Rat in the garden

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

If its only a couple I would leave them alone.

Kayleigh, it might be a couple now but by the end of the year it may be hundreds

Ian

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Garden Carpet

I have the dubious pleasure of rats in my attic. i

You should get rid of them, Rats are notorious for destroying electrical wiring and as an electrician i am speaking from experience.

One old farmhouse i used to get a lot of calls to had a lean to utility room on the end of the house, the incoming power supply and associated consumer units were also in there.
One day the owner called me and asked me to inspect the wiring as he had a water leak above in the small roof space which was caused by rats chewing through the casing of a water tank.
When i managed to get up into the loft which wasn't easy, the first thing i noticed was the disgusting and overpowering smell of rat droppings, the entire ceiling area was covered in them. It was impossible to work up there without breathing apparatus which, fortunately i had with me, so once up there i had a good look around. Every cable from both large consumer units feeding the entire power requirements of the property were virtually destroyed, i had to rewire the lot, the most unpleasent job i have ever had the misfortune to get involved with. The worse part of it was trying to keep my hands free of cuts as the last thing i wanted was to pick up an infection from the droppings, revolting filthy creatures.

Ian

[mojocain]

Ta Ian. Apreciate your detailed reply. It's not possible to totally eradicate the rats and other rodents from my garden. Poison one lot another lot moves in. Previous posts I mentioned how previous owners had bait traps in several spots in garden/greenhouse and had to renew bait constantly. They also had 3 dogs and several cats. None of that worked. Back of the garden is a river, maybe they come from that direction. Kill one lot another moves in. Said that already heh heh. I've not had cable probs outside (the 15 metre long mains to the hut at back is fine after 8 years). I do draw the line on rodents trying it on in me loft where I have dishes of blue grain poison. I go in loft now and then (storage etc) and maybe that too has some effect on keeping them out. So far still clean as a bell up there (got boards down etc). I'll keep an eye on how it goes outside, I know what you mean about the dangers, but so far, not overun. Worst buggers are the moles. I'm a patient fella. All the best.

[Biomotors]

Weils Disease, or leptospirosis, is a fatal disease, and needs treating very quickly should you be unlucky enough to get it. It can be caught from rat urine in the garden, (and they leave it all over the place) coming into contact with damaged skin or mucous membranes (mouth etc.) so particularly if you have children, you are taking a big risk.

Rats in your walls and roof may chew electrical wires and cause a house fire.

Those are very high risks you are playing with if you decide on the rat's side.

If you are going to put out poison, then use a second generation (difenacoum) based poison, not warfarin, to reduce the risk of secondary poisoning, and make sure it is safely contained in a sealed dog/cat/child proof bait boxes, which you can get from your local pest-control man.

[rossbells]

Came home from work on tuesday evening and there was a grey squirrel in my black bin, as soon as I opened the lid the squirrel was out like a flash with a slice of pizza lol

[Brocakat]

Grey Squirrells = Rats with pretty fluffy tails. For or against?

Well- IF they have displaced the cuter, smaller Reds -then it's a big 'yes' from me.
And it can be argued, that prior to the 1920's when Greys came, (I believe)- that's all there was in the U.K. - just Reds.

But they do give a lot a pleasure to a lot of people in Parks , and also some people LIKE the way they take nuts from birdfeeders - whilst others hate it.

It's a bit like the Foxhunting pro/anti thing, in minature - but perhaps without the violence ?