There’s a Filigree Siberian Hamster in my garden

What am I gonna do?

Looks like something’s been burrowing in our fruit cage. Hole size is 100mm or so. No sign of droppings nearby. Too small and not smelly enough for a badger, on the ground so I assume not a squirrel (we’ve got an oak tree so loads of them). Google lens suggests foxes, mountain beavers (must be a joke) and rodents. Our neighbours behind keep chickens so rats wouldn’t surprise me.

Anyone got any ideas? How can I tell for sure?

I would say rats, there is usually another burrow nearby as they like to have an emergency exit! Look carefully for “runs” usually following hedge and wall lines to keep away from open spaces. Get some traps/dogs in now!

Just replace whatever that mesh is with a bit of wire mesh, dug a wee bit into the ground. I had a couple of Siberian hamsters eating my compost, that got them to go elsewhere. Need quite a fine mesh mind.

Whatever you do DO NOT use poison, aside from being really nasty it causes so many problems further up the food chain.

Almost certainly a rat, they are everywhere.

Chickens and their food will attract them. Compost can attract them.

If you can get your hands on a camera trap you can be certain either way.

I thought I had a night time intruder and it turned out to be a badger

They can make a mess though!

Could be Eurasian beaver ?

This was taken by the local river in Stirling: 25kg of tree-chewing rodent (think an adult labrador with short legs and a big stomach). Magic!

We had a rabbit in our garden. Hole kinda looked like yours.

A wildlife cam is £45 on Amazon, will answer your question and give you a new hobby 🙂

If it’s a beaver it’s lost – we’re on the top of a ridge! I’ve found an old Apeman action cam, I’ve set it on time lapse and I’ll see what I get. Lots of black photos I think 🙂