Rat up a tree

[Rob T]

Hi everyone,
Due to gloomy weather one day last week I decided to go no further than the duck pond at the bottom of my road. Walking around I was watching Long tailed Tits etc. in the trees surounding the pond and then noticed that there was a rat on the branch of a willow tree about 2.0M off the ground just sat there looking back at me.

I carried on walking and thought no more of it untill I read a thread on here about a rat debate. Then today ( I know Im slow ) I tried to think when was the last time I saw a rat up a tree. . . . . . Ive seen them climb up ships ropes, Ive seen them climb up downpipes and run along gutters, Ive seen them run along high steel roof trusses.

But I cant remember ever seeing one up a tree (I dont think I have anyway) has anyone seen one up a tree . . . or maybe in a in a stranger place.

Regards

Rob

[thunder]

I often used to see rats climbing the tree that holds the bird feeders a couple of years ago. They went easily as high as ten feet.

henrya

[wildmanofthewoods]

like the previous post i too have seen rats using trees to gain access to bird feeders.... but i have also seen them climbing hazel trees in the autumn to get to the nuts.

[aeshna5]

Rats are superb climbers, swimmers , etc- incredibly adept creatures which is why they are so successful. In the past I've seen them climb up my birch to reach feeders.

In a nature reserve I regularly saw them climb Sycamore to feed on the seeds above my head just like Grey Sqirrels.

[epops]

not rats but rabbits when we were out ferreting a few years ago we put the ferret in the bottom of an old hollow tree and a couple of rabbits came out about 10ft above us although this probably was'nt their usual exit it was certainly different.