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Creatures in the attic

Contrary Mary
Jun 13, 2014
15
Question

We live on the outskirts of Brussels. There is a family of creatures living in my attic, more specifically under the eaves – I had a glimpse of one the other night and I think it’s a marmotte (or possibly a fouine). I know where they are coming in, but for obvious reasons I don’t want to block it (I don’t want to trap them inside). I am pretty sure that mama gave birth recently. She goes out at night time - making a terrific amount of noise – I believe she brings food back for the babies. We have called a pest control guy who will come next week. However, I don’t have a tremendous amount of confidence in him. He proposes to put poison down. I really don't want dead furry corpses in the attic, particularly as the part where I believe they are nesting is inaccessible to humans. I am also concerned about the cruelty aspect and am wondering if there is some other way to get them to move house! Is there some environment service or wildlife protection board around Brussels that can advise? Thanks all.

MeHa

These people might be able to give advice: http://www.helpanimals.be/index.php/en/contacten

Jun 13, 2014 10:18
J

Squirrels cause this problem. It could also be rats. Both are pests. Get rid.

Jun 13, 2014 12:44
lmbsie

or maybe these people could offer advice: http://www.donaldstevens.be/

Jun 13, 2014 13:18
Contrary Mary

Thanks for the advice. I called the commune - they were very helpful. It is probably a pine marten. I saw it and its definitely neither a squirrel nor a rat. We have a plan of action that doesnt involve poison.

Jun 13, 2014 14:20
Rico

We've had 'visitors' come and go. Do you mind sharing the plan of action in case one of the visitors decides to stay long-term?

Jun 13, 2014 16:43
Contrary Mary

Sure! You need to try to identify what the creature is. If its a pine marten (a very likely culprit) or a marmotte, they tend to give birth early spring. If they are nesting in your premises with their babies, then it is illegal to poison them, although you can discourage them from staying by taking various measures:
1. Try to periodically turn on a radio near to their nesting place. Its best to have talk radio, rather than music - fairly loud. Dont leave it on, or regularly turn it on at the same time - they are clever buggers and quickly get used to it.
2. Place soiled clothes (sweaty sport workout clothes best) close to their nesting place - they hate the smell of humans.
3. Spray rodent repellant (or animal urine if you can get it) near to their nesting place.

The babies tend to flee the nest in August. This is the time to try to verify if they have gone and to close up any potential entry points. I will continue to spray repellent at various points on the outisde of my house afterwards. In my case, I know where they are entering and exiting. They will also need something to climb up if they are in a high point of your house - in my case its a tree. In the autumn I will cut the branches back. Alternative, you can purchase a spiky collar for the trunk of the tree which impedes access. They WILL return to the same nesting place again and again, which is the reason that you have visitors coming and going. You need to find out where they are getting in. Also when the babies leave in August (when many people are on holiday) your home is very vulnerable as they will try to find their own nesting places nearby. Take preventative measures. I must say that my commune were very helpful - there is an official who deals solely with environmental issues. I suspect most communes have something similar.
Have a good weekend.

Jun 13, 2014 17:31
J

A "marmotte" is a large alpine rodent that lives in burrows 3/4 of the way up a mountain. It does NOT live in Belgium, and it does NOT "nest" on houses.

Anyone who's told you different is either off their effin rocker or a complete charlatan, probably both.

Pine Martins, at least, are indigenous to Belgium, but live in forests and tend to shun human contact. Given that this advice seems to come from the same source as the marmots...

There are more rats in Brussels than people...

Jun 13, 2014 21:37
Contrary Mary

Jesus wept. J are you an expert? Well I have seen the animal. So has my husband. It is not a rat nor a squirrel. To my husband and I it looks remarkably like a marmotte. It's about 4 times the size of a rat! The environmental expert told us that marmottes are very VERY rare (but not unheard of). He didn't discount it but asked us to deal as it was a marten - similar process. J why do you insist on being so controversially opinionated? It's really annoying / you lurk around these boards and generally come across as an ass.
Thanks to all the helpful people.

Jun 13, 2014 22:27
J

It's a rat. Same color, can get to about cat size.

Jun 13, 2014 23:53
becasse

I agree with J, there are certainly some very large rats around and it would be easy to confuse them with a marmotte.
Both types of marten are very agile and might be confused at first glance with a grey squirrel (which don't exist here) or stoat.

Jun 14, 2014 00:21

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