due to rat activity.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51611823989/

A grey squirrel looking for the feeders that have had to be removed due to rat activity.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/peak-rambler/51611391193/

Not what I wanted, but a necessary move. The cameras will continue to record and monitor the rodent activity, and feeder cam has been repositioned to monitor the ground activity at the base of the feeding station. I'm hoping we've nipped the situation in the bud, only time will tell.

  • Linda257 said:
    Fingers crossed Mike, all goes well...look forward to seeing your happy garden again soon.

    Thanks Linda.

    Getting some interesting Cyril activity, I think one has been doing some stretching exercises and managed to get past the lampshade!

    Trailcam repositioned to capture the event, hopefully.

  • Some interesting videos on the trailcams now the feeding station has been moved, and one which sends a shiver down my spine....

    A grey squirrel beginning to reach out to the feeder...
    https://flic.kr/p/2mHtSYr

    One final attempt to reach across, and just about there
    https://flic.kr/p/2mHYvKx

    After numerous attempts to reach across to the feeder, the squirrel finally makes it on.
    https://flic.kr/p/2mHYvpn

    This next one sends a shiver down my spine!
    A grey squirrel leaps from the right onto the feeding station!
    Precision leaping!
    The playhouse has been removed in the interests of squirrel safety.
    https://flic.kr/p/2mHTcEU

    This one was viewed from the other trailcam at the same time as the one above. Ignore the crow, which triggered the camera.
    A grey squirrel leaps from the old playhouse (right) onto the feeding station (left)
    https://flic.kr/p/2mHYwvq
  • How far apart were the playhouse and the feeder pole, Mike?
  • Unknown said:
    How far apart were the playhouse and the feeder pole, Mike?

    2.8mtrs!

    Hence why Cyril flung itself hard at the feeding station pole, and with brilliant accuracy.

    I bet the chest ached a bit afterwards, or, as the old saying goes, where there's no sense.....

    There has been a attempts from the camera on the tripod, but the tripod wobbles, so thankfully, that was as far as they got. However, the garden fence is just short of 4 mtrs away, and there is regular perching there looking over, but as yet, no attempts.

  • Not surprised at that distance, Mike. We had to move our feeder poles to about that distance from any possible launch site, and while the Squirrels still climb the poles in hopes that the plastic domes have disappeared, we have not seen any successful attempts to leap to the feeders since the last placing of the poles, although we still move them around occasionally to reduce the chance of disease build-up underneath. Our Squirrel population is still growing, but at a slower rate than before. The sparse nut and acorn crop this year may help to slow their population growth over the winter, too. They still compete with the Corvids and Wood Pigeons to glean the droppings from the feeders and together they seem to be doing a good job cleaning up--we have not yet seen rats in this garden, fingers crossed on that.
  • I will add, they are eyeing up a 4mtr leap!

    If they manage that, I'll give in, the garden is only 8 mtrs wide!