Two baby, er, mammals

[Darkside]

At the HQ of the Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust they were moving
something near their compost heap and found a baby mammal, too immature
to look after itself. They took it indoors and tried to identify it.
A search for its nest found only another similar baby mammal.

They're still alive, wrapped in cotton wool and fed on whatever they're
willing to eat (such as chopped blowfly pupae and bits of apple).
They're still unidentified, all native species having been eliminated.
They "look a bit insectivorous" but are too large for most British
insectivores. The Mammal Society was unable to help. A trail camera is
watching for their mother, but there's also a theory that they're the
unwanted offspring of some neighbour's pet.

What would you do in this situation?

[Mike Coon]

Post by Darkside
At the HQ of the Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust they were moving
something near their compost heap and found a baby mammal, too immature
to look after itself. They took it indoors and tried to identify it.
A search for its nest found only another similar baby mammal.
They're still alive, wrapped in cotton wool and fed on whatever they're
willing to eat (such as chopped blowfly pupae and bits of apple).
They're still unidentified, all native species having been eliminated.
They "look a bit insectivorous" but are too large for most British
insectivores. The Mammal Society was unable to help. A trail camera is
watching for their mother, but there's also a theory that they're the
unwanted offspring of some neighbour's pet.
What would you do in this situation?

Contact the British Museum and Thames Valley Environmental Records
Centre? But photos with proper scale would be required! (Any available?)

I'm a member of BBOWT so expect to hear the resolution in due course...

Mike.

[Paul {Hamilton Rooney}]

Post by Darkside
At the HQ of the Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust they were moving
something near their compost heap and found a baby mammal, too immature
to look after itself. They took it indoors and tried to identify it.
A search for its nest found only another similar baby mammal.
They're still alive, wrapped in cotton wool and fed on whatever they're
willing to eat (such as chopped blowfly pupae and bits of apple).
They're still unidentified, all native species having been eliminated.
They "look a bit insectivorous" but are too large for most British
insectivores. The Mammal Society was unable to help. A trail camera is
watching for their mother, but there's also a theory that they're the
unwanted offspring of some neighbour's pet.
What would you do in this situation?

I'd post jpegs after returning them to where they were found.
--
PAUL {HAMILTON ROONEY} Original poster on uk.rec.natural-history and
scourge of wankers.

Paul Rooney, Founder Member, New Demon.Local
"Rooney is one of these vandals and has done his utmost to help trash
dl and the other groups which he regularly crossposts to. He's created a
false FAQ and charter" - Chris Lawrence in uk.rec.walking

"Also long time d.l. reader but never feel robust enough to post
much, especially since Rooney wrecked the group." - Rachel Sullivan in
uk.rec.walking

"Low life scum doesn't even begin to describe you [Rooney]. You are
the most loathsome individual ever to cross the threshold of d.l." -
John Kaye in demon.local

"Your continued posting here with an overlong sig perfectly
demonstrates the sort of person you are and is entirely relevant to
every other post you make in whatever newsgroup. You're a stupid,
boorish, childish, little oik, with no manners, an over-inflated opinion
of yourself and nothing that I can see to commend you to anyone...Now
fuck off out of this newsgroup once and
for all" - Malcolm Ogilvie to Paul Rooney in demon.local

"Those who indulge in chest-beating about how they always win seem to
overlook the fact that the so-called sig-abusers always win, too.
Usenet is like that. If such meaningless labels are to be pressed into
service, then I would say that Paul [Rooney] has won. Not only by his
undoubted stamina, but by the sustained grace, charm, and mischievous
wit of his responses."
-
James Follett, novelist (writing in the newsgroup demon.local)

[Malcolm]

Post by Paul {Hamilton Rooney}

Post by Darkside
At the HQ of the Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust they were moving
something near their compost heap and found a baby mammal, too immature
to look after itself. They took it indoors and tried to identify it.
A search for its nest found only another similar baby mammal.
They're still alive, wrapped in cotton wool and fed on whatever they're
willing to eat (such as chopped blowfly pupae and bits of apple).
They're still unidentified, all native species having been eliminated.
They "look a bit insectivorous" but are too large for most British
insectivores. The Mammal Society was unable to help. A trail camera is
watching for their mother, but there's also a theory that they're the
unwanted offspring of some neighbour's pet.
What would you do in this situation?

