Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Wildlife, nature & conservation

Passionate about wildlife, nature and conservation? Join our community to share sightings, discuss environmental issues, and swap tips for protecting the planet and its creatures.

What could be under my shed?

54 replies

Usernumber36373647323 · 06/05/2026 14:34

I believe there’s an animal/animals nesting under our shed.

I have a 9 year old jack Russell terrier who keeps going to the same spots around or shed, no barking or anything she just starts sniffing, trying to get under our shed and wagging her tail - more playful than anything which makes me think that it’s not any kind of rodent/s as I feel she’d been acting more aggressive. I also felt we’d know if there’s any kind of rat or mouse as they’d more be likely seen around our bins which is in another part of our garden.

So I assumed hedgehogs - we’ve had hedgehogs before as have the neighbours - quite common in our area. But now I have some concerns.

she will stay in the spot spot for ages just looking or trying to get under the shed (which she cannot)

there’s a very small gap at the bottom of on side of the shed which might be an entrance point however it’s quite small and can’t see how a fully grown hedgehog would’ve through it - baby hedgehogs would. We cannot see any other points but one side is against a fence and there’s a massive hedge at the back which my dog keeps trying to get into - she’s not a typical Jack Russell so struggled with any stealthiness 😂

we’ve tried looking under the shed - also had a wired camera under there connected to our phone but cannot see anything obvious - but it was hard to see much.

obviously we cannot rip the shed down and we don’t want to potentially disturb any wildlife.

we haven’t seen anything obvious sign wise. We keep meaning to check at night when anything could become more active but we end up falling sleep quite easily.

any idea? Tips?

whatever it is our dog cannot cannot get to it - yet. The gap is too small.

we’ve also tried looking in and through the actual shed - as there’s a few small gaps in the floor - damn rain.

OP posts:
BurtsBeefCrisps · 06/05/2026 20:34

Both my JRTs have killed rats, one when she was on a lead 🤦‍♀️!! Both probably ex working stock though.
Both get v excited at these times, tail wagging etc though so I would say you have rats passing through!

PloddingAlong21 · 06/05/2026 20:59

Reckon rats

Chocolatebunny61 · 06/05/2026 21:29

It’s likely to be rats. We had the same problem with them under an old shed we had. We didn’t see them around the bins at all we just heard scratching noises. In the end we demolished the shed which of course spoiled their fun and they went elsewhere!

Agapornis · 07/05/2026 00:22

I have a wildlife camera, they're great, get one! I have a Ltl Acorn. They start around £100 so a bit expensive for one off use. Maybe ask around if you can borrow one, no doubt there'll be a neighbour who has one for the hedgehogs. Alternatively NatureSpy (which also sells cameras) has a loan scheme here https://naturespy.org/pages/trail-cam-collective

Trail Cam Collective

Join our Trail Cam Collective, a unique scheme by NatureSpy that loans camera traps to individuals and small groups.

https://naturespy.org/pages/trail-cam-collective

BuildbyNumbere · 07/05/2026 06:01

It will be rats, especially if you’ve seen them around bins … they will have a nest somewhere.

SparklyGlitterballs · 07/05/2026 06:34

If you're semi rural it could be mice or voles. Rats are everywhere, even big cities, so they're another possibility, but there's often a smell (like ammonia) from their urine. If it were foxes you'd probably have spotted them by now as they've just had litters and the cubs would be up and about. The entrance also wouldn't be tiny. As previously said, hogs tend to leave a lot of poop about as evidence. A badger would need quite a bit entrance, wider than it is tall, as they're not small animals.

I would suggest getting a wildlife camera if you can afford one. In the meantime, sprinkle some flour at the entrance and see what footprints appear.

NFLsHomeGirl · 07/05/2026 06:42

Er, rats of course!

Animatic · 07/05/2026 08:15

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 06/05/2026 15:35

What?! Sleep in the coop with the hens?! I need a picture.

Maybe like this?

What could be under my shed?
Usernumber36373647323 · 07/05/2026 08:58

BuildbyNumbere · 07/05/2026 06:01

It will be rats, especially if you’ve seen them around bins … they will have a nest somewhere.

I haven’t seen them around bins. I meant that I thought I would have if it’s rats - I haven’t!

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 07/05/2026 09:35

Usernumber36373647323 · 07/05/2026 08:58

I haven’t seen them around bins. I meant that I thought I would have if it’s rats - I haven’t!

Just demolish your shed and as pp said rats will leave. If you have a new shed get a concrete base put down first. FWIW, rats are everywhere. I leave them now (even though bastard cat has caught 2 outside recently). I saw one in a nearby park with a lake recently.

