Thanks to the following five characteristics, even laypeople can quickly identify badger droppings in the garden and can help to take appropriate countermeasures.
Table of Contents
Position
Arguably the most important feature of badger dung is location. The animals:
- prefer loose soil
- choose protected areas
- dig a long hole
For example, it may be that the badger droppings are in a roughly oval hollow under a terrace or in the corner between the house and the hedge. There are also possible positions for the faeces under the terrace and right next to the entrance to the badger’s burrow.
Another clue is that the feces will not be covered. So it lies open in a hole and is therefore clearly visible.
Form
It is usually elongated droppings. Badger droppings can be comparatively large, about the same amount as a small to medium-sized dog. Therefore, the distinction is difficult in some cases.
However, unlike dogs, the badger can leave its droppings in cordoned off areas. And unlike cats, the poop piles tend to be larger and not covered with soil.
odor
The odor of badger dung is intense and unpleasant. Experience has shown that it can be downright “biting”. If it is near the window or under the terrace, it can quickly become an odor nuisance in the house.
However, the smell depends, among other things, on what the badger has eaten.
color
The badger droppings are usually dark gray to black. However, the exact color depends on the food the animal has ingested. It is therefore not possible to tell from the color alone whether the droppings are from a badger or, for example, from a fox.
A raccoon or dogs can also be considered. Since the droppings can pose different health hazards to people and pets, it should always be removed correctly.
composition and consistency
This characteristic is also dependent on the diet. In the case of badgers, however, it must be expected that there will still be visible and easily recognizable solid components in the droppings. For example:
- feathers
- Fellhaare
- cores
- bone
- pieces of egg shells
- parts of insects
- packaging leftovers
Since the badger diet is quite varied, not only the components, but also the consistencies can differ greatly. A lot is possible with badger droppings, from soft droppings that are almost reminiscent of diarrhea to solid and dry piles. It is therefore hardly possible to recognize it by its composition and consistency alone. Instead, all the characteristics mentioned should be considered in combination.
Removal of the roof dung
Dogs and children can quickly and unnoticed come into contact with the faeces and thus ingest both parasites and other pathogens. Dogs in particular are at risk of ingesting the feces and becoming infected with worms or giardia, for example.
There is also a risk of confusion with the droppings of other animals, such as foxes.
The legacies should therefore be removed quickly, thoroughly and safely in any case. In order to avoid direct contact, it makes sense to proceed in the following steps:
- Put a plastic bag over your hand. Ideally, latex gloves should also be worn.
- Pick up the feces with the bag and seal it.
- Dispose of the bag with the residual waste.
