Rats In The Garden

[maggie01]

Yesterday I had two could be three rats in my garden. Not sure if I saw one twice. Anyway they came under my neighbours fence, across my patio and under fence to my other neighbour. Haven't seen them today but as there were at least two I am a bit worried there could be more. I have to let dog out for a wee before bed and am petrified I will see one. What are the chances they have disappeared.

[ladybirder]

The dog will soon see them off if they are there tonight Maggie.

[Rosie29]

Get in touch with your local Council's Pest Control department as soon as possible. My sympathies - horrible for you.

[maggie01]

Thank you!. I just let her out. Tylical, I pur the outside light on and the bulb blew

[maggie01]

I did Email the council in Saturday..

[RATTER15]

Let your neighbours know, they be be unaware, or they may be aware and dealing with it.

[-SharonA-]

A cat gave me a present of a dead rat dumped on my back patio. I freaked out. Hate the blighters.

[maggie01]

Mg neighbours are away for two months. We had a problem a few years ago with two badgers in the garden which were under their decking so I am hoping the rats are not under there. They have a cat but they have taken it with them

[Davemano]

I knew a lady who had the same problem and was asked by the council if she had tried bunging their holes up, to which she replied, 'I would if I could catch 'em'.

[Davemano]

Seriously, the rats will be more afraid of you that you are of them.

[hc4361]

How did you get rid of the badgers? I have a badger problem, too, and don't know how to deal with it

[maggiebee]

Good advice from Rosie29 - time to get rid of as they will breed like............well...rats.

[maggie01]

The rspca came down for the badger but it ran off. Never came back. Did a lot of damage to my lawn

[Chipchopper]

Maggie, please keep us updated with your dealings with the councils pest controller.
They should be able to determine where the rats are coming from and the best way to deal with the problem.
Good luck.

[ladybirder]

Have you got bird feeders in your garden Maggie?

[Rose Maybud]

If the pest controller doesn't make an appearance, you can do something yourself. Looks like the rats are just passing through, so place a bait station in their path. Bait (wheat coated with poison and brightly coloured - no mistaking it) is available from horse/farm/country stores. Proper bait boxes will cost of course, but a length of drain pipe usually does. Long enough to stop the dog getting at it. if the bait comes in single-dose bags just put it in the pipe, else get a small freezer bag and half fill it. You may like to wear disposable gloves. Place the pipe where the rats come under the fence so they have to go through the pipe. While the bait disappears, keep putting more. When it doesn't disppear, you've got 'em!

[maggie01]

I don't feed the birds. They have berries from the plants. I have abird bath . That's all

[johnny37]

i dont think local councils do this now. use red rat poison from the hardware shop (as described above). I hate the blighters too. Seems to take a while. they keep coming back for more. put the poison in a small dish. if it is disturbed you know they are still around. When it remains for a few days you may have got them. Please put it where pets cant get to it. Only prob is what happens to the dead ones? had one on the patio recently (a dead one).

[johnny37]

ps i think my neighbour could be at fault by leaving food out for the birds. rats only ususally appear when food is available.

[jourdain2]

Some rats appeared in our garden in April. Council pest control sent a very knowlegable chap who traced them to under neighbour's decking and advised poison blocks. Council doesn't deal with it any more. Poison got rid of that nest, but more rats reappeared a couple of weeks ago, this time under other neighbour's shed. Our dog was going mad trying to get at them. Poison seems to have worked again. Fingers' crossed. Your dog will get them if poss..

[ladybirder]

Our council do it but prices start at £77 and depend on the size if your property. They lay traps and make several visits to empty them and put more poison down. However they do come back until they are sure they've got rid of them. Rats suffer a horrible death from poison so if you do put poison out be sure neither pets nor birds nor bees can get at it.
Maggie if you have no food source in your garden or anywhere they could nest, like under a shed or decking or even a compost heap, then they are probably just passing through and your dog will likely keep them at bay. If your neighbours have any of the above then the source of your problem will more than likely be coming from them. Good luck, I hope you manage to sort it. Not a nice problem to have.