Brown rat and hedgehogs

Jo H · #1 (**permalink**) 22-02-2011, 12:20 PM

Hello to you all

This is my first visit here and the site it amazing.
I have (I believe) a lone brown rat in my garden, my main concern is that my hedgehogs will not visit when they come out of hibernation (Had the same 2 for the last couple of years!)
How can I get rid of the rat, and how, if possible, can I keep them away while I am feeding the hedgehogs?
I have only noticed it since November when we had a lot of snow.

Any help will be gratefully received!

Thanks

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 22-02-2011, 12:33 PM

I doubt that the rat will be an issue to the hedgehogs. Its likely that you have several rats, they are pretty much everywhere. It may be that you have only just noticed them. If you want to remove them, then putting traps down which have tunnel entrances to stop hedgehogs going down them, or humane traps may be the best options. Don't use poison as it can and will kill hedgehogs. If you feed birds and hedgehog then rats are often a byproduct, however summer is a long way away and rats can change habits depending on food availability and surrounding habitats at different times of year. They may move out of your area as it warms up.

Welcome to the site.