Rat!

greenmaid · #1 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 08:38 AM

Hi and Happy New Year.

I have been banned by my partner from feeding the birds during this very cold weather as we have a friendly kind of rat chasing the blackbirds away, eating any food and even standing on it's hind legs peeping into the patio doors and looking at us! Certainly cannot leave a door open. I suspect that it may be living at the bottom of the compost bin.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

NickCantle · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 08:52 AM

From my point of view, you're better off keeping the bird food high through the winter and dealing with the rat afterwards. Without a healthy supply of food at this time of year, birds can die and I'm sure you'd rather feed birds and have a rat for a while than stop feeding them and have them starving.

Wild-Woman · #3 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCantle

From my point of view, you're better off keeping the bird food high through the winter and dealing with the rat afterwards. Without a healthy supply of food at this time of year, birds can die and I'm sure you'd rather feed birds and have a rat for a while than stop feeding them and have them starving.

Nick's right. Just keep the area under the feeding station free of spilt food. Once Mr Rat finds nothing to eat, I suspect he'll move on.

Jez · #4 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 09:15 AM

Maybe worth investing in portable bird table?!?

barquar · #5 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 09:23 AM

Sorry I am not a rat lover the rat would have to go one way or another, you could get one of those cages and trap it then take it a long way away from your house.
Barquar

ron1863 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 09:38 AM

Phone your council, they do a free service to get rid of rodents, ours do

Kayleigh · #7 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron1863

Phone your council, they do a free service to get rid of rodents, ours do

The council charge now for this service and I don't like to use poisons.
Get a rat trap bait it with choc buttons and Zap it....
Or use a humane trap they don't tend to go it them though..

greenmaid · #8 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 02:39 PM

Thanks everyone for your advice. Rang the local Council who will call and assess the rat situation free of charge. If they feel help is needed it will cost £40. So, we will see what they say before deciding on action. Don't want to get attached to the little fellow as we have 300 bats expected to return to their maternity unit in the spring!! Enough wild life to cope with for anyone!