I'd post jpegs after returning them to where they were found.

It looks as if Rooney has used his wrong signature file again. Sober up,
man :-)

[Paul {Hamilton Rooney}]

Post by Malcolm

Post by Paul {Hamilton Rooney}

Post by Darkside
At the HQ of the Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust they were moving
something near their compost heap and found a baby mammal, too immature
to look after itself. They took it indoors and tried to identify it.
A search for its nest found only another similar baby mammal.
They're still alive, wrapped in cotton wool and fed on whatever they're
willing to eat (such as chopped blowfly pupae and bits of apple).
They're still unidentified, all native species having been eliminated.
They "look a bit insectivorous" but are too large for most British
insectivores. The Mammal Society was unable to help. A trail camera is
watching for their mother, but there's also a theory that they're the
unwanted offspring of some neighbour's pet.
What would you do in this situation?

I'd post jpegs after returning them to where they were found.

It looks as if Rooney has used his wrong signature file again. Sober up,
man :-)

I did. Apologies. I was very, very drunk!

[Christina Websell]

Post by Darkside
At the HQ of the Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust they were moving
something near their compost heap and found a baby mammal, too immature
to look after itself. They took it indoors and tried to identify it.
A search for its nest found only another similar baby mammal.
They're still alive, wrapped in cotton wool and fed on whatever they're
willing to eat (such as chopped blowfly pupae and bits of apple).
They're still unidentified, all native species having been eliminated.
They "look a bit insectivorous" but are too large for most British
insectivores. The Mammal Society was unable to help. A trail camera is
watching for their mother, but there's also a theory that they're the
unwanted offspring of some neighbour's pet.
What would you do in this situation?
--
Sue ]:(:)

I'd know what it was in the first place and then I'd try to feed it to
adulthood.
You seem to be suggesting that you've found somethng unknown to mankind.
Hedgehog.
Unless you've found an alien.

[Darkside]

Post by Christina Websell
I'd know what it was in the first place and then I'd try to feed it to
adulthood.
You seem to be suggesting that you've found somethng unknown to mankind.
Hedgehog.
Unless you've found an alien.

They're certainly not hedgehogs; even newborn hedgehogs are very
distinctive. Other species have been carefully eliminated one by one,
starting with Rattus norvegicus and progressing to less common species:
they aren't squirrels (not even red squirrels) or bank voles or water
voles. They're too big to be shrews and too small to be beavers.
At the weekend people were investigating some species of exotic mammal
that are sometimes kept as pets.

They'll certainly be raised until they're identifiable, if possible,
because people are just too sentimental to put them back on the compost
heap. Though without an ID it's hard to know what to feed them on!

[Christina Websell]

Post by Darkside

Post by Christina Websell
I'd know what it was in the first place and then I'd try to feed it to
adulthood.
You seem to be suggesting that you've found somethng unknown to mankind.
Hedgehog.
Unless you've found an alien.

They're certainly not hedgehogs; even newborn hedgehogs are very
distinctive. Other species have been carefully eliminated one by one,
they aren't squirrels (not even red squirrels) or bank voles or water
voles. They're too big to be shrews and too small to be beavers.
At the weekend people were investigating some species of exotic mammal
that are sometimes kept as pets.
They'll certainly be raised until they're identifiable, if possible,
because people are just too sentimental to put them back on the compost
heap. Though without an ID it's hard to know what to feed them on!
--
Sue ]:(:)

So let's think about what what kind of mammal would give birth in a compost
heap. Rats, hedgohogs, mice, and maybe a cat might but if they are all
ruled out..!The likelihood of an escaped exotic pet breeding in a compost
heap is remote, unless two escaped at the same time or a pregnant female of
whatever is is suggested to be.

[Darkside]

Post by Christina Websell

Post by Darkside

Post by Christina Websell
I'd know what it was in the first place and then I'd try to feed it to
adulthood.
You seem to be suggesting that you've found somethng unknown to mankind.
Hedgehog.
Unless you've found an alien.

