Rats seen in the garden

I've recently spotted a rat in our garden and as a result I've bought a new and secure one-piece and lidded plastic composter which I've sited over a sheet of hardboard and some fine mesh chickenwire on soil. I'm also careful when emptying our rodent pets' waste (we have a rabbit, two guinea pigs and a hamster) as well as our own composted food waste, so that no food is available to any rats. Even so, the garden is still being visited by rats.

We have a shed nearby which is raised on bricks and I have seen a rat to emerge from under it. I can't tell If the rats are living in our garden or are visiting from elsewhere. We are also attracting cats who come and stare at the area of the shed and the compost heap, so I suspect that rats are there.

I've seen a poison-baited plastic box trap at my local DIY store, price £15, but I wonder if this will be effective. Another option is to call in the council pest control service but this could cost. The house is near to a bush covered road embankment where rats live. Additionally, I could place a 'curtain' of fine mesh chickenwire around the bottom of the shed to stop them getting in and out.

Does anyone have any advice?

 

Good evening James and welcome to the site. First thing tomorrow phone your councils pest control officer and let him sort it out. As it`s rats it shouldn`t cost you anything as they are classed as an enviromental health problem.

 

Not sure about that Dai. We had a huge, and I mean enormous, rat infestation when we first had chickens at our old house. The man from the council did come, but it cost. I don't know whether any local authorities offer a free service any more with the financial cutbacks.

Interestingly, the chap who came was very knowledgable and said that if you had one rat living under a shed, it was likely to stay that way unless there was an increase in available food, then all his mates would turn up!

Chris

 

Rats will only live where there is something that they consider food.

No food no rats.

Besides, one has to make sure that access holes to the property are all sealed, because even if they are quite large creatures, like cats, they can flatten themselves in order to go through a passage.

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Rats also like to live near a water supply ( as well as food ) and are drawn to ponds and the like. Our cats are not much use at catching them. A few years ago we had a real problem with rats in the HOUSE - living in the roofspace and in the eaves. They were getting in through the drainpipes and rotten fascia boards. Traps, poison etc all failed. They had super powers! It wasn't until we ripped out all the old fittings and renewed the fascia boards and the the drainpipes that we got rid.

I think it is a constant battle. Stop up all the gaps and make sure no food is around (as you are doing), and get the council in.

Good luck!

 

Here in, certainly South, Wales, rats are classed as a health problem and as such are the responsibility of the enviromental health department, and are dealt with free of charge. If you go with a private pest controller, you are looking at a cost of £80 upwards.

 

The rats will cause few problems but not very pleasant to have around although they say that you are never more than 5 yards away from one !

The box trap for poison I have used effectively and can reccomend - if there are cats around the rats tend to disappear. Councils tend not to provide a free service any longer in my experience.

 

As I have said throughout this thread, Welsh councils know the health hazards caused by rats and therefore take the responsability of getting rid of them. No one has yet said that English councils do not take that attitude. No one has proved that English councils refuse to take responsibility for vermin control. If you don`t ask, you don`t get.

 

I saw a small furry body run into one of my flower beds the other day. Could've been a large mouse. Not sure if I should take any action - this is the middle of a big city, there are probably rats everywhere - but I'm a bit wary of the nearby compost bin now. This bin has got a bit dry this winter and I gather rats like that. Would it help to give it a good soaking from the hose? And will I end up with a rat up my trouser leg?

 

Actually Dai, I did mention that I did have to pay when the man from the council came round:D.

Chris

 

Well, I was shocked beyond belief when I saw a very handsome brown rat sitting on my bird feeder back in March. He was climbing up through the hedge and then out onto the platform. Our garden is separated from next door by a chain link fence. They have an enormous compost heap, which they don't ever use, just fling things on.

I put out rat bait boxes, which to this day remain untouched! Eventually I realised I could fling a few poison blocks into the heap in a recess at the bottom, through the fence. After a fortnight of putting blocks in we came home to find a nearly dead rat lolling around at the back of the garden. My husband reluctantly dispensed of it.

We have children and so rats in the garden is not an option! I did not feel happy calling the council as I did not want to get my neighbours into trouble and offend them, we get on really well. Hubby did inform them that we'd seen a rat up there and warned them that we were putting down poison so to watch their dog. They weren't really bothered about it.

I removed my compost bin and now just use our green bag provided by the council. I found a little tunnel in my bin. I've also stopped feeding the birds.

I can recommend the wax poison blocks. They are great.

We tried a trap and found a blackbird in it instead of a rat which was really upsetting. Definitely wouldn't try that again.

 

Was he from the enviromental heath dept or a subcontractor? If he was from the enviromental health department you want to phone them again and play merry hell. Get your local paper involved if need be. You are paying for this service through your poll tax, or whatever name it goes under nowadays.

 

We had problems with rats a few years ago and used the council environmental health and had to pay, £57 I think it cost. It entitled us to 3 visits and it did the trick, not seen any since. It spurred me on to get a cat, George, who obliterates any wild life that dares look at our garden. We were advised under no circumstances to feed the birds as it would attract them again. It was horrendous and is one of the reasons I was reluctant to grow salads in the garden. What precautions do others take to make sure the veg/salads out of the garden are safe to eat?