tom30519
Silver Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2005
- Messages
- 107
- Location
- Southeast Quebec
- Tractor
- JD 4520, IH B414D (1966), Kubota B1750HST
That's gotta be a porcupine.
Tom.
Tom.
What the heck is this?!
- Thread starter Freds
- Start date
- Views: 2167
Thanks, J. If it was bat related I was a little nervous about just tearing the tar paper off to see what was what.
Hmmm, more description... well I said they were rabbit pellet size. Around here rabbit pellets are about 3/8" long and about 1/8" thick. These things are all stacked like they've been pooped out of something that is nested above them. I'm no bird expert, but do starlings and swallows nest between paper and wood like is the case? They don't build regular nests ?, or are their nests hidden like these would be? Also, this just occured sometime between fall and now. Don't these birds migrate?
I don't see any girdled trees and have never seen a porky around here, but won't rule it out, though it would have to be an awfully thin one to fit in this space (about 3" out from the wood).
They could even look like some kind of dead larvae, but even magots crawl off when their living quarters becomes undesirable.
I guess maybe my best bet would be to put on the Carharts, gloves, find a scarf to cover my neck, put on a full face helmet and start ripping the tar paper off. Might be interesting /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Hmmm, more description... well I said they were rabbit pellet size. Around here rabbit pellets are about 3/8" long and about 1/8" thick. These things are all stacked like they've been pooped out of something that is nested above them. I'm no bird expert, but do starlings and swallows nest between paper and wood like is the case? They don't build regular nests ?, or are their nests hidden like these would be? Also, this just occured sometime between fall and now. Don't these birds migrate?
I don't see any girdled trees and have never seen a porky around here, but won't rule it out, though it would have to be an awfully thin one to fit in this space (about 3" out from the wood).
They could even look like some kind of dead larvae, but even magots crawl off when their living quarters becomes undesirable.
I guess maybe my best bet would be to put on the Carharts, gloves, find a scarf to cover my neck, put on a full face helmet and start ripping the tar paper off. Might be interesting /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
norcalmike
New member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2006
- Messages
- 20
- Tractor
- kubota
I believe that you have bats. If you stand out there at around sunset you should see them fly out from the opening. Looks like you may have quite few of them roosting in there based on the amout of what looks like poop also known as quano. I had the same problem a few years back under my eaves and I couldn't believe the small area they need to access.
The poop should look like mice poop or rat poop black and kind of torpedo shape. I guess other species of bats may have different looking poop but that's at least what I experienced. Also, don't touch the poop, bats can carry rabbies and can be transfered from their poop to humans if inhaled; This is at least what I learned.
If in fact they are bats let them all fly out at night and be prepared to block the area so that they can not get back in. Good luck.
norcalmike
The poop should look like mice poop or rat poop black and kind of torpedo shape. I guess other species of bats may have different looking poop but that's at least what I experienced. Also, don't touch the poop, bats can carry rabbies and can be transfered from their poop to humans if inhaled; This is at least what I learned.
If in fact they are bats let them all fly out at night and be prepared to block the area so that they can not get back in. Good luck.
norcalmike
MotorSeven
Elite Member
Fred,
Looks like bats too me also. Before running them outa there and sealing up the spot, you might want to build them a bathouse and hang it under the eave of the barn. Each bat eats hundreds of insects a night and a colony of them can significantly reduce alot of harmfull farm type pest insects(not to mention mosquitos). Besides it is kind of cool knowing that you had a squadron of bats housed on your property. I haven't had much luck in the past but i will try and post a link.....
RD
Looks like bats too me also. Before running them outa there and sealing up the spot, you might want to build them a bathouse and hang it under the eave of the barn. Each bat eats hundreds of insects a night and a colony of them can significantly reduce alot of harmfull farm type pest insects(not to mention mosquitos). Besides it is kind of cool knowing that you had a squadron of bats housed on your property. I haven't had much luck in the past but i will try and post a link.....
RD
MotorSeven
Elite Member
Argggg, i know i am "computer challenged", but c'mon...can't get a link from my "favorite places" to drag over here.........Ive done on e-mail no prob. What is different here?
RD
RD
MotorSeven
Elite Member
Anyway, the link is: www.batcon.org/home/index.asp?
They recommend hanging a sheet of plastic down over the entrance so the bats can get out but not back in. It says to evict them in early spring or late summer. You can Google for a bat house design, they are very easy to build.
RD
They recommend hanging a sheet of plastic down over the entrance so the bats can get out but not back in. It says to evict them in early spring or late summer. You can Google for a bat house design, they are very easy to build.
RD
scesnick
Veteran Member
Could it be squirrels ? ( sp?) I have seen them nest in some crazy places. The Porcupines we have here are huge. I don't think one would fit in that small hole. Are there any claw marks around the hole? If not I'd guess it had to be some kind of bird.
RD, I didn't see this in the FAQS on the link you provided, but do bats hibernate? I'm wondering what the best time would be to get up there and hang some plastic. Don't want to wake anybody up....
I haven't seen any bats around my area light for a while now, but it's supposed to be winter here.
Do you know if the bats will find the houses if I put them in the trees? There are trees about twenty feet from here along a creek. I hate to establish them on my pole barn again in case I decide to side it and add a door. I do want to keep them around, though.
Thanks
I haven't seen any bats around my area light for a while now, but it's supposed to be winter here.
Do you know if the bats will find the houses if I put them in the trees? There are trees about twenty feet from here along a creek. I hate to establish them on my pole barn again in case I decide to side it and add a door. I do want to keep them around, though.
Thanks
MotorSeven
Elite Member
Fred,
I've done some research on bat houses, and several sites say that during the winter certain species leave a "house" and move into a cave for hibernation. So, they may not even be there now, just shine a really bright light in there in the day and see if you can spot them. . And, you can put houses on poles, just google "bat houses" and you will get a bunch of info. I think predators may be a prob in trees. The house has to be made correctly, or the critters won't use 'em, so pick a design that is proven(some even have a approval from certain Bat organizations.) I haven't built mine yet, but we sit out and watch them every evening in the summer buzzing the pasture for bugs. Some can consume 500-600 skeeters in an hr! Good luck....
RD
I've done some research on bat houses, and several sites say that during the winter certain species leave a "house" and move into a cave for hibernation. So, they may not even be there now, just shine a really bright light in there in the day and see if you can spot them. . And, you can put houses on poles, just google "bat houses" and you will get a bunch of info. I think predators may be a prob in trees. The house has to be made correctly, or the critters won't use 'em, so pick a design that is proven(some even have a approval from certain Bat organizations.) I haven't built mine yet, but we sit out and watch them every evening in the summer buzzing the pasture for bugs. Some can consume 500-600 skeeters in an hr! Good luck....
RD
wroughtn_harv
Super Member
It doesn't look like poop to me. From the pictures I'd guess Mud Martins aka Barn Swallows. They harvest mud and use it like brick or stone building their nests.
They do a number on mosquitos, are fascinating to watch in flight, and are one of natures treats for us.
They're just messy.
They do a number on mosquitos, are fascinating to watch in flight, and are one of natures treats for us.
They're just messy.
