How To Discourage Wildlife

Coveredinbees!!!!

If you dislike nature so much why the heck live out in the country?

looby-loo_2

Coveredinbees!!!! wrote: »

I can't believe anyone can be this miserable, we love watching the bats in our garden. We sit out with the bats flapping around and they don't come that near. I can understand the hedge hogs and dog dilemma but the rest of it is just strange. It's called nature!!!!

My thoughts exactly - how sad.
Perhaps there are dog training classes near by where the dogs could learn to be under control so they would 'leave' the hedgehogs on command?

margaretclare

I live in the south-east - well, north bank of the Thames, as far east as it's possible to go without falling into the North Sea. I haven't seen a snake in this garden but I wouldn't mind if I did. Most of the creatures that have been mentioned in the posts on this thread are more scared of humans (with possibly good reason!) than any human can ever be scared of them. According to this: http://www.kentarg.org/species_identification.htm the snake which is most likely to be seen in gardens in the south-eastern corner of England is the grass snake which is harmless. What do people think about these creatures - native species of snakes, bats etc - what do people think they're going to do? The OP complains that the bats 'won't let' her enjoy her garden, as if the bats have somehow had a committee decision and declared war on her! Bats and all other wildlife do what is in their nature to do. They don't recognise that you have title-deeds and fences, that it's 'your' garden and you're 'entitled' to it - they have been there for generations, long before you. Many species, like foxes, have learned to co-exist with humans and even take advantage of humans' filthy habits in leaving food debris all over the place.

Usually when you see wild creatures at a time when you don't expect to it is because they are seeking food. At this time of year all animals will have young to feed and therefore will be very active for as many hours as possible.

We have 6 sparrow-homes on the back of the house. Sparrows like to live close to each other so there's a block of 3 flats and a terrace of 3. We've had endless enjoyment watching the baby sparrows stick their heads out of the holes looking to be fed, then a day or 2 later the babies leave the nest and the parents feed them among the flower-pots at the back.

Some people might complain about the lovely greenfinches that we have. DH is kept busy filling up the feeder for black sunflower seeds. We sit at table and watch them - greenfinch comes and sits there, cracks the black sunflower and spits the shell out on to the ground. I can imagine some people might say 'oh what a mess they make, I want to keep my garden tidy and enjoy it....' We love watching the greenfinches because they are beautiful and it gives us a good feeling to know that we're helping these creatures to survive. Wildlife needs food and habitat. I'd rather have wildlife than pet animals.

I'd like to ask the OP how she thinks that the bats have decided to prevent her 'enjoying' her garden? And how she can prevent the hedgehogs coming at times when she doesn't expect them - maybe put up notices in a language that the hedgehogs can read? Like those parking signs telling where and when you're allowed to park.

Margaret

Errata

Not to worry Margaret - the OP is complaining about the flies as well !

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Only way to get rid of flies is get one of those oxygen bubbles and live in that.

ixwood

Or let widlife eat what they can!!

susieb

Wow, what a thread.
The op would hate it here, we have wild rabbits (hundreds - strip all the plants) bats, deer, and snakes, both adders and grass, but its not often you see an adder, scary when you do though.

WestonDave

The "snakes" could also be slow-worms (legless lizards) which are also totally harmless - tend to be a golden beige colour with few markings. You'll only see one if you catch it enjoying the sun in a quiet corner.

As for the OP - no offence as clearly this is how you feel - I'd have all of them without a second thought (although my OH would probably draw the line at the bats).

We recently moved and have been pleasantly surprised at the amount of birds we've had in the garden - probably due to the fact that we are one row of houses from open fields and we don't seem to get many cats in the garden. We've definitely got sparrows nesting in the eaves (they don't do any damage or get into the main loft) and I think I've seen swifts on one occasion (need a warm evening when they'll be out catching insects to check that). Finally we've got at least one toad - dozy thing keeps popping up in the grass when I'm trying to cut it - my only complaint is it doesn't eat enough slugs!

Not wishing to put the OP off further but when I was a kid I was once woken by a strange snuffling noise outside window in my parents house. Looking out of the window it gradually became clear there were at least two hedgehogs sniffing out food or engaged in some other activity. If I could work out how to get some to take up residence I would - only been in the house 9 months so plenty of time yet!

Bats are a bit of a pain because of the restrictions on removing them but other than that I'd be quite happy to see them around the house. We used to see them in the evenings up in Snowdonia and they always fascinated me - plus they kept the biting insects down!

computerwoman

I found a 4 foot snake skin in the garden about 5 years ago when I took it to the vet's he told me it was from an adder and to keep the grass down....
at the moment this is not a problem as we are flooded as any wildlife that was in there has either gone and was doomed....
I just want a little less wildlife not gone altogether but just to keep the dog's off (which by the way where highly trainned police dog's now in retirement) and just so that I can enjoy the garden instead of being constantly on my guard, that's all not asking for much.............:D

computerwoman

thanks for all your answer's
and the link about wildlife.
toad's and frog's with newt's grass snake's and the occasion adder.
adder's used to be more common as you could hear them rattling there tall's but don't hear them as much now....thank's for all your relpies.cw:D