Sith Happens Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 Has anyone experienced rats in their gardens before? Any ideas? We have never had them before but a couple of weeks ago i spotted one, i know its been coming back as its been in the birdseed in the shed. I got two traps and caught two last night, they dont look very big, i am sure if there are two there will be more. I dont think i actually have them living in our garden, i think they are coming from either the big old chapel behind our house or next doors garden which is very overgrown at the top. Going to put the traps out again tonight, is it just a case of keep doing this until i catch them all? I dont want to put poison down as we have pet rabbits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaspode Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 We had them a few years ago - got the bloke from the council out. Turned out they had a nest in the compost bin so he hung poison in there which finished them off. Based on what the chap told us, there will almost certainly be more than 2. Told us to stop feeding the birds and to keep an eye out if anyone nearby had decking as it's become the favoured location for rats to build nests under.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted McMinn Football Genius Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 We had them last year and the pest control guy reckons it's because the council are no longer spending money on pest control. The rat population had almost trebled last year according to him. So instead of containing the issue when it arises they aren't acting upon it leaving the population to increase rapidly. Even in council properties they are referring the tenants to the independent pest control companies who then explain the service isn't free which the tenants then refuse to pay any fees as the council offered this service F.O.C in the past again leaving the rat population to increase. So in a nut shell it's the councils fault Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sith Happens Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 4 minutes ago, Gaspode said: We had them a few years ago - got the bloke from the council out. Turned out they had a nest in the compost bin so he hung poison in there which finished them off. Based on what the chap told us, there will almost certainly be more than 2. Told us to stop feeding the birds and to keep an eye out if anyone nearby had decking as it's become the favoured location for rats to build nests under.... yeah we have stopped feeding them for now. we have a shed but i have checked behind and under it and cannot see anything. Do the council charge ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrivateDerby Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 Yeah it's never one or two, used to go ratting when I was younger. Sounds like they're after the bird seed and rabbit food. Have you got any sheds or piles of anything in your garden? They'll tunnel and make nests under anything and breed like mad. Sounds like you're getting the littleuns, keep putting the traps out and hope for the mam and dad, problem is they can breed five weeks from birth! If you can't put poison down keep trapping. Have you got an air rifle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sith Happens Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 2 minutes ago, PrivateDerby said: Yeah it's never one or two, used to go ratting when I was younger. Sounds like they're after the bird seed and rabbit food. Have you got any sheds or piles of anything in your garden? They'll tunnel and make nests under anything and breed like mad. Sounds like you're getting the littleuns, keep putting the traps out and hope for the mam and dad, problem is they can breed five weeks from birth! If you can't put poison down keep trapping. Have you got an air rifle? just the shed, its on a hard standing and have had a good look under and cant see any evidence of nesting. dont have a rifle unfortunately, in fairness other than glimpsing one we havent seen them, we just knew they were there from the bird seed being got at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaspode Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 33 minutes ago, Paul71 said: yeah we have stopped feeding them for now. we have a shed but i have checked behind and under it and cannot see anything. Do the council charge ? The council did charge - was something like £30-40 if I remember correctly (though he kept coming back for about 6 weeks so that didn't seem unreasonable) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sith Happens Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 4 minutes ago, Gaspode said: The council did charge - was something like £30-40 if I remember correctly (though he kept coming back for about 6 weeks so that didn't seem unreasonable) ok cheers. will see how i go over the next few nights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muskination Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 53 minutes ago, Paul71 said: Has anyone experienced rats in their gardens before? Any ideas? We have never had them before but a couple of weeks ago i spotted one, i know its been coming back as its been in the birdseed in the shed. I got two traps and caught two last night, they dont look very big, i am sure if there are two there will be more. I dont think i actually have them living in our garden, i think they are coming from either the big old chapel behind our house or next doors garden which is very overgrown at the top. Going to put the traps out again tonight, is it just a case of keep doing this until i catch them all? I dont want to put poison down as we have pet rabbits. This'll be because of Brexit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sith Happens Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 5 minutes ago, Muskination said: This'll be because of Brexit. must admit that did cross my mind, either that or its nigel pearsons fault. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 I blame Keogh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 Get a Staffordshire bull terrier. Ideally suited to the task, I'm told. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewetube Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 5 hours ago, Phoenix said: Get a Staffordshire bull terrier. Ideally suited to the task, I'm told. We have a Jack Russell and a Staffy-Jack so wildlife tends not to frequent our garden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewe Ram Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 I had them at this house and my old house. They chewed through the shed door to get to a bag of potatoes and onions. I got the rat man out and he said they can only put poison down and not allowed traps so I bought traps. I watched them vertically climb a neighbours house and go into their eves. Evil things. One was in my dustbin as it chewed through the lid it was massive! At this house I had them come up through the drain covers. I got Severn Trent out who put a kind of u bend in the sewer. Not seen one since but they will be there. My cats bring the odd little one back but I do live in a rural location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintRam Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 Staffy's and any breed with Staffy in them are good for it. Any hunting dogs work too. We've a Shiba Inu and she's a prime critter catcher. Also cats. Although cats catch a lot of stuff you don't mind in your garden, like birds. Failing all the pet options, rat poison is good. Sometimes its best to get someone in to let you know the best places to put the poison, but if you know a spot the rats frequent then anywhere nearby (that other animals aren't going to easily find) is best. Of course, there's no way of knowing where exactly the rats will die, that can be a bit nasty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe. Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 Bait box and poison, rabbit won't be able to get in it. If you don't reckon they're nesting in your garden just put it near the birdseed if you know that's what they're going for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe. Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 Glue traps work well also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GboroRam Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 You're never more than 30 feet from a rat, they say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cisse Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 14 hours ago, Paul71 said: must admit that did cross my mind, either that or its nigel pearsons fault. Don't forget Mel Morris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sith Happens Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Well no Rats this morning, so hopefully a good sign, will keep leaving the traps out for a few days see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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