echidna

Jason[98.EL] · 23-01-2009, 01:16 PM

gday all

well i got a call from one of my mates and asked if i knew how to remove an echidna from his garden ( just across the road ) we live in a suburb of geelong that is about 15 odd ks from the closest bushland other than what people have in their yard

we tried pulling it out to no avail and the wildlife rescue people wont come to get it till we have it removed from its hole it has now dug for itself

any advise as to how to get it out would be a great help

Jason

p.s i know this should be in advise central but we would like to get it out before it wanders onto a road and gets hit by a car

Deech · 23-01-2009, 01:28 PM

How deep's the hole?

Could you try to dig out the dirt about 12 inches to either side of it, carefully remove some of the ground nearer to it with a trowel, and pick it up from under with oven mitts/welding gloves?

Edit: That's only if it's barely below the surface. If it's actually made a burrow, maybe just put water out for it, and a box over the hole, and wait?

Geez Louise · 23-01-2009, 01:30 PM

My niece lives in Karratha and they had the same problem in October. I don't know what food they used to get it out but they wore HEAVY DUTY Welding gloves to pick it up! They are spikey little criters.

Jason[98.EL] · 23-01-2009, 01:30 PM

not that deep but the problem is it is in a corner with brick work on 2 sides and a big round fish pond blocking any chance of digging it out

ill get a pic when i can

jason

Jason[98.EL] · 23-01-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geez Louise

My niece lives in Karratha and they had the same problem in October. I don't know what food they used to get it out but they wore HEAVY DUTY Welding gloves to pick it up! They are spikey little criters.

yeh i was wearing welding gloves as well and yes i got a spike from it through the glove

and they are tough buggers i had my hand under it and it just locked down and no way i was going to move it

Jason

Blue Ice · 23-01-2009, 01:33 PM

Sit and wait for it to come out if you don't want to dig it out. Gloves would be recommended if you haven't handled one before. They really aren't that prickly. Then again I've handled heaps over the years.

jcxr · 23-01-2009, 01:39 PM

Just leave it alone, it will just reverse out of the hole and bolt when your not around.

Jason[98.EL] · 23-01-2009, 01:48 PM

jc we are in a suburban area and we are worried about what might happen to it if it gets into an area that are not so concerning

pics on there way now

Jason

jcxr · 23-01-2009, 01:52 PM

Just leave it alone, it will just reverse out of the hole and bolt when your not around.

jcxr · 23-01-2009, 01:59 PM

OOPs double post. If you can relocate it away from dogs etc well and good, but it most likely has been in your area for a long time anyway. We get 'em all the time.

Jason[98.EL] · 23-01-2009, 02:06 PM

here are the pics

Jason

smasht · 23-01-2009, 02:21 PM

good luck getting it out.

I had one do a simular thing at my place (wasn't quite so far in) but i dug everythig away from around it, as i was doing that he went to move (but also the dirt around him started to fall away so he was not 'stuck in so much' i then just put my hand under him / her and picked him up. Found that if you use your hand and flatten out his spikes they dont hurt and i put my top hand over his eyes / nose / snout thing (not to suffercate him) but that helped him settle down. Took abit of time but atleast got him back to safer ground

cheers

Jason[98.EL] · 23-01-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smasht

good luck getting it out.

I had one do a simular thing at my place (wasn't quite so far in) but i dug everythig away from around it, as i was doing that he went to move (but also the dirt around him started to fall away so he was not 'stuck in so much' i then just put my hand under him / her and picked him up. Found that if you use your hand and flatten out his spikes they dont hurt and i put my top hand over his eyes / nose / snout thing (not to suffercate him) but that helped him settle down. Took abit of time but atleast got him back to safer ground

cheers

as you can tell from the pics we may have to wait till it decides it's ok to come out

thanks to all that have given a bit of info

i just went and had a look and it is digging in further

i guess time will tell

Jason

J_Tank · 23-01-2009, 10:57 PM

Did you call WIRES? Speaking from experience some really good people involved with that organisation... and also some other people of another type as well. If they've refused to help tell them you're going to call the local TV station and report that they coldn't be bothered helping.