They're certainly not hedgehogs; even newborn hedgehogs are very
distinctive. Other species have been carefully eliminated one by one,
they aren't squirrels (not even red squirrels) or bank voles or water
voles. They're too big to be shrews and too small to be beavers.
At the weekend people were investigating some species of exotic mammal
that are sometimes kept as pets.
They'll certainly be raised until they're identifiable, if possible,
because people are just too sentimental to put them back on the compost
heap. Though without an ID it's hard to know what to feed them on!

So let's think about what what kind of mammal would give birth in a compost
heap. Rats, hedgohogs, mice, and maybe a cat might but if they are all
ruled out..!The likelihood of an escaped exotic pet breeding in a compost
heap is remote, unless two escaped at the same time or a pregnant female of
whatever is is suggested to be.

No nest was found so there's no knowing where they were born. The
general public leave the oddest things on the Trust's compost heaps.
I'm told one of them has died and the other is still UID.

[Christina Websell]

Post by Darkside

Post by Christina Websell

Post by Darkside

Post by Christina Websell
I'd know what it was in the first place and then I'd try to feed it to
adulthood.
You seem to be suggesting that you've found somethng unknown to mankind.
Hedgehog.
Unless you've found an alien.

They're certainly not hedgehogs; even newborn hedgehogs are very
distinctive. Other species have been carefully eliminated one by one,
they aren't squirrels (not even red squirrels) or bank voles or water
voles. They're too big to be shrews and too small to be beavers.
At the weekend people were investigating some species of exotic mammal
that are sometimes kept as pets.
They'll certainly be raised until they're identifiable, if possible,
because people are just too sentimental to put them back on the compost
heap. Though without an ID it's hard to know what to feed them on!

So let's think about what what kind of mammal would give birth in a compost
heap. Rats, hedgohogs, mice, and maybe a cat might but if they are all
ruled out..!The likelihood of an escaped exotic pet breeding in a compost
heap is remote, unless two escaped at the same time or a pregnant female of
whatever is is suggested to be.

No nest was found so there's no knowing where they were born.

so you are suggesting that they could have been born elsewhere and *put
there* ?

there are only a few mammals that raise their young in a compost heap and
it's very unlikely that an alien species has arrived to do so.

[Christina Websell]

Post by Darkside
No nest was found so there's no knowing where they were born. The
general public leave the oddest things on the Trust's compost heaps.
I'm told one of them has died and the other is still UID.
--
Sue ]:(:)

Yeah, the general public will leave some some strange baby mammals on a
compost heap!
I think not.

I'd like to see a photo of them. Born in compost heap, rats, or hedgehogs.
and if you are suggesting that whatever gave birth to them put them there
because there was no nest and it is some sort of "nothing we know about" I
doubt it. However I am always up for new knowledge so lets see a photo.

[Christina Websell]

Post by Darkside

Post by Christina Websell

Post by Darkside

Post by Christina Websell
I'd know what it was in the first place and then I'd try to feed it to
adulthood.
You seem to be suggesting that you've found somethng unknown to mankind.
Hedgehog.
Unless you've found an alien.

They're certainly not hedgehogs; even newborn hedgehogs are very
distinctive. Other species have been carefully eliminated one by one,
they aren't squirrels (not even red squirrels) or bank voles or water
voles. They're too big to be shrews and too small to be beavers.
At the weekend people were investigating some species of exotic mammal
that are sometimes kept as pets.
They'll certainly be raised until they're identifiable, if possible,
because people are just too sentimental to put them back on the compost
heap. Though without an ID it's hard to know what to feed them on!

So let's think about what what kind of mammal would give birth in a compost
heap. Rats, hedgohogs, mice, and maybe a cat might but if they are all
ruled out..!The likelihood of an escaped exotic pet breeding in a compost
heap is remote, unless two escaped at the same time or a pregnant female of
whatever is is suggested to be.

No nest was found so there's no knowing where they were born. The
general public leave the oddest things on the Trust's compost heaps.
I'm told one of them has died and the other is still UID.
--
Sue ]:(:)

I've been in e-mail contact with the Trust about their alien species and
strangely enough had a reply "I saw this but I am away from work sick"

As far as I know there is not a an unknown insectivorous species in our
compost heaps.
Hedgehogs will nest there and so will rats.