[Womble]

Found in the middle of a tarpaulin covered log-pile, alongside a 10-15cm dished bed of dead Beech leaves. Evidently left by an animal who can't be bothered walking far to go the loo in the night, but who was it?



Many thanks folks!

[bloomer]

hibernating hedgehog would be my first guess


although they have a rat like appearance as well but hey wouldn't all be in a heap like that...


the closest thing i have actually seen to that was when mrs b had a pet chinchilla they were very similar shaped to that!!!

[Q]

Rats!  they do usually pick a particular latrine spot for droppings.

[NicandChic]

Yup, Rats!

Although guineapigs look similar 

[feldar]

They are rat turds. no doubt about it. Sometimes they can be squishy if they are on a high fat diet ie from bins. Also you may find empty snail shells along side in a heap, they are partial to them.
I used to keep loads of rats as pets so know a bit about them.

[Somewhere_by_the_river]

Agree, I'm afraid they are rats.

[Q]

I forgot to add that I am very impressed by your picture of rat sh!t er I mean faeces 

Also, remember the diseases they can carry. So I hope you washed that coin  .

[Bramblecot]

I'd say rats .  I'm on a mission to keep them down without using poison

[Somewhere_by_the_river]

OH has been known to use the air rifle on them. He hates doing it, but it's better than poison.

[cans]

I also would say rats.  Good luck in getting rid.  Wear gloves AND wash your hands ( after you take the gloves off  )

[Marches Farmer]

Hedgehog droppings are more like tiny, rather wet, dog turds, frequently with beetle wing cases visible, about two or three times the size of rat droppings.  If you can make it wild bird/pet proof put your bait there - they may take a couple of days to get used to it but they tend to use the same route every night and only have to ingest 15gm each for it to work.

[benkt]

Agreed: hedgehog's is blacker and longer that's definitely a rat's!

[Fleecewife]

Aren't they a bit big for rats, or have we just had small ones here?  If you give a good sniff to the general area you should get a whiff of rat urine if it's them, as they dribble all the time.
Have a look for greasy 'rat runs' going to and from the nest, which are fairly diagnostic.

I was going to say scrub the coin before you pop it in your pocket, but others got there first 

Could be a very small hibernating bear 

[kelly58]

Yup defo rat !

[bloomer]

so its confirmed as Rats


oh well that will give Mr Womble a new hobby!!! Rat exterminator!!!