Unusual Creature

I discovered I had rat family make its home under my shed a few years back - attacted by the droppings from the bird feeders. Answer ?stop feeding the birds - not an option, sides as ominivores they would have found something else. Whilst I am normally a live and let live person Weil's disease was something I did not want my dogs, friends or myself exposed to - so council called and baited (taking care to be not cat/dog accessible) - rats gone - shed terrace scoured.

Hopefully it will not happen again - once in 18 years is fine by me :D

 

Mmmm - I had a rat family under my shed a few years back - prolly attracted by the dropped seed from the bird feeders. I am usually a live and let live kinda person - but I was not about to expose, my dogs, my gardening friends, and me to Weil's disease. So council, called - its a free service - baited (safe from cats and dogs) - rats gone. Once in 18 years ain't bad

As for squirrels - tell me about their damage . Had one enter my roof space prolly from my neighbours DIY house building - my builder could find, no enty point my side. Chewed a joist half through - fortunately it was at the base and only supporting one tile. Trapped and removed - and oh boy do they make a racket when caught. Again first time in 18 years - hopefully the last.

 

RAT-a-tat-tat.... the best way to deal with them. :D

 

The only difference between a squirrel and a rat is that one has a fluffy tail and the other doesn't. I understand that there is a project being developed to exterminate the grey squirrel completely from Britain. Something to do with making the next generation of females infertile. They are cute to watch and very clever, but so damaging to eggs, nestlings and tree bark. Introduced from USA in the 19th century and now they are just about everywhere and the red is just about nowhere in the south.

 

Thanks Nathan, very kind of you, I will keep that in mind.

I sent an email off to Local council last night, and will keep you all updated, in the meantime I have removed all bird feeders.

Thank you all once again for your support.

 

They put the poison in plastic boxes which is supposed to prevent pets getting at it. Our cat died from eating a mouse that had eaten warfarin treated rat poison. Her eyes closed and her lips and nose went white. She collapsed in agony with all of the symtoms of advanced leukaemia - in just a few days!

You will not get rid of rats. Just stop putting food down for the birds. You want insect eating birds not seed/fruit eating birds. I have hanging seed feeders and put "Quaker" oats out on a high bird table all year round. Bread is bad for birds but rats love it. Rats come for food. No food and they will go elsewhere. You will never exterminate them.

 

I am sorry about your cat, Hornbeam. I have 2 cats and whilst I hate it if they ever catch birds or tiny mice and voles, they do a good job with rats as well. At this time of year they have bells on their collars, and as one is nearly 20 she's a bit past catching birds anyway. I rarely see a rat and I think the cats' presence is recognised.
I do have plenty of small birds in my garden, including the ground feeding wrens.

 

Likewise, sorry to hear about your cat Hornbeam.

Got email from local council stating that they will be round tomorrow at 9 am to make an assessment.

From all your comments above, I seem to be in a no win situation! :eek:

 

Well that's the first bit of good news MF, something else I shall have to investigate!

Until now, all my efforts went into trying to deal with badgers, but this year it seems ok so far!