Elephant in my garden

[breakwellmz]

Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillar that is.

[Mr. Viking]

that's very lovely looking, are they rare?

[cycleruk]

Ends up looking like this I think.

On our garage a few years back.
They seemed to like the willow tree in our garden but not seen any for a couple of years.
I did watch one caterpillar form it's chrysalis on the side of another bush but it never hatched out.

[breakwellmz]

Definitely Elephant-like.

[reohn2]

that's very lovely looking, are they rare?

I've seen a few but you don't come across them often.
The caterpillar looks very Elephantine when the nose is extended,in the OP's photo it's in a more defensive pose to ward off attackers,here is one I prepared earlier:-

take note of the "trunk"

[661-Pete]

No elephants, but we did have a hedgehog visit our garden just now - nosing around my bike just as I went out (barefoot!) to put it away in the garage . I didn't tread on it. I thought of bringing it some milk but it ran off into the bushes and disappeared. Alas most of the hedgehogs I see when on the bike, are very dead ones...

Perhaps we should have a 'pinned' thread in Tea Shop, on "wildlife seen" - especially, seen on the ride. Cyclists are at a distinct advantage here - particularly those of us lucky enough to have access to rural areas... I'm sure several of us could contribute lots.

[breakwellmz]

Don`t give them milk,it gives them the squits!

They do like cat or dog food though.

[breakwellmz]

No elephants, but we did have a hedgehog visit our garden just now - nosing around my bike just as I went out (barefoot!) to put it away in the garage . I didn't tread on it. I thought of bringing it some milk but it ran off into the bushes and disappeared. Alas most of the hedgehogs I see when on the bike, are very dead ones...

Perhaps we should have a 'pinned' thread in Tea Shop, on "wildlife seen" - especially, seen on the ride. Cyclists are at a distinct advantage here - particularly those of us lucky enough to have access to rural areas... I'm sure several of us could contribute lots.

This one has visited my front lawn on a few occasions,reducing the ant population.-

[[XAP]Bob]

Don`t give them milk,it gives them the squits!

They do like cat or dog food though.

Yes - Hedgehogs are carnivores. Cat foot is yummy (to them)... I'm sure dog food is as well, but don't have any any more...

[Vorpal]

Perhaps we should have a 'pinned' thread in Tea Shop, on "wildlife seen" - especially, seen on the ride. Cyclists are at a distinct advantage here - particularly those of us lucky enough to have access to rural areas... I'm sure several of us could contribute lots.

It's not pinned, but... viewtopic.php?f=15&t=77754

[661-Pete]

Yes - Hedgehogs are carnivores. Cat foot is yummy (to them)... I'm sure dog food is as well, but don't have any any more...

Strictly speaking, they belong to the 'Insectivora', but in fact they're omnivores, eating all sorts of stuff. My wife says she's got some special bespoke hedgehog food (bought from the Wildlife Trust) somewhere in the house, she'll look it out. Probably consists of a mixture of animal (mealworms etc.) and vegetable feed (seeds and stuff). Anyway it's specially tailored for our prickly friends.

Hedgehogs are famous for consuming slugs, which would make one a real asset to our damp, weedy, slug-infested garden. We've had visits from hedgehogs before but they've never stayed long. It would be great if we could tempt one into taking up residence...

[661-Pete]

Perhaps we should have a 'pinned' thread in Tea Shop, on "wildlife seen" - especially, seen on the ride. Cyclists are at a distinct advantage here - particularly those of us lucky enough to have access to rural areas... I'm sure several of us could contribute lots.

It's not pinned, but... viewtopic.php?f=15&t=77754

I missed that ! Feel free to move my post - and any others as you see appropriate.

[maxwellhadley]

Most unusual animal I've ever seen in the garden was a polecat. I came down one morning, opened the curtains, and there it was, sniffing round the water butt not 6 feet away. Unfortunately, it had gone by the time I returned with my camera
According to Wikipedia, the New Forest is a bit far south for polecats, but I had the opportunity, a few days later, to talk with a ferret expert, who showed me an orphaned polecat he happened to have handy, and it was unmistakeable.
Really a rather attractive animal - to look at!

[breakwellmz]

I saw a Weasel or Stoat the other week between Midford and Wellow on the old railway path.

[reohn2]

I saw a Weasel or Stoat the other week between Midford and Wellow on the old railway path.

Which station?