What could be digging in buckets?

[salilah]

I've a number of Morrisons buckets going with recently sowed stuff for overwintering - but something large appears to be attacking them!

One bucket had rocket seeds just coming up nicely - now they are all flattened, and it looks like a double handful of soil has been removed from the side of the bucket. It was on hardstanding, inside another bucket!

Another bucket has the same amount of soil gone, from one side; another just looks a bit disturbed but soil gone a bit...

I can't think cats would disturb them given they still have several raised beds to use as litter trays

And - it honestly does appear as if some of the compost has gone, not just been re-arranged!

Any ideas? They are outside the greenhouse, fairly sheltered position, on a plastic gravel tray (with water in) on a concrete base...

thanks!
S

[Glutton4...]

I'd say Cats, Rats or Pigeons!

[Snadger]

Rats!!!! But hopefully not the two foot long cane rat variants reported in the newspapers!

[Leeds_lad]

Had the same problem myself. Turned out it was my own cat taking a dump in my containers. He got told off for that one!

[Nicos]

blackbirds????

[Gurberly]

I'd suggests squirrals (rats with fluffy tales). Had some last year digging around some of my over wintering pots. I think they were after my daffodil bulbs.

[salilah]

Thanks for the suggestions!
There are 2 visiting cats - I'll try putting the buckets in the cold frame for a bit of extra protection, and will check again for cat poo
Rats - hope not! it is next to the greenhouse and just by our garden office - but no food down there
Not seen squirrels in the garden - but they could easily be there - aargh!
Any recommendations as to protecting the buckets other than the cold frame?
thanks!
Salilah

[annacruachan]

It's always blackbirds here! I have to net seeds and anything small in my pots and fishboxes or the cheeky marauders dig up the lot.

[Glutton4...]

I would drape a sheet of mesh loosely over the top, and weight it down so they can't get under. Hope you get it sorted!

[gojiberry]

Netting or fleece tied over the tops of the buckets. It could be almost anything disturbing the soil, probably looking for food. Hedgehogs, rats, mice, squirrels all spring to mind as well as the cat.

Ian

[Rabidbun]

Blackbirds get mine to this extent, I now (since earlier in the year) use two pegs to loosely pin down some fleece over the top of seedlings till they get quite established, then switch to net to let things grow through it - tends to put them off digging the soil that way.

[salilah]

Good point re blackbirds - we have a few, and I've watched one fling compost from a raised bed all over the place!
I've got some fleece and some netting - will do some protecting! and re-sow all my little rocket seedlings and the other 2 buckets (hope I've got spares)
thanks again!
cheers
S

[quark1]

Badgers and foxes as well as other 'usual suspects', already metioned, can be very destructive. I lost my small Paris Market carrots in a shallow trough just as they were swelling up ready for eating.

Disappointing, yes - but then the joys and peace of living in a semi-rural position far outweigh the damage that these wild creatures can cause from time to time.

[cupcake]

It's sparrows here!

[salilah]

Not seen or heard of badgers or foxes here - centre of a village - but we have had a pheasant in the garden before, so nothing would surprise me!
Black pond netting over the cold frame, quite taut - and resowed the (after Friday night) 5 buckets that had been turned over! <sigh>

thanks for suggestions - appreciated
S