HELP!!!! a humane way to get rid of rat

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by shei111

people on this forum are not going round shooting wildlife they are shooting rodents that are not wanted in there gardens, homes and sheds.

the point being that rats are wildlife you may not like them but then again we have people who dont like Badgers - and (although not heavily represented here there are those that dont like hen harriers etc). Come to that other countries have wildlife species that carry rabies (red dogs, wolves, vampire bats etc etc)- which can be passed to people in a similar way to weils (ie through urine to open cut or bodily orifice) should they all be erradicated too ???

rats are extremly prolific so shooting a few or even every one you see will not noticeably reduce the risk of weils disease - what does reduce the risk is washing your hands properly after gardening , and covering up cuts etc In fact the risk of catching weils in the garden is neglible most cases come from contact with dirty water in ditches, rivers, canals etc - and the key here is if you have been in a risk situation such as falling in a canal then come down with flu like symptoms tell your doctor and insist on antibiotic treatment

[hobble]

I see the odd rat in my garden, the last one I posted as a picture on this forum back in March.
I would not panic, keep my child in, call for pest control unless it moved in to my house. Most people probably sleep through their major activity blissfully unaware.
Rats can be healthy clean living creatures in the right habitat, none I have ever seen look filthy.
Yes I am aware of the disease they carry and I wash my hands after gardening,
who doesn't?
It is probably not a good idea to endorse shooting rats as children who may visit this forum may think it is OK to shoot wild animals.
There are many other risks we take in life other than allowing the odd rat into our gardens.

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by eeyore

actually the Rabbit , together with hares and pikas, is a lagomorph.

I knew that was the word, but my fingers betrayed me.

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by shei111

people on this forum are not going round shooting wildlife they are shooting rodents that are not wanted in there gardens, homes and sheds.

Hmm... when exactly did rodents cease to be wildlife?

Originally Posted by shei111

if you asked alot of members on the forum what animal dont you want on your property I think you would find rats would be high on the list

I'm sure you're right, rats would probably be top of the list. I'm just not convinced that they deserve to be. They are intelligent and highly adaptable creatures who have learned to make a home for themselves in towns and cities where most other mammals have not. This brings them into conflict with humans and has earned them a lot of bad press, some of it deserved, much of it not. If I remember my history lessons correctly (it was a long time ago ) even the bubonic plague was actually spread by fleas. The poor rats were just unwitting and unwilling transport for the fleas.

They need to get themselves a better publicist. Reinvent the brand. Anyone got Max Clifford's phone number?

Dave P.

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by pressld2

I'm sure you're right, rats would probably be top of the list. I'm just not convinced that they deserve to be.

Max Clifford

Dave P.

As reported in the ... Moon?

The quote may have been modified, but only accidentaly.

[cat72uk]

if you make sure thay cant get in to the house
and dont keep seeds and feeds in a place thay can get to
thay will move on any way

[dottie30]

interesting to see the discussion this has created.Im an average citizen who adores wildlife.I do think the rat is an attractive creature and this rat seems to be solitary and also has a glossy coat etc.HOWEVER as said before I dont particulaly want him in my garden.i know that during the night there are probably hundreds running around.and nature is nature-we cannot pick and choose what we have around us.I merely stated my own point of view.

[nightshade]

The humane way is to use your garden,rats like to be undisturbed

[dottie30]

The moral is dont poison anything.My neighbour got the council to put poison down for the rat.Its poisoned my garden mice in the process.Im gutted and would NEVER hurt any animal.Guess I didnt stop my neighbour...and as Kayleigh said they dont die quick....enough said...

[screwfix1982]

heres the 411 for all the do gooders out there.

Brown Rats are not indiginous, grey squirrels are not indiginous. i.e. they are not supposed to be part of the uk wildlife. They did not arrive in these isles by natural occurences, they were introduced by man. I dont think anyone will find an instance where man has introduced an animal into a foreign environment and it has not resulted in negative consiquences. The Brown Rat and the grey squirrel, have superceded the population of our resident Black Rats and Red Squirrels, which means they are nothing more than vermin which require in my honest opinion sustained culling.

dont get me wrong, i am an animal lover however im not adverse to the premise that certain species do require culling. at the same time i go air rifle hunting. the human being is a hunter gatherer, you cannot suppress hundreds of thousands of years evolution with 2 thousand years of "civilisation" and supermarket chains. i enjoy hunting and i justify my actions by believing i have a legitimate reason to kill an animal, where possible i eat my kills, and i dont feel the unatural urge of vulgar "trophy hunters" to stuff and mount the preys head above the fire place.

back to the topic of catching a rat humanly, this is absolutly ludicrous, by using a humane rat trap, all you are doing is passing the problem off on someone else. it doesnt matter where the rat is released, it will travel to the easiest food source, which means someone elses back garden. i suggest to do what i do shoot it with an air rifle (in the head) and place it on a high platform for a red kite to feed on, any unease you felt for taking an animals life can this way be eased in the knowledge that you are aiding the survival of a rare species.

[JW]

Certainly an interesting discussion.

From my experience the best way to rid yourself of the Rat is to remove any food source. Once the easy food has gone it'll try to find more elsewhere. Keep the areas around bird feeders clear, use a no-mess formula for example.

I would say that I'm an animal lover but even I would think twice about entertaining a Rat in my garden. Yes the once you find in the countryside with stunning glossy coats and looking well fed are much better to have around than the greasy, scraggly, sick looking sewer/city rats.

[Goatboy]

My personal opinion is they are fine in the garden but if there are signs that they are coming into the house then something has to be done.

Not that I have to worry, any that dare to come near my house will be seen to by Doc my Jack Russell. He's the best cat I've ever had.

[naturegirl]

I was completely unaware that rats visited my garden until my Papillon started to sit and stare at a place in the corner. A few days later I found her proudly standing guard over quite a large rat (dead) with a very smug expression on her face!

Naturegirl

[Tracey.A]

Originally Posted by naturegirl

I was completely unaware that rats visited my garden until my Papillon started to sit and stare at a place in the corner. A few days later I found her proudly standing guard over quite a large rat (dead) with a very smug expression on her face!

Naturegirl

That's one brave and ferocious little dog you have there! Papillion's are so small and fragile looking that I would never have thought one would take on a large rat. Huge respect!

Tracey