After filming the polecat around Yew View, I was keen to try to set something up that would possibly provide somewhere for them to sleep so we could film them. I decided to convert a partly made hedgehog box I had and mount a small nest box camera inside. You can never tell if something like this will work, but it is worth a try!
I emailed Matt Brinstead, Head keeper at the British Wildlife Centre in Surrey. They have had success with breeding their polecats and I was keen to find out more about where they were breeding and the conditions they seemed to like. Matt was really helpful and felt that what I was planning on creating would be suitable. If you take a look at Matt’s brilliant blog, you will see these amazing photographs of the polecats at the centre. These are all from his blog and I would love to see some young polecats around the site at Yew View later this year!
Image from British Wildlife Centre By Matt Brinstead
Image from British Wildlife Centre By Matt Brinstead
Image from British Wildlife Centre By Matt Brinstead
Image from British Wildlife Centre By Matt Brinstead
Image from British Wildlife Centre By Matt Brinstead
Last week I posted some if the images of how I started the Polecat box and this week I finished it off. Adding a tube to the front, I carried it up to the bank where I have filmed them.
I wanted to make it as natural as possible, so I started to build up soil around the entrance and collected some logs…
I started to arrange the logs to create a natural entrance. I found a perfectly shaped log and used this to cover the end of the tube. I then arranged the logs, leaves and general plant debris all over the box and earth to completely hide the box.
The nest box camera inside has small LEDs that allow the camera to see in the dark. The image is good enough for us to see if there is interest. I can easily adapt this set up to a better camera if we get any interest.
Of course, I put a Bushnell in front so we can monitor if anything checks out the outside!
You will have to wait for next week for the footage from Yew View as I managed to leave the SD card behind that I had uploaded it on to! Let’s hope something checks the box out this week.