Wildlife in our gardens

~Chameleon~

I'm not sure but I've also had nowhere near the volume of ladybirds and butterflies in my garden this year that I'd expect to see. Two years ago I was over run with them, and if anything I've probably improved their habitat since then so don't have a clue where they've all gone

Davesnave

KAAT_LADY wrote: »

DAVESNAVE as you would have seen if you had read it I was talking about butterflies and moths not sawflies which are a bl----y nuisance.

I put the post as butterflies and moths are becoming scarce

If you follow the thread back, you will see that this part began with the identification of a moth caterpillar which attacks flowers in the mullein family. I think Lotus Eater then said he'd been squashing some caterpillars on his fruit bushes. I imagine these were sawfly larvae, as I don't know of a butterfly or moth specific to fruit like gooseberries.

To most people, the difference betweeen a sawfly and a butterfly or moth larva is academic; they'd recognise the adult but not the juvenile form. They might treat them differently if they did - I can't say.

However, to me, the question is simply, 'Can I leave this or not?' In the case of mullein moth the answer is 'No' and in the case of Solomon's Seal sawfly the answer is 'Yes.' It's no odds to me whether they're sawflies or moths. Sorry.

maypole

I always have a blackbird in my garden and see the babies being fed. This year, no sign, I have been out of the country for 6 weeks, there is a new resident cat in my street that makes itself at home in the garden. I chase it but I fear it might have got the blackbird. How can I deter the cat without being too cruel? people would not tolerate having dogs roaming in their gardens why do cats have a free reign? :mad:

singlehouseholder

maypole wrote: »

I always have a blackbird in my garden and see the babies being fed. This year, no sign, I have been out of the country for 6 weeks, there is a new resident cat in my street that makes itself at home in the garden. I chase it but I fear it might have got the blackbird. How can I deter the cat without being too cruel? people would not tolerate having dogs roaming in their gardens why do cats have a free reign? :mad:

Maypole I share your concerns, I have a small harmless woodmouse, Marvin, who likes to help himself to the scraps we put out for the birds, I have to chase up to 3 cats away each night. At first, the just dug up my seeds and destroyed my carefully prepared soil,which they crapped in. I tried smelly pellets/chilli/lemon/mothballs, then found if you get some really nasty prickly branches and lay those atop of your soil, they'll sharp get the picture. The poo/dig up my plant problem was solved. However, they started to lay in wait, of Marvin,and a pair of baby blackbirds ( one of which has vanished) who are no harm to anyone. I tried screaming at the cats, a pest controller friend even suggested Starfish, which I thought harsh, eventually I have resorted to a small airgun. My aim is such that the pop from the gun is enough to give the cat a shock and send it scarpering. I do not, repeat, do not shoot the cat, just the fence its perched on. It riles me that if I was to allow my dog to defecate on a grass verge and not pick it up I'd be the spawn of Satan, yet cats can go around killing babies (birds/small mammals) they can dig up my tenderly cared for seedlings and even sh*te in my plants, aurrghhh!! Rant over!! Get a small gun, get practising, good luck! Sorry if I've offended any cat owners, gimme your addy and I'll let my dog crap in your garden and kill your visiting wilfdlife, fair? Exactly my point!

~Chameleon~

I'd much rather you used a water pistol than an air gun to scare the cat away!!!! :rolleyes:

A few well-aimed squirts from a water pistol should be sufficient to deter any cats from returning. I even do it to my own to keep them off my veggie patches - only takes one squirt!

maypole

singlehouseholder wrote: »

