Rat problem

cazxxxx3 · #1 (**permalink**) 16-10-2009, 09:40 PM

Hi, I wonder if I could have some advice about rats. A couple weeks ago I noticed a burrow in my garden which was about 5 inches approx wide. Since then I keep seeing a brown rat in the garden during the daylight. I thought they just came out at night but this one is very brazen. I don't like this but I put some poison in the hole to deal with it but either it has not worked or he has not eaten it. I filled this hole in and again today I noticed yet another burrow dug. I have completely cleared the bird feeding staion and even dug out the grass in the area in case of any potential spillages but he is still here. Do you think he will go of his own accord or am I fighting a loosing battle. I read somewhere that they eat worms, in that case he will never go as we have loads of worms in the soil. Pls can someone give me some comforting words

Merrow · #2 (**permalink**) 16-10-2009, 10:14 PM

If a rat is out and about in full daylight there is probably something wrong with him - or else there are LOTS of other rats about. (sorry, I know that isn't a very comforting thought)

I don't know about them eating worms but I'd imagine they would eat anything - we used keep pet rats and they would eat soap, candles etc if they could get their paws on them.

I would imagine he will move on if you continue making his environment inhospitable; he will move on to somewhere that's more rat-friendly or get caught by someone's cat.

cazxxxx3 · #3 (**permalink**) 17-10-2009, 06:57 AM

Thank you. I will keep on filling in any holes he makes. I do not like poison but I have to be realistic and use this as well. The posion I use is wrapped in cling film and is popped in the hole. It is in cling film to prevent from becoming wet. That way at least the birds or local cats cannot get the poison if tempted.

shirl · #4 (**permalink**) 18-10-2009, 05:05 PM

Although brown rats are "traditionally" nocturnal they are frequently seen in daylight hours. They are quite wary of anything new and maybe don't fancy cling film sandwiches. They can be quite difficult to get rid of and your best option is to not to put food out for the birds for a while. Having said that food is still plentiful at the moment so it may still hang around and filling in burrows is pointless as it will just dig another.

I have a rat in the loft for the 3rd year running, I have two live traps up there and have put so many different food types in them but it will NOT go in the cage yet. Today it's peanut butter in one cage and lemon sole in the other, fingers crossed. It's a good job I have alot of patience!

I don't agree with poison but if you do feel you need to use it, please check what impact it might have on other species should they eat the dead rat (e.g. kestrels/owls etc).

Shirl

rangersarah2 · #5 (**permalink**) 19-10-2009, 09:17 PM

it's sad that you don't like your rat. I think they are amazing creatures. Admit that I wouldn't want one in the house but only because replacing the wiring would be too costly.

They do come out a lot during the day, so don't worry too much about there being lots. If you really can't live with it, and won't catch it with a live trap then you need to loiok into the new poison that has been developed. The rats havn't developed an immunity to it yet, and it kills them slowly, so they go back to their nests. It is very species specific so doesn't get into the food chain and is even allowed to be used on nature reserves. The drawback is that the rats die very slowly and very painfully.

Unfortunately I can't remember what it's called but your local pest control officers will be able to tell you.

Please think twice before you use it though.

salukiwhippet · #6 (**permalink**) 19-10-2009, 10:43 PM

If it is a small rat population, you may find a pest controller who'll be willing to address it without poison. I've done a few jobs like that.

James

Elean0r · #7 (**permalink**) 19-10-2009, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shirl

I have a rat in the loft for the 3rd year running, I have two live traps up there and have put so many different food types in them but it will NOT go in the cage yet. Today it's peanut butter in one cage and lemon sole in the other, fingers crossed.

They like chocolate, a lot!

Quote:

The posion I use is wrapped in cling film and is popped in the hole.

We resorted to poison this summer, so did our neighbours. We put it under broken clay flower pots with a piece of drainpipe leading towards it, so there was no danger of any birds taking it, and no hedgehogs could get close enough. Between us we found several rat corpses which were treble bagged according to the instructions, and then we got rid of the poison.

Sorry if using poison offends, but sometimes it isn't just one garden that's affected and there are neighbours with children to think about.

Doggle Avaddit · #8 (**permalink**) 20-10-2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cazxxxx3

Hi, I wonder if I could have some advice about rats. A couple weeks ago I noticed a burrow in my garden which was about 5 inches approx wide. Since then I keep seeing a brown rat in the garden during the daylight. I thought they just came out at night but this one is very brazen. I don't like this but I put some poison in the hole to deal with it but either it has not worked or he has not eaten it. I filled this hole in and again today I noticed yet another burrow dug. I have completely cleared the bird feeding staion and even dug out the grass in the area in case of any potential spillages but he is still here. Do you think he will go of his own accord or am I fighting a loosing battle. I read somewhere that they eat worms, in that case he will never go as we have loads of worms in the soil. Pls can someone give me some comforting words

Why exactly are you so concerned about this? You haven't yet told us of the consequences you think might result from this rat in your garden.

It might well turn out that your fears are largely unfounded.

cazxxxx3 · #9 (**permalink**) 21-10-2009, 09:51 PM

Thank you all for your replies, sorry for lateness in reply. The reason that I am concerned about the rat is that it is only about 7 foot from my and my neighbours front doors as we have short front gardens. If I had a large garden and it was living at the bottom I would not mind as I do like them, I just don't want it to get into the house. Alot of my neighbours are elderly and they are always concerned if a rat appears. I did not want to put poison down but felt I had no choice, the pellets I used were ones that go in the ground, that way I thought at least birds cannot get to them! I have not fed the birds and took down my feeding station and even dug up the turf where the feed pole went. So far for the last 2 days ish I have not seen him, possibly there was no food left so he has gone elsewhere. He is a smllish rat (definately not a mouse) so I am guessing parents would be nearby. We have tried a cage trap to catch him alive but he is just too smart for that hence drastic action taken.

Doggle Avaddit · #10 (**permalink**) 21-10-2009, 10:43 PM

Well hopefully by depriving the rat of its free food for long enough, it has indeed gone elsewhere, well done!

I like that idea much better than poison.