I found a hole....

yesterday whilst chatting to my husband about the front garden i looked down at one of the untouched beds in the back garden and saw a hole, this hole is about 1.5-2"diameter, now two options ran through my head 1st moles, 2nd rats *shudder*
now we are right next to the river (hence username) so chances are this hole leads all the way to the river bank a few yards away and there defo ARE rats in that river (small natural river btw)
also the chances are increased since workmen were working on the river last year to improve flood defences and put a load of gabian walling up - probably in the process destroying a few nests.

Now what i want to do is discourage them from my garden but I need to be very careful how I do this as I dont want them getting in the house *shudder* so the question is if I dig out that hole, would they move on or relocate to the next option? (which is possibly my house! :o) or do I put poison down and hope none of it gets to the river, or try humane traps?

 

Hi Riverside I suggest you call in the Council. Their Pest Control should deal with the problem and monitor the situation in the future.

 

Whatever else you may do, I would immediately instal one of those machines to scare away rodents with ultrasound frequencies. Unlike the ones for moles they do work (at least they did for me), and they will be less eager to get in the house.
The thing is really inexpensive and small, and it does not seem to affect pets (I have cats, and I had a ferret, and they seemed preety cool with it).

 

I blocked up one of the holes (well tbh the only hole I could find) with a big lump pf concrete) and have set up a small animal humane trap (loaded with chocolate), and plugged in a sonic repellant indoors upstairs, it's got quite a good frequency apparently.

hope that'll work, I'll phone environmental health pest dept on Monday

 

Sonics are useless, if they did ACTUALY work pestcontrolers would be out of work!

Asside from rats the holes could be water vole (protected species).

 

I really feel for you Riverside, you will always have them because of where you are. I bet you can`t relax in the garden, every noise has you twitching.

I have fieldmice and very very occasionally see dormice in the garden and I can`t stand mice-too little too fast I get the creeps just thinking about it.

I don`t think there is anything you can do really because of the location. The council will charge and I think it would be cheaper to get someone out yourself.

I`d love to be a bit green and say leave them, but I understand not wanting them there completely.

There is a chance it might be a water vole, in which case the last thing you want to be doing is harming them, have you seen a rat?

 

update:
nothing in the humane trap this morning, and chocolate still uneaten, hole is still closed after being wedged with the piece of concrete so it might be a old redundant hole *prays*

me and my husband had a rat discussion, and it turns out he has had one set up home in his engine a few years ago (different car), so I think you're right due to location i think we're always going to have them *shudder*

The hole I found was in one of the back beds and is approx 5-6ft away from the corner of our house, I've never seen one on this property (just evidence of them having been there: this hole, droppings in husbands engine) but agree the possiblity of water rat/vole is definately there

I'll keep the humane trap set up and if it ever does catch anything it's about 5miles you have to drive isnt it? or is it further before you release them (to stop their homing instinct of coming straight back again)

 

If you catch one, asuming it s a rat, kill it.

Either use an air gun, poke the muzzle through the mesh and wait for the rat to try and bite it then shoot it in the head, or run it into a hessian sack, twist the sack so you get it into one corner and a heavy blow to the head area.

Both methods are quick and humane....... weils disesase is not and you dont want to risk getting it by undue handling / transport.


Not forgeting the fact that transporting and reelocating is totally illegal under the wildlife and countryside act.

 

oooh I didnt know that :o thanks for the heads up. I'm no good at killing anything though, even the spiders know as they hand me tools when I'm gardening and make webs as they think I'm some kind of strange new tree or bush lol
Is there any other method that's not so 'hands on' ?

difference between water rats and common rats is primarily their tail length isnt it? (short as opposed to very ropey and long)

 

As above, differances are the face shape, tail length and body length.... Once youve seen a picture like above you are unlikely to confuse them.

A 'less hands' on method is to pay a pestcontrol firm or use the council pest service if aplicable.

 

We have a rat problem here, but we just get on with it, it's life and doesn't affect us ..... and our cats can't be bothered either. :cnfs:

What I must ask here is this .... is it legal to have / own air guns in the UK? I have been away for a while and I know there have been problems with children being injured with such. I don't advocate the use / possession of them in general use. But then again I am anti-firearms in all respects.

I must say also say I don't advocate the killing of critters just because they exist ... all have their uses in life to keep and control other wildlife. I'm not talking about rats in Chinese restaurants in cities either because that's another story of filth in it's most horrid state ....

 

Lol,

The only restriction on air guns in Britain is over 18 pressure/ power under 6flb for pistols and 12flb for rifles. Rifles over 12flb need a Fire arms certificate.

Northern ireland has different rules.