Rats/mice... HELP!!!

[fliptheswitch]

How do you know if you have rats/mice?

I tied a black bag up last night and, as it was late, I left it in the kitchen next to the bin.
I went to move it this morning, and there's a hole in the bottom. It's a large-ish round hole, and not on the seam so it's not a case of the bag splitting. There was a bit of mess just outside the hole, on the floor.
Could this be a mouse/rat? I don't know where on earth one could be coming in, if it is!

I've moved the bin, but I'm scared to even go in there now. Just tried phoning the council, but the pest control people aren't in until Thursday.
Don't really know what to do.

The same thing happened a few weeks ago, but I just put it down to a split in the bag.
I don't leave any food out, or rubbish, it was literally a tied bag next to the bin.
The floor is spotless, as are all the cupboards, so I'm baffled as to why this would be??
There are no other obvious signs, no scratching noises (as mentioned on the Rentokil website) or droppings. Just the ripped bag.

I need some help... urgent!

[B00]

Thing is Helen, you don't, or at least I didn't. The droppings, in our case, were confined to the back of the fridge, where I obviously couldn't see.

[fliptheswitch]

DT - gross! lol

RH, I don't think I'm overreacting. I may have a rat living in my house... possibly with a family of other rats. Forgive me for being dramatic, but I absolutely hate them! Just the thought is making me squeal!
Still no sign of my Dad, so I've shut the kitchen door and refuse to go in there until he's been and we can drag the fridge out.
No pets, so couldn't have come in that way.
I've since found a hole, behind a load of paint pots in the boiler room. (it's just a cupboard, with a boiler in it). I often leave this door open, so I'm wondering if it could have come though here. Still no sign of droppings though.... who knows.

[barb1314]

I totally sympathise with you as not long after Boo's nightmare with Roland,we also had to call out the rat man as we and our neighbours had rats in the attic. We live in ancient cottages with a small river behind so it's quite common.Our council treat rats for free so out he came and put down poison. He saw only a couple of droppings but that was enough for it to be free (mice are chargeable) That evening we literally heard them playing football with the poison blocks (they love to run back to the nest with things) and we've never heard them since. I am terrified of them and refuse point blank to go up there now. The thing I was worried about was them chewing wires as our combi is up there. It's really horrible when it happens to you and you are not over reacting at all. Hope you can sort it (or even better that you don't have one)

[Squitty]

More likely to be a mouse than a rat.
When there were mice in my shed I bought some cheap traps and put bits of snickers bar in it - the nuts and chocolate was irresistable and easily set the traps off. mind your fingers!!

[BRIGHT SPARK]

The little treasure in my avatar brought a live adult rat into the washroom and it took us 3 hours to take apart the units etc to catch it.

[rozia]

hedgehog, fox.

[rozia]

rats traps work better with solid chocolate, i put one in my kitchen at 7pm, and at 7.15 something banged about, i went to check and there was the rat, all caught and having a nose bleed, and still warm. dead!!! he tried to get the choc, but it was too hard and so he went closer to it and bingo!!!

[Prudie]

I think far more likely to be a mouse too. Did the traps catch anything?

[Prudie]

@rozia, I think flip would know if there was a fox living in her kitchen ;-)

[EDDIE51]

Where's Ratter when you need him ? this would be right up his street .
Yes, I know he's suspended but we need him !

[fliptheswitch]

Just been reminded of this thread, so thought I'd post an update... on rat-gate.... :D

It seems I may, just may, have been a bit dramatic after all. I know, who'd have thought it?!
So... I left some bait out for Mr Ratty, a Ferrero Rocher actually, but it was still there in the morning.
Moved the fridge/freezer... nothing!
The ripped bag and pulled out food packaging still remain a mystery. A hungry ghost, possibly?? :-)

[karenmac60]

Something jaggy inside the bag maybe?

[DTCwordfan]

Just for the record (as to the AB thread as well)

....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_sig_xyNI8

[Ujjalseo]

From the description you have mentioned here it is clear that it is a rat. If you have any area in your kitchen that is open try to cover it as soon as possible. And one more thing that you have to do in order to get rid of this is to call the pest control company. They know the exact method to eliminate them properly.