Getting to know you... things that flutter and things that look like swe...

Mint humbug ?

Badger ?

yup exciting isnt it! makes me really feel like I'm in the country side (or a sweet shop)

Blimey Sarah, don't wish too hard for it to be in your garden, have you heard the trouble Spritzhenry's having with them, ruining her beautiful gardens ?

Listen to your Mum lol !

You can tell it's Friday night, brain cells too slow to make mint humbug into badger ! I must go for a caffeine fix NOW . . . . .

LOL Megan !
Good description though Sarah :-)))

Oh Sarah - this could turn into a nightmare! Please take note of the HAVOC that badgers cause in gardens - they root around in the lawn and make it look like a ploughed field, they eat bulbs, and in doing so, uproot plants. I have tried everything to keep them out - yes, of course you were thrilled to see a real live badger - I can understand that, but whatever you do, don't encourage it.

Listen to Auntie Spritz as well as your Mum! :-))

"Mint Humbug" new to me but I like it. Do you get any 'Glacier mints'?

LOL Heron !!!

"Mint Humbug" I thought what's she on about then the penny droped lol! Nice to see :0) but I'm with Sprits on this one you don't want him in your garden.:0(

~Hi Sarah ~ we have them in the wood at the end of the street as well as foxes~ that's the best place for them!

So glad someone twigged about the mint humbug.I hadn't a clue either,so thought I wouldn't comment first,......(coward)....So glad to hear what it was :o))

Oh dear - apologies all about mint humbug, that's just what he looked like. I hope I never get a glacier mint in my garden ! A Canadian friend once had a grizzly in the cellar and the idea terrifies me!

I am so sorry to hear of your troubles SH, I love my new garden and would hate to see all the bulbs go under his nose, so I am determined this morning to take up the bridge again. The sides are steep and it is a good four foot deep. So that way I can leave some dog food on the other side (where there are no gardens) and hope that he comes back close enough to smile at !

I hope that's all, Sarah - quite close enough! If he likes the idea of 'goodies' to be found in your garden, you will be as upset as I've been. I was distraught one morning when so many plants had been uprooted and/or broken, and he/they started on different bulbs, having gobbled ALL my tulips!

Chaos, utter chaos! :-((((

Yes, Sarah, do listen to Spritz as Badgers are our worst nightmare once
they set foot in your haven. My Brother has Badgers, they dug tunnels
through his Garden, and even lifted all the soil spoiling everything he had planted. He has had to have Concrete laid, all he has now is a Container
Garden!!!

These animals are a protected Species, so once you have them, its
very hard work to make them leave.
I think, Spritz has the right idea, I do hate to admit though......Here comes
those two words I hate to say, sends shivers down my spine.

ELECTRIC FENCE!!

I do love all Wildlife, if only there was another way?

no wory bout lectrk fence-if off,it no harm - if on, hten set hte voltage low-wiht small curent,most animal get tingal,nothin more- it just make them thinkin, oh, htat weer not nice - enuff to send them away - try to think, you are no tryin to stop a cow :)

~the greens on the local golf course are set with low electric fences to keep horses and cattle off~ Harv my boxer and Dex my daughters Mastiff got caught on one by accident and gave a little yelp~they were unhurt because I think they are very low voltage like a small sting~

Yes, they are very low voltage or they'd be lethal, the idea's to scare away - not fry !

Ours seems to be keeping them away - thank goodness! It's such a relief. :-))

Thank you all for making me feel better, regarding EFences...Just wish i was not so soft hearted,cannot help the way we feel!!

FP, I wish there were more people like you on this earth. Life or should I say people can be very cruel. It's obvious that you care so much about our animal friends, and who wouldn't with a friend like 'Teddy'. I suppose that the E fence is the way but I'd hate to think of Teddy getting a shock . I was going to suggest just turning your garden into a 'wildlife' area but then it occurred to me that the Badgers could harm Teddy. Maybe you could set it on low voltage and gradually increase it.

~I was thinking if there were no problems with our short haired dogs then there would be less of a problem with a thicker haired badger~set it to the lowest voltage possible ?

Heron, I have not got Badgers in my Garden. It was Spritz I was
referring to, she has this big problem!! I think she has solved it now with
her EFence. Poor Spritz did not have much choice!
I know it was a last resort for her, but still feel sorry for those poor old
Badgers.....too soft hearted i will never change!!
Sarah, see what you have started! I love your Blog about your Badger
its so easy to fall in love with these dear Animals!!

Thanks Guys. - I have taken up the bridge and am not now at all worried for present because the stream is so fast and steep sided that a person would have difficulty getting across let alone the badger. However, no doubt summer will be a different story. I have checked out the situation a few doors down and if I were the badger I would cross there and then burrow back so an e-fence sounds like a good idea if they come this way.

Dont worry about electric fences. They sting no worse than a nettle and I've tried both!

I went for a walk yesterday and came across a cattle grid which may be the problem about how to let the kids cross the stream without the badgers doing so. A ladder perhaps? Not very decorative though. We may need a drawbridge!

~Sounds like a plan for now!~maybe if he finds somewhere else more easier to get to he won't bother coming back!a drawbridge sounds fun!

Certainly does - what do you think, Arlene? A drawbridge to replace our wooden bridge??

~you would be able to repel boarders Barbara~something romantic about moats and drawbridges ~ king Arthur and all that~although the Clive Owen version was a bit bloody!

I think I may have to put my thinking cap on!

Freesiaperson, When I was little I played 'Happy Families' with my Gran, my favorite animal was the Badger....still is!

So - have you gone off me, Heron? LOL.

Sorry - I don't dislike badgers, just what they do to my garden! :-(((