Field rats???

Is there a way of discouraging these furry creatures without the need to kill them off.
I am feeling a bit live and let live at the moment and wonder what to do?

They have not ventured near to the house and have only gone to the bird feeders for the occasional nibble of the fat balls.
I would like to deter them but as the countryside is so close and the fence is allowing other mammals under it, could I not allow them to move off or are they here to stay?

 

Hi

Mostly they are looking for food, and a place to live, remove these two things and you are less liable to have a problem.

Not a lot you can do if you dont want to trap or poison them , the only thing I would suggest it take the "fat balls! in before it goes dark and put them out the next day or put them on a really bendy branch they wont like that , I use to have a bird table in one of my old houses and it was just as busy at night time !!! but not the feathery sort , and I was at a friends house and she shouted "come and look at the squirrels on the bird table" I pointed out they are rats !!! and that was the day time, they have been with us for years I am sure 99% of us have them coming and going in the garden and dont even realise it.

Spruce

 

They'll always be around, we got a game farm behind us that attracts them. They'll make the occasional raid into our place if food is knocked off the bird feeder so I try to make sure nothings lying around too long.

Had to chase one out twice when I was smoking fish, he fancied a bit of Mackerel.

 

All food for the birds has been removed for a few days to allow the rats to move on.
Will they go to the compost bins to eat through the veggie and fruit waste that is rotting down?

 

Yes, they can nest in your compost bin (oooh, cosy and warm!). Give it a kick each time you pass it and that may discourage them from nesting in there.

 

Don't want my toes being nibbled when they run out to tell me off for disturbing them
But a good point, will be doing that as the bins need turning out anyway thank you.

 

My trusted Lab was on hand to escort them from the garden.
I hope they do not return due tome wanting to feed the birds.

 

I have them now ,

Saw one when I came in getting the bits on the floor/soil that the birds are pecking out of the peanut feeder !!!

I will have to get that sorted out ASAP

Spruce

 

I spotted one the other day eating the bird food that had dropped on the ground.
Two days later I found it on the allotment dead, must have been the cats around here.

 

Looks like mine have gone to ground as the area around the feeders and bird table is clear of them. Fields have been frozen and the Birds of Prey are on a constant lookout for food. Really nice to see these birds in winter, but they must find it hard to source those vital food creatures which elude them during these lean times.

 

Mine all gone now they had a special treat !! hidden in the top of my darlek compost bin same colour as a Smurf hate doing it but I dont want to catch anything as us lot on here are very hands on with gardening .

Spruce

 

Fix the traps to something with sturdy wire because if for some reason they approach the trap in a way that they're not killed the injured rat can steal your trap attached to it.

 

euk I hate rats! We had a few last summer.Thought they were mice the cats had caught till we saw a big one dead near my shed. Screamed and nearly weed myself with fright. Ever since then, I make hubby go out into the garden to make sure it's all clear before I go out.