RATS

We've been here almost 5 years now and have seen field or harvest mice occasionally but no rats - until now.
The so called "squirrel proof" seed feeder has had a regular visit from the squirrel but in the last week, a rat has been climbing onto it and mimicking the action the squirrel adopts and has been successful in getting sun flower seeds out. So, reluctantly, we have taken the feeder down - much to the disappointment of all the birds that regularly visited it. This afternoon, I was on the PC by the window and a movement caught my eye. A bloomin' girt RAT was staring through the patio door at me! Mr Namaste went ballistic and commenced hosing the garden with extraordinary vigour in the hope of giving Roland a cold shower. I'm sure he'd legged it well before the hose had been switched on.
So, anyone else got a rat problem?
Jenny

 

Oh god Jenny, my heart goes out to you, I HATE rats! Perhaps laying some humane traps if you don't have the stomach for something more final. Let us know how you get on xxx

 

We did, they were under the decking and doing the same as yours, snacking on the bird food. We moved the bird feeders down to the other end of the garden and so far since they've had to go farther afield Kai has killed one, a neighbours cat got another and one we found dead on the compost heap. Fingers crossed, we haven't seen any signs of any others. We didn't want to resort to poison as hedgies also live under the decking and we were scared they might eat it but removing the bird feed from the immediate area seems to have drawn them out and they've either been killed by natural predators or found another food source.

 

He's asking where the food has gone Jenny, he don't know he's a rat, probably calls himself "Furry thing that is this furry thing."

 

Probably most people, whether they know about it or not!
And the reasons for it are blamed on many things (depending on your preferences/biases):-

• The fortnightly bin collections
• The rise in chicken keeping
• The rise in people feeding birds
• The increase in people having compost bins
• The increase in people "growing their own"
• The increase in fast food outlets
• The increase in discarded rubbish from those fast food outlets
• The increase in carelessly abandoned rubbish per se
• The rats developing immunities against poisons used
• The recession and increase in empty properties
• The rise in exotic pets
• Decline of larger wildlife
• Government cuts (less council funded pest control)

Sorry to read this, Jenny - do try contacting your local council and see if they have a pest control department and, for a fee, they will come and offer advice and (hopefully!) a solution

 

We had rats about 38 of them, one neighbour move there chicken shed and rip up there decking, the rat done a runner and yes they made home with us for a few days, but now they gone

 

I did have a rat problem in my polytunnel but my youngest dog decided she was a ratter and has been systematically dealing with the problem.
The rain has been so heavy that it has been flooding them out of their normal enviroments so they are forced to move to where ever the food and shelter is. Also the mild weather has had them breeding at an amazing rate as well.
If you know anyone with a ratting dog invite them round.

 

At last the people in a body
To the Town Hall came flocking:
`Tis clear,'' cried they, ``our Mayor's a noddy;
And as for our Corporation -- shocking
To think we buy gowns lined with ermine
For dolts that can't or won't determine
What's best to rid us of our vermin!
You hope, because you're old and obese,
To find in the furry civic robe ease?
Rouse up, sirs! Give your brains a racking
To find the remedy we're lacking,
Or, sure as fate, we'll send you packing!''
At this the Mayor and Corporation
Quaked with a mighty consternation.

 

Jen

Same with me I have had to take all the feeders down , but a neighbor has the bird food on a table , on the lawn and in hanging feeders , so its not helping where I live and other neighbors are getting fed up of it all , i have used poison and traps but stops it for about 6 to 8 weeks and back they come.

Its the bold ones they let themselves down when they come out in daylight hours if they only came out when dark it wouldn't be to bad.

 

Or more accurately:
That isn't a lekker place for a holiday my china.

china/chine – a friend; as in the greeting howzit my china (likely origin: Cockney rhyming slang "China plate" (meaning "my mate"); from early British immigrants.

Long list of S.A. slang below (WARNING: contains some rude words):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_South_African_slang_words