Wildlife August 2011

[johnw]

Anthony - Any idea who this big fellow might be, I noticed him slowly struggling to cross a path in the yard today. Luckily I had a camera in hand.

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

I'm pretty sure that's Dr D. Brash, one of our politicians. It's low enough and ugly enough. Step on him!

15cms of snow on the ground this morning and the outside temp is -4C. We had some more snow overnight and the noise of the wind in the gum trees is really scary. It's all supposed to go on until mid week.

[angie]

Dave I am glad I don't have anything like that pig in the Forrest behind me  I would never come out my front door.

Lesley keep cosy, and eat some nice comfort food, it helps 

Angie

[johnw]

I'm pretty sure that's Dr D. Brash, one of our politicians. It's low enough and ugly enough. Step on him!

15cms of snow on the ground this morning and the outside temp is -4C. We had some more snow overnight and the noise of the wind in the gum trees is really scary. It's all supposed to go on until mid week.

Do you mean the one with the red fur coat that Dave posted or the black thick-skinned one that I posted?

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

I meant yours John. I wouldn't insult any pig, wild or otherwise by comparing it to the other. It's only because he was born 70somthing years ago and not at the beginning of the 20th century, that he's not one of Adolf's henchmen. A b.....d of the first water and frightening with it.

[mark smyth]

Has anyone noticed high numbers of wasps this year?

[Brian Ellis]

Yes indeed, in fact we have a nest in the compost heap and David was stung about 5 minutes ago.  We have also had a nest in the loft for the third year running and our neighbour has them too!

[Paddy Tobin]

Lots of wasps this year but it will be remembered as the year of the ant - or maybe the year of the foxes: Last night they took Mary's crocs from the back door. I found one in the garden with two bites taken from it. This has happened before. Also, the night before last, one of them dug a large hole in one of the beds, exactly where Galanthus 'Godfrey Owen' was planted. I found bulbs and labels and replanted adding a mulch of leafmould. A hole was dug in the same place last night.

Any suggestions for getting rid of foxes? I do miss my dog who kept them at bay for so many years. Fortunately, our hens and ducks are well fenced in and have not been touched to date.

Shooting is out of the question - too close to neighbours and main road - but I would consider poison but don't know what to use. Any suggestions?

Paddy

[johnw]

Paddy -

Not Godfrey Owen! 

Try what they do here for raccoons getting into garbage cans.  Soak a rag in strong bleach and place it in an open container, place near the plant. The container will stop any bleach from dripping into the soil. It seems to break the habit of their visits to that site and works for at least a short time. It's now frowned upon here as it posed a risk to the refuse collectors.

johnw

[jomowi]

Has anyone noticed high numbers of wasps this year?

Yes, Mark - I have had 2 nests to get rid of.  (I know wasps are beneficial, but I am allergic to stings) Both nests in the ground. 1st was successfully destroyed by treating after sunset when all in bed. The second nest still active after several attempts with the powder, - I eventually put a shovel full of soil over the hole.  Thought this had fixed it until nearly 3 weeks later, when another large hole appeared alongside and nest v. active again.  Same treatment given plus a bucketful of soil this time.  Fingers crossed and still monitoring daily for further activity. 

[angie]

Maureen I would have never believed that wasps made nests in the ground until i saw yours. I watch bubble bees going into my drystone walls but never seen wasps making holes in the soil. Not really keen on wasps.
Hope you have killed them all now.

Angie

[arillady]

Angie we have wasps here that make holes in the ground. Kind of like a very round funnelshape but at ground level. We also have wasps that make mud nests on our beams and walls.

[arillady]

Paddy this morning on the way home from the school bus pickup point at 8am a fox ran across the road. Glad I have not let the chooks and ducks out yet. Rain all night so the river out the front is flowing nicely.
Anthony where do orb spiders go after they have spidered/manned their webs for months? Noticed one on one of our windows has left and also one that was somewhere else have gone.
Frogs jumping over the road on our way home last night and then noticed lots of croaks in our pond last night.

[angie]

Angie we have wasps here that make holes in the ground. Kind of like a very round funnelshape but at ground level. We also have wasps that make mud nests on our beams and walls.

Pat I had never seen this before. I did once have a wasps nest in my bird box.
I love listening to the frogs in the pond at night. Mine are all quiet this time of year.

Angie

[Lori S.]

Lots of wasps this year but it will be remembered as the year of the ant - or maybe the year of the foxes: Last night they took Mary's crocs from the back door. I found one in the garden with two bites taken from it. This has happened before. Also, the night before last, one of them dug a large hole in one of the beds, exactly where Galanthus 'Godfrey Owen' was planted. I found bulbs and labels and replanted adding a mulch of leafmould. A hole was dug in the same place last night.

Any suggestions for getting rid of foxes? I do miss my dog who kept them at bay for so many years. Fortunately, our hens and ducks are well fenced in and have not been touched to date.

Shooting is out of the question - too close to neighbours and main road - but I would consider poison but don't know what to use. Any suggestions?

Paddy

Wow, a death sentence for chewing a shoe and digging up a plant!?!  I hope you will reconsider!  I wouldn't be surprised if your dog did worse at times!  Sorry, but I can't stand to hear of such intolerance for wildlife!  
Further, kill off the few predators that can actually survive in our presence, and then you will be dealing with their prey - mice, voles, etc. - in your garden!