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0:00:10 > 0:00:13- One of the main pleasures - in this job...
0:00:13 > 0:00:19- ..is coming across something - totally unexpected now and then.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21- Something you've never seen before.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31- I'm in Ifan Rowlands's house.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35- He has an extraordinary - special friend in his garden.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38- Look what I have here.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41- I've never seen anything like it!
0:00:41 > 0:00:43- Look what I have here.
0:00:45 > 0:00:46- Come on.
0:00:47 > 0:00:48- Look.
0:00:50 > 0:00:51- Gosh!
0:00:53 > 0:00:55- Goodness me!
0:00:55 > 0:00:58- Will he eat that - and come back for more?
0:00:58 > 0:01:00- He'll be here all day now.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02- Feeding.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03- Yes.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05- How did he first come here?
0:01:05 > 0:01:06- How did he first come here?- - He was by the river.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10- I talked to him every morning - and brought him some bacon.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14- He came to the fence one day.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18- I continued talking to him.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20- "Come here," I said.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23- He went straight on top of the wall.
0:01:23 > 0:01:24- Really?
0:01:25 > 0:01:27- A chick's been with him.
0:01:27 > 0:01:28- He's an adult.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31- He's been coming here - for four years.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33- Really? Gosh.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35- He's doing well too. He looks good.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37- He's doing well too. He looks good.- - He nearly bit off my finger one day.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40- How?
0:01:40 > 0:01:42- Were you holding something out - for him?
0:01:43 > 0:01:47- I was going to give him a sausage. - He's very quick.
0:01:47 > 0:01:48- He grabbed your finger.
0:01:49 > 0:01:50- Yes.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53- Why sausages? - I expected you'd give him fish.
0:01:53 > 0:01:59- I went to buy some fish last night - in Tesco, Bangor...
0:02:00 > 0:02:03- ..but they'd sold out.
0:02:04 > 0:02:05- But he likes sausages.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08- But he likes sausages.- - Yes, and bacon. Any raw meat.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10- He enjoys it.
0:02:10 > 0:02:11- He likes it.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16- If I put a sausage there, - would he come and get it?
0:02:17 > 0:02:19- You can try!
0:02:19 > 0:02:21- I'll fetch a sausage now.
0:02:21 > 0:02:22- I'll fetch a sausage now.- - There's one there.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25- I'll fetch another one.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28- I chat away nineteen to the dozen - to him.
0:02:29 > 0:02:30- Come on.
0:02:30 > 0:02:31- Come on.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34- Will you come and get that?
0:02:34 > 0:02:35- Come on.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37- He's coming.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39- Look at his long neck.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41- A long beak too.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44- What do you have there? Hurry up.
0:02:45 > 0:02:46- Come on.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50- Off he goes.
0:02:52 > 0:02:53- He swallows them whole!
0:02:54 > 0:02:55- It goes straight down.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59- How many will he eat in one go?
0:02:59 > 0:03:01- What's the most you've given him?
0:03:01 > 0:03:03- What's the most you've given him?- - Gosh, about twelve.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06- Really? Goodness me!
0:03:06 > 0:03:09- Do you give him large fish - or small fish?
0:03:09 > 0:03:12- Small fish, about this size.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16- I put them in a bowl - with some water.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19- He'll come here to eat them.
0:03:20 > 0:03:21- Well, well.
0:03:22 > 0:03:23- Incredible.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26- I do this every day.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28- You put food out for him every day?
0:03:28 > 0:03:29- You put food out for him every day?- - Every morning.
0:03:29 > 0:03:30- He's here about 7.00am.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32- He's here about 7.00am.- - So you feed him in the morning.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36- In the afternoon, - if I have something for him...
0:03:36 > 0:03:40- ..I'll give it to him.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43- So he comes here in the morning, - gets fed...
0:03:44 > 0:03:45- ..then goes away.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50- Yes, perhaps, down to the river - for a drink.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54- Then he returns here for more food.
0:03:54 > 0:03:55- Yes.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57- He doesn't need to hunt at all.
0:03:57 > 0:03:58- He doesn't need to hunt at all.- - No.
