lynrees Posted March 20, 2013 Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 Hello, In a nutshell I have some Fenn Mk4's and suitable wooden tunnels and a means to restrict the entrance, so all good on that front. My aim is to trap rats which we have living in the garden, possibly not far from the house. However, we also have hedgehogs in the area which I don't want to kill. Research suggests that the hedgehogs can squeeze through a similar gap to a rat. Is this true? Is there a way of discouraging the hedgehogs? Would I be better off with another method of control which wouldn't harm the hedgehogs? I've considered live traps, but would then require a way to dispatch the critters. Poison is feasible, but I'd probably rather a method where I can track what's killed. Advice greatly appreciated. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 20, 2013 Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 We have found that by putting two short sticks crossed at each entrance you can keep out hedgehogs. Rats can squeeze through the very smallest gaps, hedgehogs are far too bulky to do that IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynrees Posted March 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 Thanks for the reply. Do you mean crossed, like an X? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aga man Posted March 20, 2013 Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 yes i agree with cranfield. sticks or bamboo canes are perfect for the job.the odd smal hedgehog might be un avoidable if you have a lot but generally you won,t have problems. i would avoid using poison near the house. de composing rats stink if they die in walls floors or even under decking. welcome to the forum btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynrees Posted March 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 Thanks guys. I'll stick to Fenn's then, and try to keep the entrance reasonably small. Any thoughts on the live traps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 or make some chubby boxes, the mk4 fits snuggly in the bottom, entrance hole in the top, box around 12" high (same for squirrels) hedgehogs tend not to climb, rats will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 2 inch weld mesh over the front rats stoats ect will go in hedgpigs wont. i dont like the dam things any how, hard to take out of a trap too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 or make some chubby boxes, the mk4 fits snuggly in the bottom, entrance hole in the top, box around 12" high (same for squirrels) hedgehogs tend not to climb, rats will Yeah, I thought that but my mate had one clime a vertical rendered wall to a height of around 7ft to reach a ledge over the door Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 i would go with a live catch trap and shooting the contents with an airrifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynrees Posted March 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 Thanks all. I'm seeing a mate this weekend who may have an air rifle to lend me. Back in the day my dad would have drowned them, but alas I'm told it's not allowed these days. I might still buy myself a live trap to try. Anyway, I caught my first rat today :-) He took a fancy to the peanut butter and the Fenn got the better of him. Caught him in the day whilst the family was out, which isn't surprising as they seem to have got cocky around here and are sometimes seen in the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBW Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 I used to run a shed load of traps as a trainee hill keeper, and no matter what I used to restrict the entrances a hedgy would usually get in, I used stones built up round tunnel mouth, weld mesh, solid box with a hole cut out the entrance, and the sticks across the entrance, in my experience they can fit into the same sort of space as rats, and if you don't want to catch them a live cage would be the best bet, I don't think the two sticks over the entrance is the best thing as it doesn't really restrict non target species and if your trap was in the open and you foul caught something, if it was still alive between your inspections the animal can drag the trap out of the box until the anchor stops it, leaving a dead/ half dead animal in a trap for all to see, this is just from my experience but hope it may be of help to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clark 1990 Posted November 3, 2021 Report Share Posted November 3, 2021 (edited) I have used friendly traps, however they require some skill to get an air rifle headshot, I have shot them too. However recently I have started using fenns. I made a simple tunnel box with two small holes. Nothing other than a grey or rat can enter. It's easy to check and is labelled traps inside as a warning with two bricks on top. Two traps are in the box either side adjacent to the hole. The box is long enough so that a cat or similar cannot paw the trap trigger at all Edited November 3, 2021 by Clark 1990 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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