Wildlife Advice

[Kevin (Mr T)]

For a while now our dog has been staring through the gaps in our decking.

This morning I saw this little guy having a look around before going back under.

I thought it was a small squirrel, but it has a thin tail.

Rat or something else?

[Andy Banks]

More than likely a rat, we had loads under our decking. That's an unusual stance for a rat though, as you note, very squirrell like.

It's as if one puts up a sign saying free luxury accommodation as soon as the decking goes in. Our two cats seem to have "dealt" with the rats as we rarely see them anymore; I guess they have moved on. However, they do bring in a few mice now and again so the decking is still home to wildlife.

A rat will have a thin tail, almost looks scaley, hence rattail file, mouse is smoother, squirrel bushier unless of course it has a problem (some do). Unusual for a squirrel to "live" under the decking but it could just have been visiting or has stored food there. Also, looks less squat than a squirrel would when sat like that.

My money is on a rat doing a squirrel/meerkat impression...

[BenD]

id say its a rat but its in an unusual stance lol maybe its someones escaped pet?

[KugaWestie]

Mr Fawlty, it's no rat it's Hamster 

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

I can say that it not a glis glis because they have bushy tails and don't live in that part of the world. They are found only within a radius of Tring, or traditionally a triangle bounded by Beaconsfield, Aylesbury and High Wycombe. They are spreading outside that area now though. This one 'accidentally' stepped into an electronic rat trap in my shed.

[pistonbroke 2]

       Its a Gerbil .  I stood on one once. Cute little thing that we where minding for my Neice.

 

 

[Kit Car Electronics]

Nah, mate- it's one of these

[Andy Banks]

Hmm, possible, it is Essex after all.

[BigSkyBrad]

Entirely possible! Did you know there is an island on Loch Lomond that has wild wallabies?!

[pistonbroke]

Possibly one O these critters 

 

Giant Rat Invasion   

 

 

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

I'm not surprised the wallabies on the Loch Lomond island are wild! I'd be pretty cross too!  I's bl**** cold up there compared with Australia.

[DonPeffers]

1 hour ago, pistonbroke said:

Possibly one O these critters 

 

Giant Rat Invasion   

 

 

Good to know there's plenty food available after Brexit.

[Alan France]

Quick google shows Glis Glis is also called the edible dormouse. Living just a few miles from High Wycombe I’ll get the BBQ on.

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

10 hours ago, Route66 said:

Quick google shows Glis Glis is also called the edible dormouse. Living just a few miles from High Wycombe I’ll get the BBQ on.

I cannot vouch for the flavour but the local kites seem to like them when a dead one finds its way on to the garden wall! Astoundingly they can fly off with one - or a pigeon but a squirrel has to be eaten on the ground.

[pistonbroke]

We could be in for Ratnado 

You have been warned !