0:03:59 > 0:04:00- Goodness me.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04- I'm over 50 and I've never seen - such a thing before.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09- What do the people in the town - think? Do they come to watch him?
0:04:09 > 0:04:13- The bridge - gets packed with visitors.
0:04:13 > 0:04:19- They think it's a plastic model.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21- Really? Well, well.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25- It must be a shock to them when they - see him eating fish or sausages.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28- "You've got a goldfish pond", - they say.- - goldfish bond?
0:04:29 > 0:04:31- Well, well. Incredible.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57- Not everyone buys expensive food - like Ifan for a wild friend.
0:04:58 > 0:05:04- If we do put something out, - it's usually seeds or leftovers.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09- If there's a safe path to the garden - and it looks welcoming...
0:05:09 > 0:05:13- ..shy or nervous animals will visit.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- This is a garden in Aberdare.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21- A vixen's learned that the people in - the house leave out bones for her.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27- She knows there are no dangers - in the garden.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- She takes her time - to gather the bones.
0:05:42 > 0:05:47- The garden is safe enough even for - a fox cub to come and look for food.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05- The vixen's den - isn't far from the garden...
0:06:05 > 0:06:08- ..or the cub - wouldn't be allowed to come here.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12- It's rare that cubs - venture far from the den.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25- The pair get the time - to enjoy their meal.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29- After finishing, there's no rush.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33- The vixen gathers as many bones - as a fox's mouth can hold...
0:06:33 > 0:06:36- ..and takes them back home - to enjoy later.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55- Aberystwyth at night - is far quieter than during the day.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59- The National Library - looks magnificent.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02- I've been invited here.
0:07:02 > 0:07:08- There's one house here where the - owner puts food out in the garden...
0:07:08 > 0:07:10- ..for badgers every night.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14- It's almost 7 o'clock - which is feeding time.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58- I think we'd be amazed...
0:07:58 > 0:08:02- ..if we knew exactly - what comes into the garden at night.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05- One of the creatures...
0:08:05 > 0:08:11- ..which enters many gardens in towns - and villages across Wales...
0:08:11 > 0:08:13- ..is badgers.
0:08:14 > 0:08:20- If there's food available, this is - one animal that will take advantage.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25- I'm almost sure that this is a male.
0:08:25 > 0:08:26- It's quite large.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29- It's quite fat.
0:08:29 > 0:08:30- It's in good condition.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36- The owner used to leave out food - for birds...
0:08:36 > 0:08:40- ..but the badgers - came in and stole the food.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45- The owner's now - leaving out food for the badgers.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48- They love it.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52- I guess the sett isn't far away.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56- They come through the fields, - into the housing estate...
0:08:57 > 0:08:59- ..and into this back garden.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06- I can see marks - on this one's snout...
0:09:06 > 0:09:09- ..where it's been digging for worms.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15- That's their main natural food.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20- They eat all kinds of things - but worms are their main food.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23- But there's a feast here for him.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31- I'm so close to him - I can hear him eat.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49- He's just eaten - a large piece of apple.
0:09:49 > 0:09:54- He's been eating monkey nuts but - there are chunks of apple here too.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57- He loved eating - that large chunk of apple.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12- You have to be careful with badgers.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- Their hearing is exceptionally good.
0:10:15 > 0:10:20- Luckily, it's quite windy so - there's noise coming from the trees.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24- There's a busy road - the other side of the house too.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27- The traffic noise - is drowning out my voice.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30- The badgers also - can pick up scents in the air.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32- They have a great sense of smell.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36- Their eyesight - isn't as good as ours though.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41- I'm taking advantage of that by - opening the window and watching it.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51- It's difficult to hear - above the traffic noise...
0:10:51 > 0:10:55- ..but it's making a squeaking noise - every now and then.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09- I can hear that noise clearly now.
0:11:09 > 0:11:14- I'm sure it's a happy noise - while he's eating.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18- I make the same noise - when I eat Sunday lunch.
0:11:27 > 0:11:32- When I first heard that a badger - was coming into this garden...
0:11:33 > 0:11:38- ..I imagined I'd have to hide - and keep quiet.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41- But this one doesn't care.
