Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
#1
Well this'll teach me to put food out for the birds. For the last two months I've putting all sorts of grain, fruit, seed and pellets out for the birds. Today what do I find? A blasted great rat has taken up residence under my shed, it kept running out, grabbing a mouthful and running back. It did this for half an hour before I got bored watching and left him to it.
I do like wildlife as you know, but honestly, the audacity of the rodent.
What should I do? I don't want to kill it and if I put poison out the local cats or birds might eat it. Should I just stop putting food out in the garden in the hope it'll go away? Is it really a health hazard or is that just an old wives tale?
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
#2
Phil, just make sure there aren`t any hotel inspector`s about.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#3
Oh my gawd! thats a bit of a shocker Phil. I think the only solution to this kind of thing is to kill it or have it done by officials. Isnt there a relevent council department or something. Otherwise you might be faced with proliferation ie he'll bring his girlfriend around and then you know what will happen then...inviting it to go away is not an option. Good pictures tho but the subject matter isnt too agreeable.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#4
phil,this may seem a bit crule if needs be then needs be.
1,stop feeding the birds for a while.the rodent might get the message and leave.
2,as above but put rat poison under shed where ratty has been seen.
3,if you have some over hanging tree branches i would suggest hanging your bird offerings from there.
4,if you are to squmish to do it yourself get the council ratcatcher out to do the dirty on ratty.
good luck.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
#5
Actually, we had one kept going in the garage about 3 years ago, eating the stored veg out there. A call to the council though, brought the vermin man out with his bags of grain coated in warfarin and after a couple of days, we saw it slowly walking up the garden path, after which, we never saw it again. There was no charge for this service.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
#6
Thanks for the advice chaps. I think I'll cease putting food out and keep an eye out. As Paul says, the last thing one wants is for it to start breeding. If it still seems to be hanging around the garden in a week or so I'll have to do something more drastic.
Just been looking up rat borne diseases. In the UK approximately 53% of the brown rat population carry the bacteria that causes Q-disease, a rather ghastly respiratory problem. Let alone Weil's Disease and goodness knows what else.
Being kind to animals can come to bite you in the bum!
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
#7
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#8
Phil.
your new pet has made his home now and will be reluctant to move.
If you take away the food he will travel to another garden for it but then return to yours.
I know a very nice geezer that lives down your street that could dispatch it very quickly and kindly free of charge.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
#9
Thanks Ian, I'll let you know. I think we both know a certain Mr Guzzler who would relish any chance to have a crack with a semi-automatic.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#10
I know what you mean mate, I took his 50 cal away last week.
Said he wanted to go shooting with BWS and Howard.
I'm away for a week as of Sunday, just give me the nod and I shall be along.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 661- Registered: 16 Mar 2008
- Posts: 241
#11
Phil from the look of your photo the rat is female and look's pregnant in your third photo and the photo later, guzzler is out of the country at the moment but that certain other should be spoken to before the ratess gives birth because the babies will be sexually active by 8/10 weeks old. we do have some good poison to go under your shed, have used it my self when we had a problem at home with one the dog brought in,pop in and see me at the shop if you want to go down that route. Day off today but back tomorrow
A dog is just not for christmas save some for boxing day
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
#12
Aww poor ratty,
great photos though.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
#13
Oh my I'm quick. problem sorted.
Sorry Jeane.
grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#14
i have spoken to barry now ian.
he is on the case, him and his mates are saddling up their horses as we speak, they will do the humane thing and chase it with a pack of beagles and arrange to have it torn to bits.
a slight problem will be that phil will not have much of a garden left.
#15
NO dont kill it! it will move on soon enough and there are thousands of rats in Dover.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
#16
At the risk of contradicting Melissa, our experience is that once rats move in, they will not move on. We have a terrible rat problem in our back garden that began about two years ago with a solitary rat taking up residence in a flower bed. We now have a veritable rat city in the back garden that has steadfastly refused to move on, despite the attentions of the Council's pest control department (twice, at £40 a time) and me constantly filling in the rat holes that now lead to some kind of underground rat warren that extends over four back gardens.
We stopped feeding the birds, next door bought a cat (and she's a brilliant ratter), and we have seen at least two birds of prey in the past three months who are presumably attracted by the rats. We believe the rats moved in because of the proliferation of food in the pigeon loft two doors down, and that their numbers are so great we are fighting a losing battle.
Much as though I'm an animal lover myself, I would advise Phil to act strongly now before the situation gets out of hand. I think rat poison is a cruel way to kill the animals, but the situation will not improve unless steps are taken.
I'm not sure if this is an urban myth or not, but there's a statistic that's been bandied about for years that, in the UK, you are never more than 10ft from a rat. Yuk!
Give my regards to Norvegicus when you see her next, Phil!
True friends stab you in the front.
#17
im an animal lover and yeap do agree that the rat may move its family in. My parents up in Aycliffe also have a huge problem with them and after many years still have problems within their loft with them ( they know the pest officer from ddc on first name terms) with no avail. Yet they are intelligent creatures and get a bad press. when one is killed there is always plenty more to take its place.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#18
andy/phil,got to thinking about this a lot and may have come up with an enviro frindly solution,a jack russell very good rat catchers so i am told.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
#19
Shoot it! It's not a Siberian hamster...it's a rat..remember the plague it was very common round here in the Middle Ages.....Basil Basil
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#20
No Phil! Call the RSPCA and ask them to find a place for it in an animal reserve or zoo.
