Rats

[Coldicote]

A hedge at the bottom of my garden has a ditch immediately the other side. Hardy surprising perhaps that one or two rats appear, especially around the bird table. I've thought of asking the 'rat man' to get rid of them, but one or two neighbours regard them as part of nature and nothing to worry about. One even said that as a child they kept pet rats. Should they be destroyed? What do you think?

[woofgang]

there's actually no point. If there is shelter, food and water then more rats will move in to replace those destroyed. If you remove any of the three ie move the bird table and clear undergrowth, then the rats are more likely to move elsewhere. I have had to stop feeding the birds in my garden because the rats got so cheeky.

[RATTER15]

As a Pest Controller of 13 years, I love to see the odd rat pop his head up and pinch a few nuts or seeds from our bird table, there are fantastic little creatures. If you are seeing more than you are happy with you could just ensure that you keep the numbers down by regular baiting, you really don't need a pest controller to kill rats, they are so easy to control. Go to a good farm shop and buy "Neosorexa" its the best on the market, put plenty down in plastic bags and protect it from other wildlife and dogs, the rats will chew through the bags to get to the poison, if they aren't taking the poison, move it somewhere else after a couple of weeks. I also used to keep pet rats.

[LoftyLottie]

I agree with Ratter and pest controllers are simply not interested in countryside rats. They are just part of countryside living and come in off the fields around us at about this time of year. They just have to be kept in control. I do continue to feed the birds and if things get bad with the rats we use poison, as per ratter's solution or Mr LL gets the gun out!!

I would probably feel differently about them if they were sewer rats in a city, but I do have an admiration for rats and they do make wonderful pets (not the sewer rats!!)

[woofgang]

town or country, they still carry leptospirosis in their wee which can make dogs ill if they ingest it... the darling country rats at us have also just chewed a large hole in the rubber bottom seal of our new and expensive garage doors. :-(

[Coldicote]

So it seems that country rats are not as bad as some folk might think. I'll try to be a bit more sympathetic. Thanks everyone for you comments.

[society]

A rat is a rat. I'd hasten to get rid of them.

[LoftyLottie]

I know what disease they carry Woofgang which is why I make sure my dogs are up to date with jabs. Norfolk is also a county where Wiels disease (spelling) is rife. We take due care. However, you can never wipe out rats, only control them. I am not saying that rat control is not necessary, but I still agree with ratter.

The rabbits and moles play havoc with my garden - it's part of living in the country!!

I certainly do feel different about town rats who live amongst rubbish and in sewers!!

As I said, you wouldn't get any rat catchers around here unless the rats infest your property. Then they will act. However, they do no more than we can - they lay poison.

[boxtops]

My cat keeps finding 'em, I have no idea where.

[LoftyLottie]

My cat just ignores them!! Stupid cat. The dog, however, kills them (Jack Russell)

[woofgang]

I agree about the control thing...where I live I am surrounded by other folks' gardens so we'd all have to do it. I wouldn't poison unless it got much worse...keeping the garden clear and not putting out bird food seems to have sorted it...I have loads of plants with seeds and berries and always clean water so the birds don't lose out...also i don't spray insecticide or pursue slugs and snails so the birds and hedgehogs get a good feed there. We don't get rabbits but the moles seem to love us...not bothered about them getting rid of them either, they make a lovely job of turning the soil over.

[RATTER15]

Town rats, country rats,sewer rats: we (generally speaking) only have one species of rat in this country, including the pet/fancy rat being "Rattus Norvegicus" The Brown Rat

I know there are a few out crops of Rattus Rattus or the Black Rat but not many.

[NazNomad]

We have one (yeah I know, probably a hundred) that sits under the bird-table munching fallen seed. Big healthy looking bu99er too.

Live and let live ... all the while he stays outdoors.

Used to keep 'em as pets. Superb pet to have.

[woofgang]

before it got out of hand, there used to be one that visited my fish pond. he/she would paddle the water towards him/her with front paws to get the floating fish food to drift to where it could be reached....very clever.

[Coldicote]

I don't think anyone has mentioned compost bins. Rats will almost certainly burrow a way in unless the bin is stood on slabs or something to keep them out. Personally I don't like rats and have always thought of them as vermin, but I don't want to be cruel so will just keep watch and get rid if too may appear. Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts.