Hi everybody,

Need a bit of advice.

We have a smallholding, 7 acres of land, and lots of outbuildings. The Geese have an outbuilding to themselves all snuggly and filled with straw. The female is laying again now, and most of the time she's sitting on the eggs....before she leaves them to go and graze she buries them under the straw, presumably to keep them warm. We went down to check the building a couple of days ago, and we actually saw a polecat running away with one of the eggs. The same thing happened last year. Female laid 12 eggs and all of them dissappeared. I don't know what we can do.....we've blocked up holes etc with concrete but the little blighter keeps finding a way in. Hubby wants to try and kill it/them, but I don't like that idea.

Also, we have rats (outside of course!!), which I know is pretty normal, and they don't bother me....but they annoy the hell out of hubby. He set a trap last night, and caught one, which upset me. I know they're disease ridden, but they're still living creatures.
I keep all of my dog/horse/cat food in big plastic bins and am very careful about clearing up spills etc, but the rats and polecats still keep coming!

Think I should just put this down to country living and deal with it or is there a way we can drive them away without killing them?

I know a few of you live way out in the country and would be interested to hear thoughts and experiences.

Thanks

Lisa

Are you sure its a polecat & not a polecat ferret? (The latter being more common)
My personal opinion is that the rats HAVE to be killed there is no other option. I lost a whole clutch of goslings to rats a couple of years ago....they killed every single one of a brood of 12. :(
As far as the polecats/ferrets go.....set a cage trap (a mink cage trap) and catch them live. If they are pc's then take them somewhere suitable, far away from habitation and release them. If a ferret then there is always someone who will take it. In fact I know many ferret folk who would take in a pc!!!
Dont mess about with the rats though....trap them, ferret or terrier them but just get rid of them.