Maypole I share your concerns, I have a small harmless woodmouse, Marvin, who likes to help himself to the scraps we put out for the birds, I have to chase up to 3 cats away each night. At first, the just dug up my seeds and destroyed my carefully prepared soil,which they crapped in. I tried smelly pellets/chilli/lemon/mothballs, then found if you get some really nasty prickly branches and lay those atop of your soil, they'll sharp get the picture. The poo/dig up my plant problem was solved. However, they started to lay in wait, of Marvin,and a pair of baby blackbirds ( one of which has vanished) who are no harm to anyone. I tried screaming at the cats, a pest controller friend even suggested Starfish, which I thought harsh, eventually I have resorted to a small airgun. My aim is such that the pop from the gun is enough to give the cat a shock and send it scarpering. I do not, repeat, do not shoot the cat, just the fence its perched on. It riles me that if I was to allow my dog to defecate on a grass verge and not pick it up I'd be the spawn of Satan, yet cats can go around killing babies (birds/small mammals) they can dig up my tenderly cared for seedlings and even sh*te in my plants, aurrghhh!! Rant over!! Get a small gun, get practising, good luck! Sorry if I've offended any cat owners, gimme your addy and I'll let my dog crap in your garden and kill your visiting wilfdlife, fair? Exactly my point!

Oh I like how you have named your woodmouse, we used to have some in ours, they are cute, I used to take vidoes of them.:o

I like to be as kind to animals as I can but it gets so annoying to have to chase the cat. Apparantly this owner doesn't even like the cat, they got it as a kitten so it is just young, why they got it I do not know:rolleyes: .

Don't have an air gun, might try the water pistol.

SKIPPY54

singlehouseholder wrote: »

Maypole I share your concerns, I have a small harmless woodmouse, Marvin, who likes to help himself to the scraps we put out for the birds, I have to chase up to 3 cats away each night. At first, the just dug up my seeds and destroyed my carefully prepared soil,which they crapped in. I tried smelly pellets/chilli/lemon/mothballs, then found if you get some really nasty prickly branches and lay those atop of your soil, they'll sharp get the picture. The poo/dig up my plant problem was solved. However, they started to lay in wait, of Marvin,and a pair of baby blackbirds ( one of which has vanished) who are no harm to anyone. I tried screaming at the cats, a pest controller friend even suggested Starfish, which I thought harsh, eventually I have resorted to a small airgun. My aim is such that the pop from the gun is enough to give the cat a shock and send it scarpering. I do not, repeat, do not shoot the cat, just the fence its perched on. It riles me that if I was to allow my dog to defecate on a grass verge and not pick it up I'd be the spawn of Satan, yet cats can go around killing babies (birds/small mammals) they can dig up my tenderly cared for seedlings and even sh*te in my plants, aurrghhh!! Rant over!! Get a small gun, get practising, good luck! Sorry if I've offended any cat owners, gimme your addy and I'll let my dog crap in your garden and kill your visiting wilfdlife, fair? Exactly my point!

If you shoot and the pellet goes over the fence you are commiting an offence,if the pellet richochet's into someone who is to blame?YOU ARE.
Cats have a right to roam by law, I hope you are prepared to foot the bill if you actually injure one.

klb_3

maypole wrote: »

I always have a blackbird in my garden and see the babies being fed. This year, no sign, I have been out of the country for 6 weeks, there is a new resident cat in my street that makes itself at home in the garden. I chase it but I fear it might have got the blackbird. How can I deter the cat without being too cruel? people would not tolerate having dogs roaming in their gardens why do cats have a free reign? :mad:

It wasn't the local cats that got our baby blackbirds, it was the magpies. Try as the adult blackbirds did to defend their young in their nest, the magpies didn't give in and got their prey.

Lotus-eater

SKIPPY54 wrote: »

If you shoot and the pellet goes over the fence you are commiting an offence,if the pellet richochet's into someone who is to blame?YOU ARE.
Cats have a right to roam by law, I hope you are prepared to foot the bill if you actually injure one.

I read the post you refer to yesterday, as that they didn't load the airgun. Now I realise they do, the poster must be a bit mad. If you hit a cat you will be in the local paper as a nut.

Also what they might not realise is that discharging a weapon in a public area (presuming they have next door neighbours) could land them in a bit of trouble and if they don't want to see the local firearms officers turn up one day in full kit, I would suggest they stick to a water pistol which doesn't look like a real gun

Lotus-eater

Whats this then?

http://s293.photobucket.com/albums/mm72/moneysaving/?action=view&current=Picture014.jpg

Found it chomping on my chokeberry.