Hello everyone,
NO – this is not about myself, although the description could also apply to me 🙁.
We have set up a rapid composter to compost our kitchen waste (no meat or bones).
Now it has happened twice that the front cover (no storm or strong wind) was "removed" from the composter, found some distance away, and the composter was partially undermined. The food waste (peels, etc.) had been partially pulled out and scattered around the property 😱.
After the first time, I put everything back in, closed the composter, and placed a larger board in front of it, which I secured with a stake.
Despite this, it happened again today 😡. The stake was pulled out (maybe I didn’t drive it in far enough), the board was about 1 m (3 feet) AWAY from the composter, and it was undermined on three sides (it was basically standing on stilts).
What kind of animal could do this? Since there was no meat inside (except maybe worms decomposing the organic waste), I rule out animals like dogs, cats, martens, badgers, foxes, etc. Mice, rabbits, and hedgehogs are too small for this (the board was way off to the side).
Therefore, I suspect a raccoon trying to fill its belly (partly eaten potatoes that we had to dispose of).
Here is what I have done now:
I placed large tile pieces inside, in front of the two access panels (slightly buried). The two closed sides were secured from the outside with two large tile pieces each. In front of these, I put another board and secured it with one or two stakes respectively. I also placed a few larger stones around and piled up earth, which I compacted firmly.
Now my questions:
What other animal could this be?
If the measures I have taken do not hold, what else can I do? (It doesn’t make sense to place the composter on concrete or something similar – since natural decomposers would hardly be able to access it then.)
NO – this is not about myself, although the description could also apply to me 🙁.
We have set up a rapid composter to compost our kitchen waste (no meat or bones).
Now it has happened twice that the front cover (no storm or strong wind) was "removed" from the composter, found some distance away, and the composter was partially undermined. The food waste (peels, etc.) had been partially pulled out and scattered around the property 😱.
After the first time, I put everything back in, closed the composter, and placed a larger board in front of it, which I secured with a stake.
Despite this, it happened again today 😡. The stake was pulled out (maybe I didn’t drive it in far enough), the board was about 1 m (3 feet) AWAY from the composter, and it was undermined on three sides (it was basically standing on stilts).
What kind of animal could do this? Since there was no meat inside (except maybe worms decomposing the organic waste), I rule out animals like dogs, cats, martens, badgers, foxes, etc. Mice, rabbits, and hedgehogs are too small for this (the board was way off to the side).
Therefore, I suspect a raccoon trying to fill its belly (partly eaten potatoes that we had to dispose of).
Here is what I have done now:
I placed large tile pieces inside, in front of the two access panels (slightly buried). The two closed sides were secured from the outside with two large tile pieces each. In front of these, I put another board and secured it with one or two stakes respectively. I also placed a few larger stones around and piled up earth, which I compacted firmly.
Now my questions:
What other animal could this be?
If the measures I have taken do not hold, what else can I do? (It doesn’t make sense to place the composter on concrete or something similar – since natural decomposers would hardly be able to access it then.)
EveundGerd25 Feb 2015 22:06In our experience, it’s either raccoons or rats. These creatures are very clever.
The only effective solution is a metal compost bin with a suitable, lockable lid.
The only effective solution is a metal compost bin with a suitable, lockable lid.
EveundGerd schrieb:
From our experience, it’s either raccoons or rats. These animals are very clever.
The only solution is a metal composter with a suitable lockable lid.Hmm – I’ve already come to the conclusion that if these measures don’t work 🙁, I’ll take it down and stop composting. Soon, we will be forced by the government to set up a brown bin for organic waste. Disposal will probably come at a high cost, too.
Better to dismantle the composter than to attract rats 😡.
Dindin schrieb:
Could it still be a dog, cat, or fox even though there’s no meat there? These animals also like eggs (eggshells in the compost), cooked pasta, and other foods. Raccoons aren’t found everywhere in Germany, are you sure raccoons live in your area?We don’t know what it is—we never see the animal in action. It could certainly be a cat. I just worked it out by excluding other options. Eggshells—maybe at first. But usually, I dispose of those normally. Pasta—no, that’s not something we leave out. And when I eat it for breakfast (I manage with pasta and cold pizza 😉).
Well, let’s see how it goes over the next few days. Yesterday’s setup lasted well through the night. My dad suggested putting a metal mesh underneath as a base.
Maybe the animal simply finds it too difficult to reach the “treats” and will move on to the neighbor across the street—they also have a quick composter like this 😎.
EveundGerd26 Feb 2015 14:09Cats do not go near the compost. They are pure carnivores. They hunt not only mice but also rats. Ours certainly don’t shy away from anything, except when the badger starts causing trouble here again. 🙄
I think it’s wise to place metal beneath the compost. Your father’s advice was good. 🙂
I think it’s wise to place metal beneath the compost. Your father’s advice was good. 🙂