Geez Louise · 23-01-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_Tank

Did you call WIRES? Speaking from experience some really good people involved with that organisation... and also some other people of another type as well. If they've refused to help tell them you're going to call the local TV station and report that they coldn't be bothered helping.

Why would you call someone for help and then threaten to report them if they dont help you!

:

Jason[98.EL] · 23-01-2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_Tank

Did you call WIRES? Speaking from experience some really good people involved with that organisation... and also some other people of another type as well. If they've refused to help tell them you're going to call the local TV station and report that they coldn't be bothered helping.

what is wires

never heard of them

from what i have seen tonight ( got home from work at 10 pm ) it is still there

info on this wires group would be good ( may not be here in vic )

we just want it to be safe that is all

Jason

Geez Louise · 23-01-2009, 11:05 PM

Jason...Jack and I will pop over tomorrow and move it for you if you want. I know you are concerned and we dont wanna see the poor thing get hurt...Let me know. You have my number if you want us to come over.

XR6TCraig · 23-01-2009, 11:05 PM

Just ring WIRES. They will come and get the little critter and relocate him to more suitable digs ( pun intended)!

Jason[98.EL] · 23-01-2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geez Louise

Jason...Jack and I will pop over tomorrow and move it for you if you want. I know you are concerned and we dont wanna see the poor thing get hurt...Let me know. You have my number if you want us to come over.

pm sent

MITCHAY · 23-01-2009, 11:25 PM

Call the wildlife people and let those experts deal with the little bastard. What an odd animal to have in your backyard though!

Jason[98.EL] · 23-01-2009, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

Call the wildlife people and let those experts deal with the little bastard. What an odd animal to have in your backyard though!

we have tried that but they dont want to come out till we get it into another location ie bucket as they put it

Jason

MITCHAY · 23-01-2009, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimus

we have tried that but they dont want to come out till we get it into another location ie bucket as they put it

Jason

Dig a shovel underneath it and chuck it in a bucket or over the fence?

:

**Captain Stubing** · 24-01-2009, 12:26 AM

What an interesting feature to have in your garden! At least it's picked an out of the way area to dig in.

Don't stress, Nature know's a bit about life.

CAMS290 · 24-01-2009, 12:46 PM

Pitbull vs Porcupine

Porcupine = 1

Daymoe · 24-01-2009, 11:51 PM

Couldn't you just dig it out with a small shovel? Wait, just saw your post above... Hmm, why do they dig into the ground like that?

Nostalgia · 25-01-2009, 12:09 AM

I have no info that would be useful to you Jase.

But any updates on this ?

Adam.

Jason[98.EL] · 25-01-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nostalgia

I have no info that would be useful to you Jase.

But any updates on this ?

Adam.

yes Adam i do have an update

it is still in the same spot you cant actually see it anymore but you can see the dirt move up and down when it breaths

if it isnt out by next weekend we will have to empty the fish pond and move it out of the way that way

Jason

Gobes32 · 25-01-2009, 07:54 AM

Try ringing that wildlife sanctuary in barwon heads?? Am pretty confident they do wildlife rescue. Was at a doctors once, and one of the ladies that owns it was looking after a joey while she went in for a check up. Very dedicated........

Brent · 25-01-2009, 09:53 AM

Gee, he's dug in firmer than a Jerry in France in 1915 LOL!!!

From my experience of these on the farm, he's obviously feeling threatened. To dig in like that stops them from being rolled over onto their backs where predators such as foxes etc can attack their belly. You'll find that he digs his long claws under the dirt on such an angle that its virtually impossible for you to forcibly remove him (without injuring him that is). He'll move on in time, but only when he thinks all danger has passed.

PS. From my experience, their eyesight is pretty poor, but their sense of smell is very good. Also, they seem to be able to detect vibrations through the ground, so if you keep walking up to him every few hours to take a look, he probably knows you're there and thus digs in even further.

Good luck!

iCat · 25-01-2009, 11:22 AM

Couple of phone numbers for you:

Help for Wildlife 0417 380 687 (they're the signs you see on the side of roads)

and

Wildlife Vic 1300 094 535

these people SHOULD help. pm me if they don't.

don't know about feeding habits, but that little fella surely would be hungry by now? he must be pretty stressed.

and good on you for wanting to help.