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severnmiles

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Now I can sort the foxes but how can I deter badgers seeing as it is illegal to kill them?

I have lost 5 bales of haylage (winter costs got upto £20.00 a bale - although we made this) to fox and badger 5hit! The summer stuff was superb but this second cut is ruined, not only that the only way to get the smell off of my hands is bleach - not great for my skin. :mad:
 
I do know about badgers...

Badgers scent mark at latrines so if they are sh*tting on your hay on a regular basis then this means that it has been designated an official badger bathroom and they will use it continually (also have you noticed any trails of hay? They probably have been stealing small amounts as bedding for their cubs early in the year). They usually use latrines as territory boundaries so your barn many be the end of one groups area and the start of anothers which will will make it VERY difficult to get them to stop.

However, badgers only usually go to the toilet on flat ground, they are flat bodied animals and as such can't sh*t on high structures so are you sure its defo badgers??

Don't you have a guard dog? They uasually won't go anywhere near dogs.
 
Its actually when we make hay (last Oct was the second cut), then its baled and one little poop ruins the whole bale. I know its a toilet up there for them because in the top wood there's lots of little dug up holes (they dig and poop in a hole like a cat don't they). I don't mind them 5hitting up there but when I lose 5 weeks worth of feed I do mind :mad: Anything that may deter them? Bar chaining the wolfdogs up there :smirk:
 
It's gonna be really tough, badgers choose certain areas specfically as latrines and they have a lot of significance in badger culture, some latrines are quite historic and last over many years.

If it is particularly foul smelling it does suggest that it could be a territory boundary as males will scent mark around it, particularly in the main breeding season in spring and the smaller season in autumn. October would coincide with the upsurge in mating behaviour later in the year. In addition you have something they love - bedding. They won't need as much now as cubs are coming above ground but will still take a bit now and then.

The wee holes are where they dig for earthworms and insects.

I know people have tried dog urine and facaes. You could er, hold a cup under your hound next time he goes and leave it around the problem area but I don't know how well it works.

I know a badger expert guy, I'll ask him for you but I can't think of anything to deter them.
 
Ask around some of your old farming/keepering contacts see if they have any Renadine.

PM sent re alternatives.
 
As of 30 June 2005, the approval for the storage and use of Renardine 72-2 (MAFF 06769) was revoked. There is now no current UK approval for the sale, supply, advertisement, storage or use of Renardine 72-2.
 
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