Michael Viney responds to reader's observations and queries about nature
I was moving a piece of furniture in the back shed when I noticed a spider's web on which the spider was spinning around. When it stopped, I touched the web and the spider repeated the performance. What was the reason for this?
Seamas Kennedy, Donaghmede, Dublin.
When you moved the piece of furniture you agitated some strands of the web. The spider rushed out to these strands to capture its supposed prey and wrap it in a silk cocoon. It repeated this activity when you agitated the web again.
Recently I was out for a walk at night and disturbed two badgers. One of them scarpered, but the other one started to run towards me. I flashed a torch at him but he continued at a pretty fast pace. At this point I decided to retreat. If I had stood my ground would he have attacked me or backed off?
John Feeley, Kinvara, Co Galway.
The pair of badgers may have been mating. Badgers have poor sight and rely mainly on hearing and smell.If you were downwind of them the male may have thought that you were another male badger encroaching, and attacked. Badgers usually avoid humans, but you were right to retreat.
A reader has given an environmentally friendly way of controlling slugs. Leave a bare patch of ground around the crop area with pieces of thorny briar laid on it; the slugs will not cross it.
Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. E-mail: viney@anu.ie. Observations sent by e-mail should be accompanied by postal address.