Fox or Badger

[bemused2]

I have found a hole behind the trees in my garden. it is approximately 1ft wide at the opening and 7-10" deep. It has been suggested that it may be a fox or badger that has caused it.
My concern is whether it is safe to ignore? or if i should try to get rid of them and if so , how? and whether they will damage the roots to my conifers causing them to fall? Any help or advice welcome

[Illyria54]

If it is Badgers, they are protected so you would have to get professional advice, it should be fine to leave it alone, we have 3 Badgers setts where I live, the only thing you need to be careful of if it is Badgers, is that as the sett gets larger the ground underfoot becomes unstable and you will need to fence it off. If you are concerned phone your local pest control and they can advise you more, I personally think it is more likely foxes, not quite such a problem.

[horsestache1]

Its probably just rabbit!

[Goodsoulette]

It doesnt sound big enough for a fox.

You could leave a can of cat food out in a tray at night and lure it out but be patient. You could put some sticky tape near the enterance to collect some fur so you can see what you are dealing with. Look for poo, you can call someone from the Badger trust out to come and have a look. I had one under my shed and he came and looked but said it wasnt living there so it wasnt a problem.

Bloody badgers! Mum's farm is shut down at the moment because of them. Dont get me wrong I am by no means prohunting but I dont think we will see to many foxes and deers around in years to come, as they are farming pests so they are dealing with them more excessively than they were before the hunting bans.

[Illyria54]

I am now laughing and am really embarrassed at my answer, it didn't enter my head it could be rabbits! lol.

[RATTER15]

its easy to find out what it is, if its rabbits you will see rabbit poo around near the entrance, failing that go to the entrance and pick up a handful of loose soils and examine it for hairs, if they are redy brown they are fox if they are white or black or even white and black they are badger!!

If they are badger, leave well alone!! the law will have you tucked up in a flash!!!

An arable farmer I know spent �4000 putting fencing around his field of wheat to stop the badgers rolling the wheat flat, he was reported to the police and heavily fined but the bit that made me laugh!! he had to install 5 badger gates in the fence to allow the free passage of badgers at a cost of �200!!

[bemused2]

thank you for your replies. It definitely isnt rabbits, its far too big, and there is no poo anywhere around. No point leaving cat food out as all the local cats are in and out of my garden. I will look for hairs tho, never thought of that. Its in an awkward place tho, tucked between the trees and a fence. My neighbour has a dog and they have heard strange noises like crying, or yelping, but its not their dog. Does anyone know if badgers make a noise? Thanks for letting me know how protected badgers are too.

[RATTER15]

Well a fox is a dog so it could be a young fox cub that is being heard yelping, badgers usually just grunt and snort!!