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23-01-2008, 05:35 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northants
Posts: 3,819
| | | Rat poison dilemma
I posted this on another rat question thread. Do I leave the rat. Or put poison down?
Rat dilemma
yesterday I visited an elderly lady who had the rat man(environmental pest control) round as she saw a rat. I had a look where he put the poison. It was behind the shed behind two slabs propped against the shed. (I know nothing about rat poison). But blackbirds, cats and Hedgehogs could get at it.
I reported this to the council who put the poison down. Who told me the poison only affect rats. It was safe for birds and other wildlife and dogs and cats..They said a dog would have to eat a great deal of the rat poison to kill a dog. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE....
The rat man had been on courses and it was ok for him to leave poison out like this and not put it into a rat box.
Yesterday, I saw a rat in my garden. I don't want rats. Having a wildlife garden I have created the perfect habitat for them.
So I arranged for a visit from the rat man. I have a springer spaniel so will NOT ALLOW him (no matter how much he tells me its safe) To leave rat poison
on the ground and not in a container the only rats and mice can enter and no other wildlife or my dog d can get at it..  |
23-01-2008, 06:10 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Coast Cornwall
Posts: 333
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
Hi,
I have had to choose poison or rat.
Poisoning rats is a cruel way to kill them, although I have accepted poison from the council. only in a sealed box, with breeze blocks on it.
I feel really bad for days after. I guess the best way would be in a trap, instant death or in a humane trap, but then what do you do with it?
I wish there was something that would just put them to sleep.
At the moment I am leaving well alone, as I said before, I live in perfect rat habitat,
A Rat man said that the rats he has seen here were very healthy.............
Is that a good thing?
I would monitor it's activity...... Good luck. |
23-01-2008, 06:24 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northants
Posts: 3,819
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
I thought of a humane trap then taking the offending rat to the vet to be put down. How sad is that. What worries me is if the rat is poisoned and some thing then eats or as in my dog licks the dead rat would it then poison the animal/dog. The council say not. |
23-01-2008, 06:41 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: west wales
Posts: 718
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kayleigh  I thought of a humane trap then taking the offending rat to the vet to be put down. How sad is that. What worries me is if the rat is poisoned and some thing then eats or as in my dog licks the dead rat would it then poison the animal/dog. The council say not. | I would catch it in the humane trap and then take it to a new home in the countryside somewhere suitable far from buildings, although if there are several of them this might become a bit tiresome, I do this with mice, and although rats are not good in our gardens and houses, they are intelligent and interesting mammals.  |
23-01-2008, 06:45 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Coast Cornwall
Posts: 333
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
Hi Kayleigh,
Just spoke to my mum who is all knowing about dogs, as I remembered one of our dogs dying of something rat related years ago. It wasn't rat poison but the dog had ingested rat urine and had not had it's annual booster.
Something to be aware of. Secondly she thinks that rats return to their runs/homes to die. |
23-01-2008, 07:35 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Cumbria
Posts: 214
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
I find it hard to believe a professional pest operator would leave poison out in the open. Problems with secondary poisoning can occur when mammals such as Polecats eat poisoned rats.
I'd like to know what product he is using, any chance of finding out? |
23-01-2008, 08:17 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cornwall
Posts: 197
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
There is a type of rat poison that is harmless to other mammals and birds. Its a type of fibre pellet that the rats/mice ingest and it gums up their intestines, leading to lethargy and eventually they lapse into a coma and die. It claims to be more humane than anti-coagulant poisoning and works better as there is no resistant build-up as with some chemical baits. Not sure if I can post a brand name, but a search on Google containing the words "natural" "rat" and "killer" brings up a few references.
It is expensive though, and takes a while to be effective. I would doubt that the council rat man is forking out for that, but if the bait you can see is a pale pellet type, then perhaps your council is more well off than ours!
Last edited by werdnal; 23-01-2008 at 08:29 PM.
