Can I Be Forced To Put Down Rat Poison?

[godhandfan]

I have been asked by the council to deal with rats on my property. I have been using traps to catch them successfully, but obviously it is taking time to get them all. The man who came by today said that I am legally obliged to put poison on my property, but did not give me evidence of that. Can anybody tell me if that's the case? Thanks

[RATTER15]

Sorry Khandro modern poisons don't work that way, there is virtually no secondary poisoning and if a fox picked up a poisoned rat there would not be enough poison in a rat to affect the fox. But you believe what you want to believe.

[anneasquith]

just kill them asap please.

[sherrardk]

Just poison them, they are full of disease!

[Khandro]

Ratter; What do you make of this please?;
http://www.mrpackrat.net/poison.html

[RATTER15]

Khandro, that is an American poison sold in the USA. against "Pack Rats" (whatever they are). I have no idea about the use of poisons used in the USA.

[RATTER15]

I often wonder why there is much hatred toward our rats, I think they are delightful creatures and absolutely fascinating to watch.

[whiskeryron]

I agree RATTER15 Our brother Rat is a very intelligent creature who is trying to make a living as we humans are doing but unfortunately we apparently cannot co-exist. It makes me ask the question, who was here first ? Throughout the world since we humans began, we have forced other species to go elsewhere & in some instances become extinct, & the way we have behaved why do we think we are so superior ?

[Khandro]

I think it's something to do with the tail. Stick a furry tail on one, and you have more or less a squirrel, and everyone loves squirrels.
Ratter, poison is poison either side of the pond, and when you put it down you can't choose which hungry animal might eat it, including (heaven forbid) your dogs.

[RATTER15]

Khandro, I was referring specifically to the OP, not what goes on in other countries, I know nothing of their laws or their poisons. and I also stated "if directions are followed" If the directions on the containers are followed then the chance of any other animal eating it is very limited. Also nearly all rat poisons used in this country contain a substance called Bitrex, this is a taste deterrent, it is one of the most bitter substances known to man. Dogs have been known to eat rat poison but the Bitrex will usually put any dog off eating a lethal dose but of course this can and does happen. All in all, if poisons are used correctly the chance of poisoning a non target species is very unlikely.

[RATTER15]

I will also point out that in 13 years of laying rat poison professionally I had two cases where dogs had eaten the poison I had put down, both dogs were fine after a trip to the vet and an injection of Vitamin K1. Both dogs only got hold of the poison because it had been moved from where I put it. If laid correctly the other animal at risk of non-target poisoning is mice.

[Mosaic]

Ratter, I have always found a kettle of boiling water is the quickest solution to an ant nest. Swift and not involving poisons. Shame it doesn't work for rats though!

[Khandro]

//If laid correctly the other animal at risk of non-target poisoning is mice.//
Which are of course the favourite food of owls. Could you be too trusting of "what it says on the tin"? which is there of course to help sales of the product. I'm sure you were excellent at your job, but did you really know what effect the poison was having on other wildlife just as long as you successfully got rid of the rats?

[RATTER15]

OK, I give up, I know the laws regarding the use of poisons in the field of pest control, I know how it is manufactured to limit the affect of secondary poisoning to the likes of owls and other birds of prey etc. but you seem insistent on trying to prove me wrong. Believe what you will.

[RATTER15]

Mosaic, that will work in "some" situations, like cracks in concrete but many ants nest are indoors and not so easy to swamp with boiling water, you also need to be able to get directly above the nest to pour it on, very often this is not possible either. The nice thing about powder is the dust will drift around the inside of the nest and can be puffed into inaccessible areas, especially if you have a professional powder applicator.

[Khandro]

ratter; I'm not trying to be argumentative, I know sometimes I may appear so, but not in this case. Please look at;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodenticide
I have a 'thing' about poisoning animals, - it's a slow horrible death to inflict on another sentient being. Also, I have a daughter who has worked in a wild-life rescue centre for around 20 years, and comes across numbers of secondary poisoned animals on a regular basis, particularly birds of prey in which she specializes.

[belrec]

re the ants

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden/Question1343362.html

[RATTER15]

Khandro, I read it and it is wrong in quite a few areas I'm afraid, but I won't try to convince you as your mind is made up, and I really can't be bothered writing out a load text that you won't believe anyway.