Rat Poison in Compost Heap

Hi,

Earlier this year I found signs of rats in my double wooden compost bin; about 4x2x4ft high

Never had any problem with them before, so expect they were just going for the quiet warmth of the heap.

Looking back I should perhaps have used more conventional things like wetting the heap and hammering on the wood regularly to disturb them.

However we used some Big Cheese Bait from Wilco, which contains Difenacoum.

Have to say it worked a treat and after 4 days found a dead rat in the middle of the lawn.
( they say when troubled they try to return to their last known safe place ..)

I then turned out the heap, about half full, to see if there were any more around, but non found, but there was both uneaten blue pellets and blue coloured droppings all around.

Could not really remove all of them, and considering them still active, contacted the makers to ask how long they take to degrade /become safe.

However after a couple of messages saying they would follow it up nothings happened.

Have looked up Difenacoum on the web, but little clear info, other that it seems it does have a long life, possibly years ?!

By chance does anyone know how long I need to leave the compost before its safe to use, not on food crops; but even on the flower beds wondered how safe for other wildlife if would be ??

 

Thanks, did think about removing the contaminated compost, but our recycling centre only accepts green garden waste, they have recently banned soil ?

Depending who is on duty at the tip, it could be a problem as its now well composted and could be seen as soil rather than green waste ...

 

Perhaps you should have considered all this before reaching for a box of poison. Poison is, in my opinion, a terrible idea. It causes a lot of suffering to the poisoned animal ( whatever claims are made by the manufacturer ) and has the knock on affect of the possibility of other species becoming poisoned. Its popular because it offers a ' quick fix ' to an unwanted problem. I like Rats and support them living in my garden, but I understand that most people do not. Its not the Rats fault they were born Rats, they are just trying to survive the same as any other wild animal. They don't know where the boundaries are regarding your property, so sometimes they damage stuff accidentally or go into places they shouldn't. There are other ways to persuade them to vacate, as you have mentioned. It does work. A couple of enterprising females got into the space underneath the shower room in the caravan. I persuaded them to leave by playing a radio loudly and shining a bright light into the space ( didn't want them chewing the wiring as we were still using the caravan at that point ).

Maybe you could burn the contaminated waste. Our local recycling centre has a hazardous waste facility, but not sure if all do.

 

In our old home we kept goats, hens, geese and ducks...so rats were inevitable!

I am sorry but I cannot understand anyone putting poison down where other animals...cats, dogs birds can maybe eat it. Or where it can get into the food chain via worms, birds, toads, grass snakes...even humans via compost!

For just a few £ we bought a secure black bait box.
Inside is dark.... like a maze which rats loved to investigate.
The poison was placed inside ...keeping ALL other critters safe.
Problem solved. Rats killed.

PLEASE in future invest in a Bait box!

http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/images/1284a.jpg

You can often see them discreetly placed in the open, on the ground, near back entrances of food shops/restaurants/take aways etc.

No matter what the manufacturers suggest .....I suggest you play safe and dispose of the complete content of your compost bin...take it to the local council dump for GENERAL rubbish...

rubbish dump - Google Search



Do not put in Green waste for others to get later after it is composted down.

https://www.aggregaterecycling.com/images/green-waste-recycling.jpg

Start a new safe compost heap!
Get a Bait box!
Concider ALL wildlife...and humans.

 

Hi All,

Thanks for the informative and helpful comments.

A shame I did not post here before I bought that bait, could have avoided all the above problems !

 

The trouble with rodent bait is that, if you keep putting loads out, hey will take more than they can eat and stash it somewhere before they die.

I might have been tempted to suggest digging a big hole, burying the contaminated compost and joining in out giant pumpkin growing competion, but I'm certain that Voles would have found it and died.

I go for traps as a first line of defence.

 

Hi all,

Just adding on to this old thread as we had some more visiters to the heaps the other month.

This time we were able to get rid of them by plunging a broom handle down into the pile and then placing the hose pipe down them to really soak the heap, seems to have done the job this time without using any poisons etc.

Did wonder however, as they will have been in the heap for a week or so they will have left a fair few droppings.

Cannot really call the heaps as hot, seeds do survive, but usually most material will be ready by next spring.

How safe will the compost be to use, particularly on edible crops, let alone handling it with bare hands; can we still readily catch something nasty from the rats ?

 

Hi Ricky101,

I'm a new member but rats do carry diseases from urinating plus droppings, so i'd wear protection regarding your hands.

Leptospirosis

Best of luck sorting it out

 

Hi,

Hmmm, we use a motion activated water sprayer which rids our small back garden of cats and their mucky habits, but seems its allowed the rats to wonder into the compost heaps.

Think its sounds like the end of the compost heap, more trouble than they are worth if they are liable to harbour such potential pests and diseases.
Was just reading the other day that the heaps can also host a variety of flea that can bite humans.

Have enough of lifes little problems and pills without adding more sources !

 

A nice warm cosy place will attract all sorts of unwelcome visitors ricki, as you know.

Be a shame if you discontinue using your own compost

Not good to put any poison down.....esp if the compost goes near edible crops.

The solution is simple I think, albeit an obvious one so sorry ricki, turn the heap regularly, make sure a good mixture of ingredients is there to create plenty of heat. Keeping the heat in too with a good lid, blanket or even a topping of dry leaves plus allowing a reasonable air circulation should help deter pests.

I dont turn my heaps as often as I should but they do get hot and they are vermine free because of it I think

 

Make sure you've not got even a slight cut on your hands and wear disposable gloves when you turn it.

I've had Weill's disease, makes flu seem like fun

 

You need to do what Verdun as mentioned because it needs to be turned regular because otherwise the food and warmth they give off causes the rats.

I'd stick with it and give it a bit longer and if it gets you down that much, then it's time to call it quits but just use protection for your body and hands