I found a hole....

Hi Paul ..... nice to see you again ....

I appreciate what you are sayiing but there is a time and place for everything, as well you know.

I have lived in America and worked in criminal law and told where the gun was kept in the desk should I need to use it .... I have pulled a gun on a cop because it was necessary .... I have had a gun put to my head whilst out driving and stopped at a traffic light ... I KNOW about guns, possibly more so than most GC folk.

In my opinion hand guns, BB guns, air guns or whatever are as dangerous as sawn-off shotguns or whatever ..... guns in general are anti-social to both humans and animal life and to advocate that people use them to eradicate something as 'inoffensive' as a rat is unacceptable .... I could think of more offensive people to use such on ....

Addressing riverside ...... as gardeners we must look at reality and, unless 'they' are causing a problem and a serious one at that, don't upset nature .... it balances itself .... isn't that what life is about? You have so far found 'a hole' ..... should you not monitor that 'hole' for a seaoson?

 

Lol, the humble rat spreads a plethora of disesaes. Weils diseseae being but one.

As for a debate about guns, this isnt the place..... but the gun is only a tool.

I was brought up with guns and have used shotguns and air rifles for years, even used a humane bolt gun. For me shooting and trapping are both a nesecity and an enjoyment.

Asside from mountain walking one of my most enjoyable pursuits on a winter day is to be out with a like minde band of folk with sticks and terriers ratting at a farm.

With knowledge of the damadge and disese rats spread I find THEM offensive!

 

tbh I have children and dogs, for the hygiene issue I dont really want rats in the garden and from researching weils disease *shudder* I dont want 'that' anywhere near me or my loved ones. Each animal is entitled to it's own territorial space, my garden is mine and my own animals space, and those carrying disease are not welcome to share this space. I'm not the only one with this view as the spiders shake their fists at me after I've walked through another web theyve spent ages making outside - oops sorry Boris
I've been discussing rats tonight at my father in laws and he's got some living in his garage, which for the same reason he periodically puts poison down for, however due to my location poison isnt really an option; I cant realiscally wipe out the whole eco system of the river due to (possibly) one rat, coupled with the possiblity of water rats/voles - I really cant risk eradicating them before I know what I am dealing with.
I'm hoping it's redundant hole, but after asking my father in law tonight (he helped clear the back garden into a easier to address state, he doesnt recall that hole being there before :(
trap is still set and all advice is appreciated, I dont like to kill anything either tbh so anything caught if it is a common brown, I'd just let environmental health empty the trap. I feel bad enough after cutting a worm in half with the shovel or fork by accident lol
gotta say too - water rats are cuuuuuute! :D

 

Definitely agree with you:thumb:, you shouldn`t be seeing rats in your garden, and whilst I personally couldn`t bring myself to shoot one in the head I would pay Paul to.

 

also local news today that weils disease is still very active:
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co...-s-Disease/article-358831-detail/article.html

*shudder*

 

Yep, nasty business, gardening!

BTW those of you who live in a rural or used-to-be rural area or use horse manure on your roses, are you immunised against tetanus? If not, get it done double quick!

I once nursed a man who contracted tetanus whilst simply pruning his roses. We nursed him for a couple of weeks before it claimed him. His wife said he wouldn't get it done because he 'had a thing about needles'!

 

I can only say that they definitely worked for me (not the ones for moles), in two different houses and at a previously mouse infested workplace. In that place pest control had come several times and only solved the problem temporarily. We installed the machines in three different places (the place was large) and never had a mouse again (for several years now... my stepfather still works there so I have updates).

 

Cheers for that Daisees-I will book myself in.

 

Daisees how often should that be done? I had it done for work a few years back, but I don't remember when I should do that again :dh:

 

Pro is!!!

You need so many injections then you have imunity or something like that, a phone call to the doctor should confirm if you need a booster or not.

 

I tried a couple of years ago to get a tetanus booster and the GP told me it wasn't worth it.

Got the impression I'd need to be a farmer to get it free.

He said that although, in my job I might tend to get cut hands quite a lot, I was not considered likely to get it.

Strange how, if you get a nasty cut and go to the hospital for stitches, they give you one.

 

My wife and I have just had our tetanus injections, She had to have 3 at monthly intervals as she hadn't had them before and will need a booster in a couple of years. I just needed a booster and will need another in 10 years.

 

:DTell me about it Pete!!!! I've got a season ticket!!!....and I don't want one:dh::D