What's living in our roof space?

[Penners]

Lindyboo

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[Lindyboo]

Thanks Penners. Any clues anyone? Had a look on line and saw some squirrel nests a bit like this. Oh dear.

 

[Penners]

Wow, that's quite a structure! Are you sure you haven't got a hermit living up there? :wink:

It's difficult to know what could have created that, but I certainly don't think it was a mouse. And if it was a rat I reckon you would (a) see droppings and (b) smell it. They really stink!

If you've tried to trap it without success, you may have to call in the council's pest controller (or a private ditto). If I were you I think I would be worried about those electric cables.

http://local.direct.gov.uk/LDGRedirect/index.jsp?LGSL=431

 

[JoceAndChris]

Rats. My experience with rats in the house was that they are absolutely brilliant at concealing their presence. I didn't know until it was too late!

 

[88v8]

I reckon squirrel.
So the point of entry must be fairly large.

Big metal snap trap with nut bait.

Ivor

PS they taste similar to rabbit; rather bony; one per person in a casserole.

 

[Penners]

Do you cook its nuts, too?*


* I'm assuming, of course, that it was carrying some when you caught it.

 

[tobydog]

I reckon squirrel.
So the point of entry must be fairly large.

Squirrels should be quite big by this time of year but unfortunately we do have a few that are still capabale of getting inside our big round squirrel proof bird feeders and the slots are pretty small. It's interesting to see how they contort themselves getting through the gaps but it's even more interesting to see how loony they go in the feeder trying to get out when I open the back door :twisted: .

Well, unless you have a breakout of raccoons from the local zoo, I too would guess squirrels. Don't see how it could be anythings else causing that much mess.

 

[Penners]

It's interesting to see how they contort themselves getting through the gaps but it's even more interesting to see how loony they go in the feeder trying to get out when I open the back door

We have regular acrobatic displays on our bird tables:-

 

[worms]

Penners' point about fastening the trap to something is a good one.

...and advice that I should have heeded...the b****r's gone off with my mouse trap! Absolutely no sign of the trap, but the mouse is still charging around unheeded, so at least it is not suffering!

 

[Keith Bowman]

Penners' point about fastening the trap to something is a good one.

...and advice that I should have heeded...the b****r's gone off with my mouse trap! Absolutely no sign of the trap, but the mouse is still charging around unheeded, so at least it is not suffering!

To assume that you have only one mouse is an example of the triumph of hope over experience!

 

[Lindyboo]

Have sent for International Rescue, aka a local bod who does pest control who will come tomorrow morning. We've only about four in the area and the first one I contacted didn't get back to me, so if this guy is no good then I'm already halfway through the available options. His website makes no mention of dealing with squirrels and he seemed a bit surprised when I told him of my suspicions, so it's fingers crossed that he'll know what's up there and know what to do about it. The blighter (the critter, that is) was thundering around overhead last night. If it's a mouse or a rat it must be a giant mutant - and knowing our luck it probably is.

Can you tell I'm fed up?

 

[Penners]

Lindyboo - do let us know what your Mutant Controller says it is!

 

[Lindyboo]

Pest-control man has been and reckons it could be a squirrel, but also thought it might be a stoat or weasel. This suddenly made sense as we often see them in the garden whereas we have never seen a squirrel and are a long way from any trees. Unfortunately the bod who came was, as I expected, much too bulky to get through the tiny hatch where the nest is, though was able to get up another hatch at the other side of the house where the roof space there has been disrupted.

He spotted a couple of gaps in the roof lead (intentional gaps, not breaches) where the critter might have got in which would make sense for the location of the nest and was going to his car to get some kit when he spotted a likely point of entry next to the front door which I had to agree would be just a nice size for a stoat or weasel to get in. There had been some disruption to insulation in that area indoors (kitchen) when the problem first started (this is a much longer story than I relate here).

Anyway, he suggested packing it with kitchen paper to see if it gets removed, followed by scuttling noises etc. He wants me to let him know and he’ll come back if necessary.

I never considered stoats/weasels because I assumed they would never live in a house, but online there’s quite a few mentions of this happening. We love to see the stoats in the garden but feel that’s where they belong and not in our roof.

Will report back later!

 

[Penners]

Stoats love toast!

Well... even if they don't they should.

 

[Keithj]

My daughter worked for a while for an upmarket pest-control company (does stately homes, posh hotels and the like). She had some fascinating tales to tell, mostly Top Secret for the obvious reasons. Some of the posh London hotels have to cope with seriously strange vermin - tropical spiders, snakes, all sorts - that stowed away in visitors' bags.

The "lads" told her that the worst possible infestation to have in this country (apart from crocodiles) is squirrels. Their remedy, which they aren't allowed to use in London W1, is a .410.