Usernumber36373647323 · 07/05/2026 19:01

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 07/05/2026 09:35

Just demolish your shed and as pp said rats will leave. If you have a new shed get a concrete base put down first. FWIW, rats are everywhere. I leave them now (even though bastard cat has caught 2 outside recently). I saw one in a nearby park with a lake recently.

I would like to know for sure first. Not in a financial position to take down and get a new shed - we need one. It already has a concrete base so I’m really not sure!

OP posts:
Agapornis · 07/05/2026 22:59

I think demolishing a shed to find out what's there is a bit silly! Seriously just get/borrow a wildlife camera.

Newmum738 · 07/05/2026 23:14

I’m guessing rats

Ladygodalmighty · 07/05/2026 23:31

WeaselsRising · 06/05/2026 14:55

At our last house we had an enormous toad, a badger and a fox under the shed, not all at the same time.

Our ndn had a family of rats under their shed which was hilarious because they called pest control to say that WE had rats that were going into their garden. Didn't they look stupid.

Wind in the Willows immediately springs to mind 🤔

kinkytoes · 08/05/2026 22:00

Get the camera- even after you find out what's under there, you will enjoy seeing what other wildlife visits your garden 😍

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 08/05/2026 23:26

Usernumber36373647323 · 07/05/2026 19:01

I would like to know for sure first. Not in a financial position to take down and get a new shed - we need one. It already has a concrete base so I’m really not sure!

If it has a concrete base it might not be rats. I saw in my mum’s garden where they’d (the rats) had made a home, it was wide and really smooth, the earth. Quite clever really.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 08/05/2026 23:28

oh shit. Can’t link as it’s AI but apparently rats can live under a concrete base shed. My stepdad always told me they couldn’t.

Overallydependent · 08/05/2026 23:44

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 08/05/2026 23:28

oh shit. Can’t link as it’s AI but apparently rats can live under a concrete base shed. My stepdad always told me they couldn’t.

We’ve got bunnies under our shed concrete bases
Just leave the rats in peace OP, they aren’t doing any harm and your dog is enjoying having them around 🐀

Confessionsofa40yrold · 09/05/2026 16:11

I’d put my life on it that it’s rats 🐀

BoarBrush · 09/05/2026 17:50

@Agapornis cheers for that trail cam loan website recommendation, have signed up so we can watch our wee live under the shed hedgehogs.

ReallyOtter · 09/05/2026 17:52

Grass snakes or adders?

DilettanteRedRagger · 09/05/2026 18:04

Usernumber36373647323 · 06/05/2026 15:00

Was kind of hoping people would say definitely not rats as I couldn’t cope 🤣

there isn’t much gap between the shed and the base/ground either so it’s baffling!

i am still hoping it’s a hedgehog as we have had them before.

If you’re ABSOLUTELY sure that the only opening is that tiny one, then I don’t see how it could be anything but mice or rats (someone did mention snakes so maybe that’s possible)?But I think rats can get in an opening as small as a pence coin? (Google pause) Yes, verified - they can get through holes that are just 20-25mm, so about coin-sized. Really sorry OP, as I know you’re saying you hoped it wasn’t rats. Call out someone professional to investigate and exterminate IF it’s determined to be rats? You may be able to keep rats out of the house, but trying to keep them from places like this is a Herculean (and actually impossible) task.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 09/05/2026 18:59

DilettanteRedRagger · 09/05/2026 18:04

If you’re ABSOLUTELY sure that the only opening is that tiny one, then I don’t see how it could be anything but mice or rats (someone did mention snakes so maybe that’s possible)?But I think rats can get in an opening as small as a pence coin? (Google pause) Yes, verified - they can get through holes that are just 20-25mm, so about coin-sized. Really sorry OP, as I know you’re saying you hoped it wasn’t rats. Call out someone professional to investigate and exterminate IF it’s determined to be rats? You may be able to keep rats out of the house, but trying to keep them from places like this is a Herculean (and actually impossible) task.

Adopt a farm cat. That will catch the rats.

DilettanteRedRagger · 09/05/2026 19:07

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 09/05/2026 18:59

Adopt a farm cat. That will catch the rats.

cat farm GIF

I don’t have a moggy right now (DH’s last died shortly before I came on the scene and it’s been several years now, but he still tears up when discussing DCat) but I would love one. If DH thought there were rats, he might be more receptive to the idea. OP, if you have rats, could you send me one via Royal Mail? I’ll send you the postage money. I’m not paying for the rat, though - cost-of-living crisis, you know.

CMOTDibbler · 09/05/2026 19:13

Almost undoubtably rats. You'd be surprised the number my big boy cat drags in. When I told my next door neighbours I'd seen rats running up their bird feeder they didn't believe me as they'd seen no signs of them.
You don't need to tear the shed down, just get a pest controller in to put poison down