Rats!

I've spied a rat (twice) in my garden today under the bird feeders. It popped into my garage so assume that's where it's set up home. I assume there is more than one of the blighters.

I don't like killing anything but they have to go.

So, question is, do I use rat poison and if so, which one will kill them quickest? I don't like the idea of them taking a week or two to die in agony but I don't want to have to catch them one by one with a humane trap and cart them off elsewhere (surely there is a happy medium?). A rat trap maybe?

The garage is never used so there is little danger of the dogs/cats being poisoned.

PS : I have cats, one of which was just sitting there watching the rat mooching about. Dozy article

 

Don't feed the cats for a few days

 

if you use a trap , you need to leave it unset for at least 10 days in the same spot so they get used to it, then set it otherwise they wont go by it even with the tastiest of morsels to tempt them. Cats arnt daft if they have been bitten !!

 

A recent ratty GC thread http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/rats.56197/

It looks like Manchester City Council charge £24 to deal with rats http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/431/pest_control/2716/pest_control-residential/2 (that seems a bit of a bargain for 3 visits, they probably want people to sort out rat infestations before they get out of hand).

A 1Kg tub of rat bait costs about £10 from B&Q, a 2 pack of rat traps costs £10 and a jar of Tesco Value peanut butter is 62p, but you would have all the stuff if they were to come back.

I leave my traps in timber tunnels and bait/set them when I see a rat.

 

Thanks for digging out the thread Scrungee. I come under Salford, who do it for free for occupied households. I have emailed them to see what methods they use.

I am trying to avoid the anti-coagulents which take a couple of weeks to kill them if I can, so am looking for more humane ways to kill them.

Off to have a read of that thread.

 

I was there last Wednesday!

 

the rat poison I bought from ebay , worked in a day , then not touched for a week , another came visiting and I havnt had any since I will PM you the stuff I bought .

Spruce

 

Air rifle? sling shot? paintball gun? nail gun?

 

I bought b&q own make last year they ate the whole tub. Then got Rentokill brand which worked after a couple of days.

S.

 

Compost heaps + chooks = rats!

I know it!!!

So, having established those facts, the question is how to address the issue.

Put down poison and you are a) opening up the transition of poison to other wildlife.
b) put down traps and you are limiting your target market to either the rats or any incumbents along the way!

Personally, I like the above suggested option of putting down bait traps (unbaited for a few weeks) to build up the rats "trust" and then baiting them! On the downside: I have ducks/chooks/dog and puss who could "suffer" from any poisons introduced into our environment :(

 

You can buy bait boxes,which are safe to use with poison as only rats and mice can get in.Any corn base poison will do the job,but don't wait too long to start or you could soon have more.
Our council no longer have a rodent catcher so you have to get an outside contractor to do the job,how much I don't know but I know someone who got the local council in and it cost £50.for 3 visit's,this was last year.

 

Do you know anyone with a terrier ?

 

I had one some years ago who never gave them a chance,one nip in the middle of the back and it was good night Mr rat. I got her when she was 18 month's old and had been bitten by one,she never gave them a second chance.