0:11:41 > 0:11:47- He's so focused on his food, - that even if I went to sit by him...
0:11:47 > 0:11:49- ..I don't think it would bother him.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51- But it's a privilege.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55- We must bear in mind - it's a wild, nocturnal animal...
0:11:56 > 0:11:59- ..that has chosen - to come into this garden...
0:11:59 > 0:12:02- ..because there's food here for him.
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0:12:32 > 0:12:37- We tend to keep all sorts of gear - and bits and pieces in our gardens.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40- Sheets of metal, bottles...
0:12:40 > 0:12:44- ..the odd wheel or two - or stones and plastic tubs.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49- These are good places - for wildlife to hide...
0:12:49 > 0:12:52- ..especially if the plants - aren't tidily maintained.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57- This is an allotment in Porthmadog.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02- One of the gardeners, Elfyn Lewis, - has seen many slow-worms here.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07- Where's the best place to find them? - Most of these allotments are tidy.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10- Yes, they're very tidy.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12- One or two require a bit of work!
0:13:12 > 0:13:18- I think that one of the places - that require work would be best.
0:13:18 > 0:13:19- Here?
0:13:19 > 0:13:22- Here?- - It looks ideal.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27- There's plastic at the far end. - They like plastic.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29- You go in first.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- I don't want a row - - everyone knows you.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35- I'll lift up any pieces of plastic.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38- They look alright. We'll try them.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46- A lot of snails but nothing else.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49- This is a good place - - it's nice and warm.
0:13:50 > 0:13:51- No.
0:13:53 > 0:13:54- Here we are.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- This is a nice place.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00- It's a large one too.
0:14:02 > 0:14:03- Come on.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07- I'll do it slowly. - I don't want to hold it long.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09- Come on.
0:14:09 > 0:14:14- They're brilliant in gardens - because they eat snails and slugs.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17- You can tell it's warm - - it's like an eel.
0:14:18 > 0:14:19- It's a female.
0:14:19 > 0:14:24- Can you see the brown line - along its flank?
0:14:24 > 0:14:30- On its back is a brown line. - You can't see it very clearly here.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32- It's along its back.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38- Everyone thinks they're snakes - and are scared of them.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42- But they're lizards - which have lost their legs.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46- They're harmless creatures.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51- I've found another one - under this plastic.
0:14:51 > 0:14:56- It's weird that in one allotment - a bit less tidy than the rest...
0:14:56 > 0:14:58- ..we found these.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00- If you have a large garden...
0:15:00 > 0:15:04- ..it's worth you leaving one corner - to grow wild.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07- If you put pieces of metal down, - these will come.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09- They're great in the garden.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14- They eat snails and slugs and other - things you don't want in the garden.
0:15:15 > 0:15:16- You need these.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19- This is quite thick. - She might be pregnant.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22- She is, so I'll let her go.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24- Off you go, my beauty.
0:15:28 > 0:15:29- Off you go.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40- Almost every time - food's left out for birds...
0:15:40 > 0:15:43- ..it's eaten by unpopular creatures.
0:15:49 > 0:15:54- If you live near trees, - a grey squirrel might visit...
0:15:55 > 0:15:57- ..and eat all the birds' food.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17- This is a housing estate - in Llangefni.
0:16:17 > 0:16:22- What's good about here is if you see - a squirrel in the garden...
0:16:22 > 0:16:23- ..it'll be a red squirrel.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26- There are no grey squirrels - on Anglesey.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30- There are houses - on this side of the estate...
0:16:31 > 0:16:33- ..where the squirrels - visit frequently.
0:16:34 > 0:16:35- I hope I see one now.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54- Alison Edwards - lives on the estate...
0:16:54 > 0:16:58- ..and brings food out for - the birds and squirrels every day.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00- Do red squirrels come to the garden?
0:17:01 > 0:17:05- Yes, almost every day - unless there's traffic noise.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07- Two or three red ones come here.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11- Recently, a black one - has been coming here.
0:17:11 > 0:17:12- They come to this area, do they?
0:17:12 > 0:17:13- They come to this area, do they?- - Yes.
