Increasing Rat numbers

Crested Newt · #1 (**permalink**) 21-01-2007, 09:38 AM

Apparently tonnes of Rat numbers have gone up causing damage to other animals Hvae you got a problem?

blackey · #2 (**permalink**) 21-01-2007, 02:09 PM

Hi crested, we got big problem in our local lake ,they have incresed rapidly people feeding ducks ,and the rats sit there waiting there turn , i saw young lad throwing bread to a rat not more than 8inches away from him . they have reduced they breeding wildfowl population by taken there eggs and they are a serouse health risk. i have highlighted it in the local press to make our local Council to take action. Council by law must take action make sure they use sealed boxes were other wildlife is present . all best Blackey

Bevb · #3 (**permalink**) 22-01-2007, 09:19 AM

Hi crested, i too have a local lake with other inhabitants ie ducks moorhens etc and there are loads of rats! i have got loads of pictures of them, and i phoned the local parks and recreation council and they told me they were water vole!!! i said that water voles are'nt up to 12" long inc tail!!

but they sort of dismissed it and said nothing could be done as they were a protected species (water voles), well i cant of been the only one to complain as they have had a mass clear up and things seem quieter on the rat front.

My husband goes fishing at a lake in a totaly different area and he said there are a lot there, but they have got pest control in and things are very quiet there now.

Why is this rat population exploding, is it our fault? i know that lakes, ponds and rivers seem to be getting dirtier and dirtier (litter etc) im glad to hear from others about this problem as i thought it was only my area.

The Valley sparrow · #4 (**permalink**) 22-01-2007, 09:55 AM

Our local authority pest controller has been off his feet by me . He has been up and down our streets more than most. And has advised most people to stop feeding the birds, some have abliged. I still feed, but i have never fed birds from the floor.

vole-woman · #5 (**permalink**) 22-01-2007, 10:31 AM

You can control rats even where there are water voles, as long as you do it through best practice methods, ie with live traps, or bait that water-voles don't eat placed at least 5m away from the water. There's info about this on the web somewhere - I'll see if I can find a link. Rats can drive out water voles if there are enough of them, so they do need watching.

vole-woman · #6 (**permalink**) 22-01-2007, 10:34 AM

Conserving Scotland's Water Voles

Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

If you're going to do this, though, you MUST follow the guidelines and use live traps wherever possible. It would be disastrous if voles were poisoned (between a rock and a hard place, aren't they!).

Bevb · #7 (**permalink**) 23-01-2007, 11:53 AM

I dont know how they have actually stopped the rat infestation at our lake, but they certainly have'nt used boxed bait or live traps (as far as i know) but our problem was the same as blackeys people over feeding the ducks and the rats doing the same feet away watching, as i said i took photos to prove these were'nt Voles (il post some tonight to show you), we also had them come into our garden and the pest control chap said it doesnt help feeding the birds, but i too cut down but didnt stop feeding them, and i too dont feed from the ground, several houses had bait boxes given and since then the problem has stopped.

snowdrop · #8 (**permalink**) 23-01-2007, 01:24 PM

I suspect the increase in the number of rats is due to the fact that once upon a time we were able to burn any unwanted food swill on our coal-burning fires, (Including items that make excellent rat-nesting materials) but in the interests of air pollution this is no longer possible. Also the explosion of new towns popping up all over the place and the newly timed fortnightly bin collection means it can be an ideal scenario for rats.

To look on the bright side, it may mean work for some as the need for ratcatchers increases.

henrya · #9 (**permalink**) 24-01-2007, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowdrop

I suspect the increase in the number of rats is due to the fact that once upon a time we were able to burn any unwanted food swill on our coal-burning fires, (Including items that make excellent rat-nesting materials) but in the interests of air pollution this is no longer possible. Also the explosion of new towns popping up all over the place and the newly timed fortnightly bin collection means it can be an ideal scenario for rats.

To look on the bright side, it may mean work for some as the need for ratcatchers increases.

In the past there was very little unwanted food, and what waste there was, was as snowdrop says, burnt, or put in a metal dustbin with a lid. Nowadays we can (apparently) afford to throw lots of food away, which is good news for rats. I seem to recall a survey last year that said about thirty percent of food was thrown away, which I find hard to believe, but if it's true then something is wrong somewhere.

henrya