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23-01-2008, 08:48 PM
| | Frozen | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: march, cambridgeshire
Posts: 2,176
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
why are people so scared of rats ? they didnt ask to be born so why kill them,i am sure if you make there is no food that they can live on they will move on,and if every one did this there wouldnt be a problem,i have them at the bottom of the garden i know that for a fact as i have a hole under the waterfall,but i never see a rat and thats fine by me,the trouble is they have been given a bad name over the years and people have very very long memories and its such a shame. |
23-01-2008, 08:50 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 984
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
Quote:
Originally Posted by werdnal There is a type of rat poison that is harmless to other mammals and birds. Its a type of fibre pellet that the rats/mice ingest and it gums up their intestines, leading to lethargy and eventually they lapse into a coma and die. It claims to be more humane than anti-coagulant poisoning and works better as there is no resistant build-up as with some chemical baits. Not sure if I can post a brand name, but a search on Google containing the words "natural" "rat" and "killer" brings up a few references.
It is expensive though, and takes a while to be effective. I would doubt that the council rat man is forking out for that, but if the bait you can see is a pale pellet type, then perhaps your council is more well off than ours! | This stuff is also harmless to rats! "My" rats ate tubs of the stuff and got fat and sleek on it!
henrya
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23-01-2008, 08:56 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northants
Posts: 3,819
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
werdnal..The pellets are blue a sort of grain..
The woodman..I will find out on Monday what poison he uses. |
23-01-2008, 09:03 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincolnshire/Cambs/Norfolk border right on The Wash
Posts: 2,177
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
Betty, I wish this was so. I live next to a huge field and this year for the first time I have had rats in my house... in my kitchen.. and one hung itself while trying to escape my dog. They shredded a rubbish bag hanging on my back door.. having jumped from the worktop to the suspended bag.
There urine is bad for dogs as it carries the killer disease leptospriosis.
They dont go back to their nests to die. I had one die in my loft and it stank the place out for weeks.. and now I have a plague of flies.
I had a house maintenance chap come in to look into blocking the holes everywhere.. seemingly too many to be done.. what he found was a nest over my bedroom (open from the insulation to the garage roof. Bedroom built into garage) I had complaind of them rolling boulders around in the middle of the night.. it wasnt boulders but potatoes they had carried in from the field!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like rats as animals in the right place.. but I can not tolerate them in my house with the risk to me and my dogs. I hate the thought of the effects of the poison.. but if they ignore the humane traps what can you do
jaki
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too many books... not enough money!!!!!!!!!! |
23-01-2008, 10:20 PM
| | Frozen | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: march, cambridgeshire
Posts: 2,176
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
Quote:
Originally Posted by Garden Carpet Betty, I wish this was so. I live next to a huge field and this year for the first time I have had rats in my house... in my kitchen.. and one hung itself while trying to escape my dog. They shredded a rubbish bag hanging on my back door.. having jumped from the worktop to the suspended bag.
There urine is bad for dogs as it carries the killer disease leptospriosis.
They dont go back to their nests to die. I had one die in my loft and it stank the place out for weeks.. and now I have a plague of flies.
I had a house maintenance chap come in to look into blocking the holes everywhere.. seemingly too many to be done.. what he found was a nest over my bedroom (open from the insulation to the garage roof. Bedroom built into garage) I had complaind of them rolling boulders around in the middle of the night.. it wasnt boulders but potatoes they had carried in from the field!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like rats as animals in the right place.. but I can not tolerate them in my house with the risk to me and my dogs. I hate the thought of the effects of the poison.. but if they ignore the humane traps what can you do
jaki | i am so sorry about your rat problem,didnt realise you had them in the house,not nice, i can understand how you must feel i know i wouldnt like it,but i dont really know how to solve that one,wouldnt a cat help ? |
23-01-2008, 10:43 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Caversham, Reading, Berks.
