mr lee Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Been up at the farm again today repairing the quad and getting a few fences repaired prior to lambing this coming weekend. Took my daughter up with me to see the other lambs that have already arrived. Got the quad fixed and took it out for a steady spin round the permission and noticed this large hole in a steep wooded banking. This is at the bottom end of our permission and over the river. Now we have seen 2 foxes recently on this land and both down this end. One walking across the footbridge and one about 1/4 mile up the field. The farmer has mentioned they used to have badgers down this end of the farm but haven't seen any in a while. As we start lambing next week we are really keen to nail these two charlies. I ventured up the banking to inspect this hole and noticed fresh soil movement in the entrance. The hole was roughly 2' across and about 18" high. The tunnel in was also quite wide. About 3 feet lower down was a second hole slightly smaller but leading into this same tunnel. I'm wondering if it might be a good call to hide down this end next weekend ready for a fox to show it's head. The hole is definately in use and rarely does anybody pass by this area either. Just wondered if you guys think it would be too large/small for either a fox or badger. Thoughts? Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Can you smell charlie? Are there any poo pits nearby or bedding material? FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean k Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Get a trail camera set on the hole, this is where they come into their own!! Or a slighly primative idea of putting some tape on the roots hanging in the hole so that it gets some hair as the animal passes, not used it myself but have heard people that have in this situation?? Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted March 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Can you smell charlie? Are there any poo pits nearby or bedding material? FM Couldn't say as I could smell anything noticable. It does however look like some form of bedding has been dragged down it. Poo? Tis a busy farm. there is **** everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted March 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Get a trail camera set on the hole, this is where they come into their own!! Or a slighly primative idea of putting some tape on the roots hanging in the hole so that it gets some hair as the animal passes, not used it myself but have heard people that have in this situation?? Dean The tape idea may be a good call actually. Trail cameras aren't an option. Not in my budget anyway. Taken me ages to get the farmer to come round to meeting me halfway on a digital caller. The good part about the location of this hole is the river banking drops away quite a bit about 30 yards away max so would be a perfect place to set up and wait to see who is home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjk88 Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 If it were badgers, then wouldn't there be more holes nearby?? sjk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted March 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 If it were badgers, then wouldn't there be more holes nearby?? sjk Not sure. The more I think about it now as well, there was a very busy rabbits hill just 50 yards away which was a guaranteed 20+ bunnies take away per shoot. This is now zero results in it. No activity at all in them. I'm pretty sure a fox could wipe out more rabbits in a week than we could in a weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatingisbest Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Id say thats a badger due to how wide it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason1888 Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 could be either as badger is a very clean animal which every couple of weeks will kick out its bedding of leaves ans straw and things and change it now as its the spring foxes will be staring to drop cubs and vixens will be taking down bedding for them so its anyones guess at this time if it was a couple of months befor or after then you could tell but not now as the both have the same habits at this time so keep an eye out for quarry going in to it if it is on a steep banking i would say badger so if your going to be ambushing them as they come out of there hole make sure your are 50yrds i think is away from there hole as it iillegal to any closer but if it is badger stay well clear mate. only thing to do would be sit at dawn and dusk and watch the hole foe any activity good luck Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted March 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 could be either as badger is a very clean animal which every couple of weeks will kick out its bedding of leaves ans straw and things and change it now as its the spring foxes will be staring to drop cubs and vixens will be taking down bedding for them so its anyones guess at this time if it was a couple of months befor or after then you could tell but not now as the both have the same habits at this time so keep an eye out for quarry going in to it if it is on a steep banking i would say badger so if your going to be ambushing them as they come out of there hole make sure your are 50yrds i think is away from there hole as it iillegal to any closer but if it is badger stay well clear mate. only thing to do would be sit at dawn and dusk and watch the hole foe any activity good luck Jason Think that and the tape idea may be the only way to find out what lives down there at present. Cheers guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunk Posted March 21, 2008 Report Share Posted March 21, 2008 Oval looking hole, i`d say a badger. Fox holes are generally more round in appearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 My money is on a badger ! as i belive they drag there bedding out every so often and it looks like straw on floor of the holes opening ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted March 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 Damn. Hoped we had found where our foxes lived. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleabag Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 www.badgerland.co.uk/animals/evidence Might shed some light on subject Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 Seen fox holes and badger holes that shape, fox holes are unbearably smelly, badgers not so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted March 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 www.badgerland.co.uk/animals/evidence Might shed some light on subject Interesting site that fleabag. Cheers mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustyfox Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 id say its a fox earth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 id say its a fox earth. Based on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 Been up at the farm again today repairing the quad and getting a few fences repaired prior to lambing this coming weekend. Took my daughter up with me to see the other lambs that have already arrived. Got the quad fixed and took it out for a steady spin round the permission and noticed this large hole in a steep wooded banking. This is at the bottom end of our permission and over the river. Now we have seen 2 foxes recently on this land and both down this end. One walking across the footbridge and one about 1/4 mile up the field. The farmer has mentioned they used to have badgers down this end of the farm but haven't seen any in a while. As we start lambing next week we are really keen to nail these two charlies. I ventured up the banking to inspect this hole and noticed fresh soil movement in the entrance. The hole was roughly 2' across and about 18" high. The tunnel in was also quite wide. About 3 feet lower down was a second hole slightly smaller but leading into this same tunnel. I'm wondering if it might be a good call to hide down this end next weekend ready for a fox to show it's head. The hole is definately in use and rarely does anybody pass by this area either. Just wondered if you guys think it would be too large/small for either a fox or badger. Thoughts? Cheers. To the left of the hole there is a smooth path leading up and over the brow right next to the tree!A classic sign that badgers are using the set as they shuffle close to the ground often between a group of holes,also the fact there is no smell coming from the hole suggests badger and not fox.If it was fox it would be stinking.Have a look around the area and see if you can find little holows like rabbit scrattings with dung in them, as this is what a badger calls a toilet. So my moneys on badger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarka Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 id go with it being a pig. If there arent any other holes about it could well just be an old boar thats been pushed out of its other sett. Iv seen boar badgers living in nothing more than a hollowed out base of a tree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catroofel Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 i'd look at the roots anyway there will normally be some flik caught on there it will give an idea. i'dv said brock as well though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulkyuk Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 (edited) a vixen will use an old bager set to drop here cubs ( even though it may not be her normal den) and with it being so close to water may also suggest fox ( they always drops cubs close to water). only way your gonna be sure is to stake it out for a couple of days. Edited March 22, 2008 by tulkyuk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 Badger, definitely, fox holes are not that conspicuous or in the open like this at this time of the year when vixen are getting ready to pup down. Most of the badger holes around here have pulled out the bedding during this week, spring cleaning maybe? There will be some footprints in the loose soil at the entrance where they have cleaned out the hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 ITS A BROCK SET!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep away if you want to stay out of trouble LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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