Problem with rats

[Rita 70]

I have only hanging feeders, with kibbled sunflower hearts and peanuts. We have a severe problem with rats which I think is not really caused by the bird food droppings as they are so small. I have been putting poison down the rat holes (under an outhouse). I keep it well away from birds and hedghogs ( I also hate poisoning the rats but what can you do?). Have been using a 2nd generation poison for rats resistant to warfarin but after 17 days of taking huge quantities down their burrow they are still looking healthy. Am reluctant to involve council officials in case they forbid my feeders. Has anyone any experience or suggestions please?

[Jenny]

Rita,

Although this was some time ago, we had a big rat problem where we used to live and we didn't have even ground feeders banned. If you've no ground feeders and little mess, I don't think you should worry about contacting the Council.

I'm not prying about where you live, but your outhouse maybe just the convenient place for rats and there are other things in the area that are attracting them. I lived in a wheat-growing area and had nightmares of rats! I couldn't poison them because we had Little, Tawny and Barn Owls who preyed on young rats amongst other things. Another place I lived got a major influx of rats - it turned out that there was a damaged sewer and the rats found their way up into our gardens creating havoc. If your neighbours have same issues, then go to the Council - it is NOT worth catching a life-threatening disease. Also, Council operatives have licenses to use poisons you and I don't (am having same problem with Japanese Knotweed :mad: ), so worth a try. But do check out your neighbours - if it's a neighbourhood problem, you may find it cheaper if you all call the Council than if you're a lone individual - depends on how your Council works and your situation.

Best of luck. J

[Rita 70]

Dear Jenny,

Many thanks for your helpful reply. Rita 70

[70007]

I had a rat problem earlier this year and phoned the council. They said they were quite happy to come and put poison down as long as the neighbours were aware and happy for that to be done (I dont have any pets), and the rat poisoner would have to see evidence of well used rat runs.

I decided to buy some pellets that were non toxic to other animals except rats but they were not particularly effective. They were appearing from an old stone wall at the bottom of my garden.

I spent one afternoon in June with a bucket of various shaped stones and filled every hole in the wall that I could find. Since that day, I have not seen another rat so, fingers crossed, I may have solved the problem in my garden at least.

[Jenny]

70007

Depends on the type of your old stone wall but if it is like mine - unmortared stone dyke - then check for evidence of old wren nests. Provide alternatives if there are. I've got rats and mink but still have wrens' nest in my 120m of stone dyke. My dykes' are about 60cms wide at base tapering to 30cms wide (my, dead proud of myself for thinking metric - highly unusual:o ) and wrens use the top bits where rats and mink can't get through.

Bet you're glad to be rid of rats, though!!

As for mink - we're overrun with them, killing loads of ground nesting birds, mammals and reptiles. What makes me so cross though is that we can trap them (checking traps at least twice a day) but soon won't be able to use an air rifle to kill them humanely. At the same time, it's perfectly okay for people to shoot ground nesting birds with shotguns!

[Alastair]

Hi Rita 70,
I am a totally new member here and this is my first post. I just thought that it might be helpful with your rat problem to point you at this link.

http://www.jmldirect.com/cid/4RSZ83HVD0D78IF3ZP92JKXZKPIYC25E/Around-The-House-C4/

It's a product made by JML and it is just under £20, it's an electronic device and all you do is just plug it in to an ordinary electric socket and it sends some electronic waves which repels rats and mice and cockroaches and stuff. I've got one and it seemed to do the job really well.
Best,
Alastair:)

[Morgannon]

We also have both Black Rats and Brown Rats, mainly due to a messy neighbour. We just stick pellets in the disused shed that they pop into now and then and it gets rid of them from our garden at least for a short while.
We really don't like having to do that but after looking up and seeing a big Brown Rat sat on our living room windowsill, staring in we decided that was it.

Edit: Outside the house I might add, we have sills on the outside and inside of our windows.

[Rita 70]

Aren't black rats rare?

We got rid of our rats who were burrowing under the house ( and causing subsidence in an extension!) by putting big dog biscuit-like rat poison right down the burrow, and then sealing it all up when all signs had gone. We had to stop leaving it anywhere where fieldmice could nibble it. Nothing against mice and they are bottom of the food chain. incidentally we then had a plague of fieldmice coming in to the attic after stored apples which we caught via chocolate and humane fall trap. They got thru a packet of rolos and we transported 16 about a mile away before they gave up. Did feel guilty about turning them out in the cold far from home.

[PeterReynolds]

We had a major rat problem caused by food lying around from bird feeders and the bottom of the rabbit hutch. They used to visit the garden in 2's and 3's ... one well placed shot with an air rifle later, and not a single rat is ever to be seen !

[sarahwarren]

Like wise, at our old house we had 3 snap traps and a live trap too. we emptied our traps every day i tell you the size of some of them rats they were like cats!!! Our housing officer popped round 1 morning and went round back of the house with me where we found the biggest screaming rat ever in the live trap, he went white as a sheet n asked what i was going to do with it. I replied well.... im going to shoot it and kill it quickly as possible, he moved us 3 weeks later!!! Only took 8 visits from council and 6 months of complaints to housing!!!