After three months, the quail have come to grief. Out of an original five birds, only one is still alive. A close inspection reveals that rats entered the quail run, killed the birds after a great deal of chaotic struggling, then pulled them apart and stuffed them under the quail shed. Not only is it distressing to have birds killed by predators, but having it done in such a violent and brutal fashion by opportunistic rodents rubs salt into the wound.

Rats will eat very nearly everything. Aggressive enough to kill small birds and mammals, these pests are some of the most widely distributed mammals on the planet because they can adapt to any situation. Quail is probably not their first choice of food, but presented with the opportunity to kill and eat a confined bird, they will take it with hardly a moment's notice. Probably drawn into the area by the presence of quail food, the attack is not only a lesson in the importance of vermin control, but also a reminder of the value of good cleanliness. It's easy to be wise after the event, but maybe some more attention to how the birds were being fed might have reduced the chances of rats being drawn into the run.

As soon as the identity of the culprits was revealed, we started to see signs of rats across the entire garden. They are living in the drystone walls and have dug their holes into a long stretch of banking above a stream. Rats need to drink a surprisingly large amount of water every day, so it's not surprising that they should have chosen to settle here. It now becomes a matter of planning a response to the attack -

Updates will follow!

The new Solway Feeders ladder trap, soon to be added to the website.

We've been working on the new Solway Feeders catalogue over the past few days, and we've added a number of new products for 2012. One of our newest products is the Solway Ladder Trap, our own version of the traditional crow trap (also known as a letterbox trap) which has been used across the country for the past century.

Unlike larsen traps, letterbox traps don't use springs or any moving parts to catch birds. They depend on the same principle used in lobster pots, which allows birds in from outside but doesn't let them out from inside. The birds pop down through the ladder and then find that they can't physically fly vertically back up through it.

Letterbox traps work best with a live decoy, and they have an advantage over traditional larsen traps because they can catch dozens of crows in one setting.

The Cluson Screenlite kit is great for lamping foxes from a vehicle.

With the shortest day of the year fast approaching, it will soon be time for foxes to start their annual breeding cycle. Vixens will be screaming at night and dog foxes will be wandering far and wide in search of a mate, so now is a good time to get on top of these animals before they settle down and start to think about having cubs in the spring.

We sell a huge variety of fox control equipment, from lamps and torches to snares and traps, and we are trying and testing new products all the time. One of the best gadgets available for the fox controller has to be the Screenlite kit, which allows a single lamper to search for foxes at night from the comfort of their land rover or 4x4. Unlike traditional car lamping kits, no drilling or professional installation is required, since the kit works using a simple suction cup.

A fully rotational ball socket gives three hundred and sixty degree turning capacity, and it is easy to reach out of your open window to control the beam. Once you have found your fox, the clamp holds the lamp securely in place while you take aim and fire. The Cluson Screenlite kit is a great alternative to roof mounted lamps, and the fact that it can be set up and removed in a matter of seconds makes it far more convenient, without the danger of drips of leaks through permanently mounted torch holes.

A Solway Fox Trap set up beside a partridge release pen.

Over the past few nights, a fox has been stalking around our partridge release pen. He's been pushing in the wire and scaring the birds in his attempts to get inside, but as yet, he's only been able to kill one bird outside the pen. With the electric fence and rabbit netting all around the pen, it's unlikely that he'll be able to get in, but the future's not bright for the birds once they are released.

Having studied the way that he is moving around the pen by looking for his footprints in the wet moss, it's quite obvious that he's using some distinct tracks back and forth. A fox trap might just turn the tables on this nocturnal prowler, so we have set one up against the sitka spruce plantation where he likes to walk. It's important to cover the floor of a cage trap so that any curious fox will not be put off by having to walk on galvanised mesh to get inside. We covered the floor of the trap with moss peeled from some old stones so that the mesh is totally hidden, and baited the trap with a dead rabbit.

