Badger damage?

[Nice65]

Havent really been out in the back garden much, but recently in the late evenings both dogs have been tearing out there and making a racket, but that’s not unusual because next doors cat likes to tease them by sitting on the fence and flicking V signs.

So, went out to check our Calor tank level and saw what looks like badger damage. The photos aren’t great, but there are digs and scratches all over the part of the garden where the Japanese Maple has shed its leaves. I suppose there must be worms taking leaves down and other insects amongst the leaves. It’s strange though, we’re fully fenced. In one corner, a rough area with bramble and weeds, I did put my foot down a good sized hole, but it didn’t look anything like a sett.

 

[Woody girl]

You'll have to keep watch and find out what is doing this. It could be foxes. They are quite agile and can get onto shed roofs and get over quite big fences. They are partial to a few worms too.

 

[Nice65]

I think it might be a fox too. I didn’t latch the gate securely the other night and something large leapt up and over, kicking it hard shut as it did so. I was hanging out of the window with a torch in seconds and heard but didn’t see something crashing through the beds up against the fence. A badger doesn’t leap like that.

 

[Robson Valley]

As a component of nature, badgers and foxes can do no damage.
Humans don't and won't live in harmony with them.

Yeah, the deer do more damage(?) to all of my flower beds and shrubs than you can imagine.
I don't care. Just don't track the deer scat into the house, OK?
I can keep them out of the grapes or I'd have woody nubs sticking out of the ground.
I'd eath them if it were convenient and very quiet.

 

[mikehill]

Not sure about the dogs getting wound up, but Blackbirds do dig under leaves like that. At work I spend a fair bit of time brushing bark chipping back into the beds !