wild rat children & a dog

[megan07]

Hi guys can you give me your opinion just over 2 weeks ago my neighbour reported to the council a wild rat living under his garden shed. This rat is running around all of the gardens during the day and up to now it has evaded capture. Believe me i wish there was a more humane way other than black boxe's with poison in them but my question is would this rat if unexpectedly cornered by my grandkiddys or my dog attack . As some of you guys know i have a basset hound and he and my Grakiddys are my life burt has a natural instinct to hunt i watch them constantly when they are in the garden but i am very worried what do you guys think and by-the-way sorry for the long question i hope you are all keeping well love to all megan

[iheartruby]

i thought that 'cornered rat' thing was a myth? i had some last year thru my naiive attempt at an uncovered compost heap but they soon left as soon as any foods were removed. there was an adult and some babies and as soon as anyone went near them (including cats) they scarpered. what's attracting them to your neigbours garden? remove the source maybe? i agree, poisoning is nasty.

[iheartruby]

hi megan, looks like i've got some hats to be eating - check this out:
http://www.scwc.org/Info/RATS1.htm

[megan07]

Hi iheartruby i hope you are right and it is a myth i do not know what has attracted this rat to my neighbour's garden ironically the are the only one's who do not feed the birds i live in a row of 7 houses and we all feed the birds could it be that we cannot do right for doing wrong . We have not put any food out because of the rat but the birds are starting to nest and i feel sorry for them . and as for the poison my friend offered to trap it HUMANELY and set it free in a forest near -buy but the neighbours said no and that it could become someone else's problem and also the council are dealing with it i asked this question because i know they can carry diseases and i worry for my grandchildren and my dog as i am extremely protective of them please excuse any spelling mistakes love and best wishes megan

[megan07]

Hi iheartruby thank you so much i found your link very very helpful also it was educating i wish i was like doctor do-little and just say go away and you will not come to any harm but unfortunately we don't live in an ideal world one's again thank you love and good wishes megan

[coco pops]

If the rat is still running around after 2 weeks the council should be back regulary to do something about it. Maybe it is more than one rat. You are fortunate if your council rat catches for free.

[megan07]

Hi coco pops that has crossed my mind to . The council are due back out on Thursday thank's love megan

[lankeela]

Make sure your dog has his jabs up to date as rats can carry leptospirosis.

They will keep themselves to themselves as long as they are getting food, they only stray if they are looking for food.

Let the council deal with them and don't worry too much.

[megan07]

Thank you lankeela every time burt goe's out i keep a very cloes eye on him thank you i will let you all know what happens love megan

[RATTER15]

Hi megan07, leave it to the Pest Control guys, they will soon sort it, despite what you hear rats are very easily destroyed, and as for attracting them! its worth remembering that the rat is just a another part of our wildlife!!, you don't encourage the birds that sit on your roof yet they arrive, you don't need to encourage the rats either, they are just wandering around when they find a nice warm place to have babies and set up home. Leave them alone and you will be fine, I have controlled rats for 13 years and never been attacked or bitten, and I have seen thousands of them, sometimes hundreds of them in the same place at the same time!!

Incredible creatures!! I love them!!

[RATTER15]

Poisoning is actually one of the more humane ways of killing rats!!

[megan07]

Thank you Ratter15 i have just been worried i just wish they would stay in the wild and that way there would be no harm to the rat thank you love megan

[RATTER15]

I know what you are saying megan but from a rats point of view they are living in the wild, they don't realise they are not wanted!! they are just trying to survive the only way they know how, its us humans that are the biggest pest in wildlife!!

Yes I am sticking up for the poor much maligned rat and yes I know that they must be killed and like I said I killed thousands of them myself, but still you must spare them a thought or two :-(

[megan07]

Hi ratter15 i do understand what you are saying and the rat probably will keep out of are way but i just feel a bit uncomfortable knowing he / she is running around and i have to think of my grakiddy's and my burty's wellbeing believe me Ratter if i could i would pick the rat up and put it somewhere where it would come to no harm i suppose it's just one of those thing's that happens unfortunately it has just got a bit to close to us humans love megan

[RATTER15]

Megan, I have killed them in my back garden as well!! it has to be done!! They do carry some very unpleasant diseases.

Good luck!!

[megan07]

HI Ratter15 just seen him / her about an hour ago shot out from my neighbour's garden and down my path i nearly pooped my pants what a shock it's a big-one best wishes megan