Should rats be killed?

LBuckland · #1 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 11:10 AM

Last night we saw a rat go past our patio doors in the garden and I'm wondering if we should do anything about it. We think that they are under our decking as we have seen them go there before. I'm wondering if they are really that bad or just have a bad name for themselves because of pre-conceived conceptions that they spread disease, etc. - it's not as if we have to worry about the plague any more and people have them as pets so can they actually do any real harm? I feel they are still a living creature and why should we decide to kill them. However, I do have a young daughter so want to protect her but as long as they don't come in the house is there anything else to worry about? We do have a labrador dog so hopefully he would stop them coming in the house. Any advice greatfully received. Thank you.

Louise

Hedge Witch · #2 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 11:28 AM

After reading ilka's post in this thread, I'd definitely deal with the problem quickly and as humanely as possible:

Rat poison, will it kill hedgehogs

LBuckland · #3 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 11:35 AM

Thanks for reply - I've looked at other posts and definitely won't use poison. I think I will just try to make sure there is no food laying around. They are near our compost bin so I will make sure that's always closed and keep lid on recycling as have old dog food tins out there, etc.

Thanks again.

Kayleigh · #4 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 12:26 PM

Yes it a bit close to the house for comfort good luck in controlling them..

shirl · #5 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 03:44 PM

I have had rats in the garden for a few years now, and in the loft in winter too. One thing that has really helped is that I have moved the bird feeders further away from the house, the rats don't seem to like being too exposed to get over to them now, so hopefully they won't be moving back in with me next winter. I really don't like killing anything, we have kestrels and buzzards so I keep my fingers crossed they will take an active role in managing the rats! But certainly, if there is no food supply the rats are quite likely to move elsewhere.

Good luck with them.

Shirl

Tursiops2 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBuckland

I'm wondering if they are really that bad or just have a bad name for themselves because of pre-conceived conceptions that they spread disease, etc. - it's not as if we have to worry about the plague any more and people have them as pets so can they actually do any real harm?
Louise

Do you have a pond or other water feature? Rats carry Weil's Disease (Leptospirosis), which is a rare but nasty disease that can be transmitted to Humans through water contaminated by rat urine.
Leptospirosis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Personally, I don't like them, and I'd be very concerned about them living in such close proximity to children.
T2

Paul mabbott · #7 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 04:09 PM

The answer depends very much on what level of threat they present.

hobble · #8 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 05:04 PM

I believe we would have rats in our garden because of the nature of our site wether I fed the birds or not.
I have been monitoring a rat for the last couple of weeks now and so has my cat.
I have lived in close proximity to rats for 30 years and educate my children to wash their hands after being in the garden and tell them not to play near the bird table.
I have no neighbours and live in a disused quarry which is heavily clothed in ivy, perfect for rats, I am also near a stream.
Common sense and careful monitoring should be the answer.
If you feel they are too much of a threat then humane traps may be a solution.

Rob_D · #9 (**permalink**) 03-06-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

Do you have a pond or other water feature? Rats carry Weil's Disease (Leptospirosis), which is a rare but nasty disease that can be transmitted to Humans through water contaminated by rat urine.
Leptospirosis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Personally, I don't like them, and I'd be very concerned about them living in such close proximity to children.
T2

You don't necessarily need a pond for there to be a risk. I don't really know how many rat's carry it, but rat's urinate alot. Weil's disease could be caught directly from contact with the urine on the ground, especially if you had a cut. Or if you ate food that has been in contact with contaminated soil, you could catch it - that has happened to one poor guy who used to put his sandwiches on the ground near a sewage works (my Dad was involved as a Doctor in that case many years ago). If you had small children who play on the ground outside and they like to put things in their mouths - not good if there are rats around.

LBuckland · #10 (**permalink**) 04-06-2009, 10:52 AM

Thanks ever so much for all the replies it was really helpful and I wasn't expecting it as first time on this site. I don't have a water feature and my daughter's older and sensible so always washes her hands - interesting to know how weil's disease is spread.

My partner has told me not to worry and said he's heard it said that we're never actually more than 6 feet away from a rat we just don't know it - I wonder how true that is, does anyone know?