Posts: 519
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
Hi,
I've never seen so many posts about rats, I really don't want to bring up the same old thing about two weekly bin collections.
It was mentioned to me, by more than several people that rats today won't touch poisoned rat bait as there's too much human food easily available that tastes nicer, true/false I don't know, but sounds about right.
Max.
P.S. we have a running battle keeping rats out of the house, a 1920's house with entries all over, we think we're winning at the moment.
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I'm NOT a silver surfer, I'm a shiny pink one !. |
23-01-2008, 10:54 PM
| | Frozen | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: march, cambridgeshire
Posts: 2,176
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
Quote:
Originally Posted by m1.carson Hi,
I've never seen so many posts about rats, I really don't want to bring up the same old thing about two weekly bin collections.
It was mentioned to me, by more than several people that rats today won't touch poisoned rat bait as there's too much human food easily available that tastes nicer, true/false I don't know, but sounds about right.
Max.
P.S. we have a running battle keeping rats out of the house, a 1920's house with entries all over, we think we're winning at the moment. | i dont understand that my house was built in 1898 and rats cant seem to get in mine. |
24-01-2008, 04:39 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northants
Posts: 3,819
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
YouTube - Rat
This is the little monster..I was trying to attract the birds for some photo shots (practising with new camera)I don't put out bread or scraps normally as the dog eats what's out there. Handy I have almost llearnt how to use the video feature
Last edited by glsammy; 26-01-2008 at 06:08 PM.
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24-01-2008, 08:20 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northants
Posts: 3,819
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
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24-01-2008, 08:33 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincolnshire/Cambs/Norfolk border right on The Wash
Posts: 2,177
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
Quote:
Originally Posted by naturelover i am so sorry about your rat problem,,wouldnt a cat help ? | I have a terrier dog.. she would have them if i let her.. but as with a cat I would be very worried about them catching Leptospirosis.. which is a killer for dogs.. not sure about cats.
I am told that everyone around here has a problem with rats this year due to the weather this summer!!
Have heard nothing since their potato store was removed.. hopefully they have left home
Jaki
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too many books... not enough money!!!!!!!!!! |
24-01-2008, 09:16 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northants
Posts: 3,819
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
Garden carpet you had a terrible time with rats. I hope they stay out for good now. We had mice in an old house that was bad enough I just couldn't cope with rats in the house. |
25-01-2008, 08:07 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Coast Cornwall
Posts: 333
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
All that talk of rats must have tempted fate, saw one yesterday in its favourite place in the quarry. I hope it keeps a low profile. My big fat lazy cat feigned interest for a while, before retiring to the sofa. |
25-01-2008, 09:07 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincolnshire/Cambs/Norfolk border right on The Wash
Posts: 2,177
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
Cute video of the rat. I dont dislike them.. just dont want them in my house. 
No sound of them since the food was removed.. and the rat lady came!! 
jaki
__________________
too many books... not enough money!!!!!!!!!! |
27-01-2008, 03:51 PM
| | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Coast Cornwall
Posts: 333
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma
Well today was interesting, while counting the birds in the garden, I watched Ratty help itself to apple and crusts. Bouncing off to his run. Amazed at how at one time there were 2 squirrels, Ratty, and several birds all sharing their lunch. Made note where it was going for future reference and decided to do some gardening. A couple of hours later noticed dead rat. A close look showed the cat had caught it. No poison needed with that one. |
28-01-2008, 03:06 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northants
Posts: 3,819
| | | Re: Rat poison dilemma Little up date
The pest control officer came out today he looked under the shed where the rat is seen most, looking for the run. The shed is on a solid base with slabs underneath. The rat man said it was unlikely the rat is living under the shed but came into our garden from a neighbours property so no poison was left to my relief. I have got to get in touch with pest control again if I see ratty again.
We get a family of Hedgehogs breeding at the back of the shed. The rat man said rats kill Hedgehogs..So ratty has to go. | | |
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