Taking the pee

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by clueless1, Apr 25, 2011.

  1. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Dave, not such a good idea - it has to be fresh :heehee: :loll: :loll: :loll: :loll:
     
  2. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    On the rat thing, I've never heard of rats being attracted to human wee. If that was true, then many of the drinking holes I used to attend when I was younger would have been overwhelmed with rats (I remember one club I used to go to, I always made sure I had chunky souled shoes on if I was going there, because the gents toilets ALWAYS had a puddle of pee right at the entrance).

    The closest thing I've ever heard to the claim that rats are attracted to human wee is that rats are normally repelled by it, but if they are infected with weils disease their sense of smell changes and they become attracted to it instead, but I doubt that was the case otherwise there'd be a lot of very poorly people about.
     
  3. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    The chances of contracting leptospirosis (Weils diseease) from peeing in the garden (or from there being pee on the ground near a loo) is almost nil. I've never heard, before this thread, that rats are attracted to human pee and think it highly unlikey.

    Weils disease is contracted from water infected with rat pee (rivers, lakes, ponds etc) but they reckon that only 20% of rats have it and it has to enter your body either through your mouth, nose of open wound.

    If you swim in one of the above there is a possibility but, of course the larger the body of water or the faster it flows the more it is diluted.

    There is a minscule chance of gardeners contracting it from pressure hosing patios etc where a rat has peed.

    What a lovely thing to talk about :rolleyespink: :heehee:
     
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