Identify burrow owner

Silverman · #1 (**permalink**) 30-06-2009, 10:40 AM

Something is digging in my rockery!! The hole is about 2cm diameter, there is no sign of droppings , just a mound of freshly excavated soil, which gets larger overnight!

There's no sign of another hole, or excavation anywhere else, tho' that's not been fully explored - I've discounted a mole, as it (as far as I know) wouldn't leave an open hole like this, and there are no other mounds (that I know of!).

Any ideas, please? Shrew perhaps, but no activity ever observed, and I thought they were constantly after food?

The Woodman · #2 (**permalink**) 30-06-2009, 10:54 AM

Quite possibly a young rat, Silverman. They do exactly the same thing in our garden every year at this time.

rawoak · #3 (**permalink**) 30-06-2009, 11:13 AM

Yep looks like a rat hole to me as well, we have a couple like that in a field bank on our side.

shirl · #4 (**permalink**) 30-06-2009, 05:37 PM

It's quite a small hole but young rat would fit very nicely, they do excavate earth out of the burrow to leave spoil heaps. There may be other holes or exit places somewhere as they do like to have a different "escape" route. A young rat has just moved into the veg garden as if the flower borders didn't have enough space!

Shirl

Silverman · #5 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 07:18 AM

Thanks for that!

If true, I am faced with a problem - what to do about it?

Whilst agreeing that everything has a right to life, and interesting though it may be, in this case I feel that practicalities must take precedent over sentimental idealism. Being only 15ft from the house, this thing is too close for comfort!!

I appreciate that it is said that we are never more than a few metres from a rat, but so far I've had no knowledge of this - ignorance is bliss!! Even if I could take the attitude of live and let live, I doubt that my wife would agree! Psychological maybe, but.....!!??

Any (sensible) suggestions, please?

salukiwhippet · #6 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 11:14 PM

When it comes to rats, I'm afraid that for most folk, the disease and damage risks outweigh any sentimentality.
However, I would say, judging by the pics, that the hole doesn't look quite right for a rat, although I'm not sure what else it could be. I would try to get a look at the animal itself before setting traps or similar. Once you have ID'd it positively, there are several options that I'd be happy to advise on. (I'm a gamekeeper/wildlife manager by profession)

James

CountrySoulmate · #7 (**permalink**) 13-02-2012, 01:25 PM

Hi, it is a few years since this thread was posted, but having the same problem, and seeing exactly the same mound of earth at the corner of my small rockery I was curious to see how to get rid of the rat that is causing it. This rat plays around in my garden, searches for snails which I have seen it carry off and taunts a neighbours cat! There are also little frogs or toads or something that hops around, will the rat eat those? I can't bear knowing it is there, not 5 yards from my house!

How can I get rid of it/them? My garden is enclosed by a concrete wall, but this does not go right into the soil all around. I suspect they have burrowed through the rockery from the garden behind who have an area that is wild. I am inner city and even had an old looking large fox jump over the wall and back again.

I do not want to do anything that might kill the birds. I watched the rat run up the pole to the feeder! I no longer put seed out.

Can anyone help?

Brocakat · #8 (**permalink**) 13-02-2012, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountrySoulmate

".............. There are also little frogs or toads or something that hops around, will the rat eat those?

Rats will give most things a fair try.

Conceal your poisoned bait where other , desirable life-forms don't have access to it.

rawoak · #9 (**permalink**) 14-02-2012, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brocakat

Rats will give most things a fair try.

Conceal your poisoned bait where other , desirable life-forms don't have access to it.

I agree with this and would sugest buying a bait that is in a sachet (most hardware stores will stoke them ,) then put the sachet into the hole...
We live in a rural area and my preferance is to shoot them as I can enshure a clean kill and nothing is harmed but you would want someone you trust Implicitly and who owns an air rifle.....

CountrySoulmate · #10 (**permalink**) 14-02-2012, 08:54 AM

Thank you both very much for replying.

I will look for those sachets today as I don't know anyone with an air rifle! I do have some bait that I put in a small plastic cup covered in cling film which I lowered into the hole and put a brick over the entrance. I am just worried how many rats there may be in that burrow.