The trap has been set for a couple of days now, and it is quite normal that nothing has happened yet. Foxes are very cautious animals, so it may be some time before the human smell wears off and the trap starts to pull its weight. The good thing about the Solway Fox Trap is that it is side entry, making it far more versatile than many other "straight through" traps. It can be used to catch foxes on awkward corners or in places where traditional traps or snares are unsuitable.

It's now just a matter of playing the waiting game...

A Little Nipper mouse trap, baited with chocolate spread and set near to obvious signs of mouse damage on pipe insulation.

Mice have been running rampant over the past few days, not only stealing wheat but also running through our office kitchen and leaving droppings behind the bin. It's time to take action!

We sell a huge variety of different mouse traps, but the simplest and most traditional design has to be the Little Nipper. Before setting a mouse trap, it's a good idea to have a think about where you will be trapping. Take care to avoid setting traps out in the open, not only because a trap in the middle of a floor might be a hazard to pets and children, but also because mice never stray far from cover. They love to scurry along the bottoms of walls because it makes them feel secure, and they will always find something to run along if they have to make a dash for it.

Look for droppings and identify possible passages where mice will be moving, then think about where you could intercept them en route. We found that mice had been chewing on foam insulation beneath our kitchen sink, so we removed the skirting board and set the trap so that it ran parallel to the direction of the insulation. It was easy to clip the skirting board back into position so that the trap would be safe from pets.

As far as bait is concerned, try to use something either sweet or nutty. Peanut butter is good for drawing in mice, as is chocolate spread, particularly if you can find a brand that also has a high nut content. Smear a tiny amount on the trigger plate and you will be ready for action. Many of our mouse traps are supplied pre-baited, but this can wear off after a while and you may have to top up the bait with your own supplies.

If you have a serious mouse problem, you may like to use a purpose made Mouse Attractant, which has been formulated specifically for mice. Not only are these baits very effective, but they are also very easy to use.

Check your mouse traps every morning and keep an eye on how they are getting on. When you catch a mouse, empty the trap and reset it in precisely the same place with the same bait. If you've caught one, you'll usually find several others nearby...

Mouse damage on stored wheat - droppings and "kibbled" grains are clearly visible.

With the cold weather coming in, we've been noticing a serious influx of mice over the last few days. Several of the little pests have found our wheat store in an old farm outbuilding, and the characteristic signs of mouse droppings are now clearly visible all around the ripped feed bags.

Rats and mice feed very differently, and their leftovers also provide some important clues as to the identity of the robber. While rats chomp through entire grains and leave the occasional crumb, mice peel away the chaff and nibble out the the heart of each seed, leaving what are known as "kibbled" grain in a messy heap mixed in with droppings.

Having spotted and identified the problem, we need  to get some traps set up to protect the wheat, otherwise the snow will come down and there will be nothing to feed the birds...

Solway Spring Traps need to be weathered before use to get rid of factory smells and shiny metals

We've been working a line of Solway Spring Traps for stoats and weasels all year, but as the seasons revolve, these predators take on new habits and it's always a good idea to have traps ready to go out to block new paths and trails. New Solway Spring Traps need to be thoroughly weathered before use because the manufacturer supplies them to us in immaculate condition. Shiny galvanised metal can be a deterrent to crafty stoats and weasels, and waxy preservatives can carry oily smells which are decidedly off-putting.

There are a number of different ways of "weathering" traps, and some are more effective than others. The traditional way of doing it was to bury traps underground for a few weeks so that the shine came off the metal, and this is still a very good way of preparing traps. Some people boil their traps in tea for a few hours before allowing them to steep overnight in the mixture, and this turns the glossy silver sheen into a subtle purple tone.

Many upland keepers use the slightly acidic nature of peaty moorland water to eat through the shiny coating, so that after a few weeks in a hill stream, traps look brown and easy to camouflage. It is only natural for customers to want a nice shiny new trap, but unless you're prepared to take the glossy coating off the metal, you'll struggle to get the best from your Spring Trap.