Rat!!!

[slid_away]

Hi All
I spotted a rat in the garden yesterday, first time I have ever seen one in my garden. It ran in front of me and went into my brick shed via a gap in the door. I guess its after the rabbit food.
I spotted it again today twice, again in the same vicinity but not actually in the shed.
If I have spotted one, are there likely to be more?
What is the best method to get rid of them? I'd rather use poison as I don't fancy having to handle them if I kill or trap them?
Any advise is welcome

[AlBags]

Buy or borrow a trap from someone. Some on eBay.
http://home-garden.sh..._trksid=p3286.c0.m282

[lardhelmet]

Hi slid - get a man in. You don't want to put poison down & run the risk of the rabbits finding it do you?

[society]

Get a cat or a few.

[slid_away]

The trouble with a trap is I have to either handle a dead one or kill a trapped one and I don't fancy doing either! There is no way the rabbits will get the poison as they are at the other end of the garden and I'm afraid I have a allergy to cats!!!

[GuyMitchell]

my parents had rats, they put poison down which worked and killed the rats, however a few dead rats ended up under floor boards and the other way they knew this was as the bodies rotted creating a putrid gut wrenching stench. They use rat traps now (big mouse traps)

[rowanwitch]

lots of ground black pepper works as a repellant for a while,, if you can get them to move on it helps they may find somewhere they like better

[chokkie]

Call in the professionals ..... or get some rat poison from your local hardware shop and place little tubs of it at regular intervals along their runs. They will take the stuff back to the next and kill all the others - hopefully. Our neighbour two doors away has got a rat living under her garden shed - don't think she's done anything about it, and we're worried it will appear in our garden next. They are not welcome in our garden one little bit!

[dothawkes31]

rabbits attract rats, you'll not get rid til you get rid of the rabbits, the rats will be going into their hutch at night nicking their food.

[slid_away]

Thanks for all your answers, it has really helped.

[hayley_maree2007]

you need to mind your rabbit. rats do attack rabbits. my mums bunny was biten by a rat and was seriously ill for well over a year and still isnt how he used to be, he almost died