Brown Rat

crates · #1 (**permalink**) 13-06-2010, 04:43 PM

Hi All
Although relatively long-time member, new on this forum.
Lived present surburban garden last 7 years. Today have noticed brown rat emerging regularly from hedgerow (Mid-day) to take bread scraps on lawn among flocks of birds. Wife in panic (although she loves the wood-mice and their descendants that have always inhabited the garden). Should I be concerned about the rat!
Crates

vole-woman · #2 (**permalink**) 13-06-2010, 05:05 PM

You probably don't want to encourage them to get established in your garden - I'd stop putting food on the ground for a while. The odd lone rat's no bother, though (in my opnion). They are everywhere. No need to panic!

crates · #3 (**permalink**) 13-06-2010, 06:29 PM

Thanks. Had an idea they were basically nocturnal but I guess if you're in the neighbourhood, food attracts! Will refrain from leaving ground food and see if any other sightings. Have no great problem with any wildlife (grey squirrels excepted - but thats another story!) as long as they in garden and not house.
Crates

vole-woman · #4 (**permalink**) 13-06-2010, 06:52 PM

We had a rat a year or so ago that dug under the bridge in my garden pond. It didn't seem to bring friends or relations with it, and after two weeks it appeared dead under the tree, probably nabbed by a cat.

I see loads of rats in the fields when I'm filming water voles, and I've even had one climb in my bag as I sat with my camera. It didn't half panic when I spoke to it.