0:17:14 > 0:17:19- I put nuts in the feeder by the - trees then watch them coming down.
0:17:19 > 0:17:24- They're acrobatic coming down - the tree. They go down head first.
0:17:24 > 0:17:25- They're cute, aren't they.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29- Yes, with their bushy tail. - It's great to see them.
0:17:30 > 0:17:31- Red ones and a black one come here.
0:17:31 > 0:17:32- Red ones and a black one come here.- - Yes, a black one.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34- Does that one come here every day?
0:17:34 > 0:17:36- Does that one come here every day?- - Most days.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39- I definitely see a red one - every day.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41- The black one comes here most days.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44- Which way do they come - - along the trees?
0:17:45 > 0:17:48- Yes, though the red one - is quite cheeky.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50- It sits on that wall...
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- ..crosses the road, watches me - put the nuts in the feeder...
0:17:54 > 0:17:56- ..and then comes over.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57- Are they shy?
0:17:57 > 0:17:59- Are they shy?- - I don't know if they recognize me.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04- They're OK when I'm in the garden. - They come to eat the nuts.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07- It must be nice for you all - on this estate...
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- ..to look out and see - a red squirrel and not a grey one.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13- It is. We see a lot of red ones.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18- We didn't see many grey ones. - We rarely saw them.- - http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/the-uk-island-which-has-completely-wiped-out-grey-sq- - 1.html
0:18:18 > 0:18:22- The red ones have come on very well. - It's nice.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25- You can just - look out of your window.
0:18:25 > 0:18:30- I can sit in the kitchen watching - squirrels go up and down the trees.
0:18:30 > 0:18:31- It's fantastic.
0:18:31 > 0:18:32- It's fantastic.- - Nice.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35- Do they come here more - in the winter?
0:18:35 > 0:18:39- You see them more in winter - as the trees are bare.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41- You see them - going through the trees.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44- If you stay still and silent, - they come down.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48- We don't see as many in summer.
0:18:48 > 0:18:53- But you don't look out for them then - - you don't expect to see them.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04- As Alison said, as true as it is - that leaves grow on trees...
0:19:04 > 0:19:07- ..the red squirrel - comes to get its food.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21- It isn't scared of anyone...
0:19:21 > 0:19:24- ..and is happy - leisurely filling its stomach.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54- It's unusual to see them like this - out in the open.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00- They usually hide in thick woodland.
0:20:08 > 0:20:09- Around a decade ago...
0:20:10 > 0:20:14- ..there were fewer than 40 - red squirrels left on Anglesey.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- After a lot of conservation work...
0:20:18 > 0:20:22- ..there are now 700 of them - on the island.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27- Some have crossed the Menai - to Gwynedd...
0:20:27 > 0:20:31- ..which is great, as they're still - very rare in the rest of Wales.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54- Here's the black squirrel - that Alison was talking about.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00- It's actually dark brown - but is the same species.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05- The red squirrel - can vary greatly in colour.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23- These two are obviously friends - and are very happy on the estate.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37- I've followed a squirrel - to another garden on the estate.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40- A tree in the middle of the garden - is a hive of activity.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56- This squirrel is very busy.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59- It's building a nest.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03- Squirrels build a large, round nest, - like a big ball.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06- It's right at the top of this tree.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10- It's been out - gathering green twigs and bark.
0:22:10 > 0:22:15- It'll put that inside the nest - and make a neat bed.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18- It will be nice for it over winter.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22- In somewhere like this - with plenty of food available...
0:22:22 > 0:22:25- ..it might give birth - in April or May.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29- It's an ideal place for them.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31- They're nesting in a tall tree.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34- They don't have to go far - to find food.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37- People put out nuts, oats - and monkey nuts for them.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40- Everything they need is here.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51- The town can be as wild - as the countryside.
0:22:53 > 0:22:54- Quite often, more wild.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58- One of the best habitats...
0:22:58 > 0:23:02- ..is a garden with plenty of food - and places to hide.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07- What's great - is you can watch this wild show...
0:23:08 > 0:23:10- ..from the comfort of your own home.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35- S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.
0:23:35 > 0:23:36- .