Rats best way to get rid of them

[GigiB]

Last year we had a rat in the house, we I think it was only one. It took about 3 months to scare off, did about £1000 worth of damage, plus pest control charges. We've had 9 month clear. Yesterday i saw a rat in the garden right by our back windows, it ran by so quickly i started trying to kid myself it was a mouse. However, it showed up again so i got a really good view, it then ran off into the flowerbed and came out with a half dead toad in its mouth. I actually half screamed it was so disgusting. I've since found a hole that leads down to the sewage/waste pipes in the garden. i'm tempted to put poison down traps as our slow (trap) approach too so long before. I'm worried they could get back in the house. I'm wondering whether to trap them in the drains but worried they will be more likely to come into the house.

The council are coming out on Tuesday, so i need to wait until then. We are getting a puppy in 14 days time so poison is going to be a problem as is my total fear of going into the back garden at night/having the doors open! Any advice appreciated!

[woodlands01]

We got 2 cats- problem sorted.

[Donge13]

A few years ago we had a rat in the cavity wall of the terraced house we live in. I put poison down everywhere and the problem was gone a few weeks later.

[oldandcrabby]

A terrier!

[Dampfloor]

We bought sonic rat scarers after a rat got into the kitchen through the roof in the extension.

Not seen/heard of one since. Use wire wool on any holes in the walls as well.

[GigiB]

donge13, did you get any smells when it died, i've heard a few horror stories?

oldandcrabby - we are getting a border terrier so in a few months we should be fine :) still need to get over my horror of the frog incident..

To be honest its the damage that freaks me out the most as we can't keep spending £1k on getting rid of them and rectifying the problems they cause. We have a disused building at the top of our garden. I'm sure this is the source as we've lived here for 7 years and never had a problem until last year when the building became unoccupied. I've called the council and they have delayed taking any action until someone come to investigate our problem next week.

I don't know whether to block the drain and block them in and if that will mean they just come up the loo (which i've heard has happened before)!

[GigiB]

Dampfloor... I'm sure it was the sonic rat scarer that got rid of ours inside last time. They're great and we've still go it on. Am going to need to check whether its ok with the puppy though..

[Donge13]

No because it died in the wall cavity between the door frame,we found it and a nest when we replaced the door several months later.

[ThisOldFool]

GigiB, First, it's received wisdom that in England, you're never more than 8 feet from a rat rodent. My advice is to buy yourself a .22 air rifle and a few targets and learn how to shoot. it's not too difficult, and VERY satisfying! You'll find gunsmiths are usually very helpful. Poison is dangerous for pets, local wildlife and kids. It needs to be laid by professionals and that is expensive. Just shoot the little buggers!

[Muckogy]

borrow a cat. or a jack russell.

[verystressedmum]

Buy an air rifle