Rat hole!

[theluckiest]

I've just searched 'Rat' and it seems lots of us have had little ratfink visitors recently.

I've just found what I think is a rat hole at the side of our brick-built extension, underneath. Hole is about 15cm wide and something has clearly dug it.

Could've been there for ages. Extension built 5 yrs ago. I've only cleared it that area as we're having a new boiler fitted and that's where the vent is. I've since cleared all rubbish / leaves away.

I had rats as pets for years so I'm not particularly squeamish about them. We're in a terrace & I know they're everywhere. Just don't particularly want them in the walls / ceiling!! No noises, scratching or any other signs.

Do I need to do anything else?? I googled it and apparently rat holes by buildings are generally them getting out not in but no idea if this is true!!

Shall I plug up the hole?? Don't want to trap any rats lurking down there in and force them to chew further under the extension
Not getting traps or poison as we have a dog & lots of cats in the area. Ironically, DDog is a ratter-terrier breed. But lazy and mostly useless so would probably just make friends with it.

Shall I just leave it be?

I can see why you don’t want to put poison down. But you could put down a humane trap and then take the rat off to the fields somewhere and release it.
Once you’ve got them all then plug up the hole

I would be calling an exterminator asap. Wild rats are not pet rats and they carry disease, never mind the extensive damage they can do to your home. They need to be evicted.

Thing is, I've no idea if they're still there. The hole could have been made years ago.

Other than the hole, I've seen no other recent signs of any ratty visitors. And DDog normally goes mad if any uninvited visitors like rats / squirrels / hedgehogs turn up.

Know what you mean about getting rid though. Don't really fancy wondering if they're still curled up nice & warm under my bloody extension late at night!!

Our council offers a free service. They put poison down in boxes and advise to keep pets away. 72 hrs later problem solved.

One rat isn’t the end of the world but where there’s one there’s always another, and a pair can become 1,000 in six (I think) months as they breed lots of babies every few weeks and then the breed, and their babies breed, and before you know it they are exhausting the outside supply of food and making their way into houses biting things and peeing everywhere, like peeing on your plates in your kitchen cupboard, gnawing at your packs of cereal or biscuits...! And then you use the plates not noticing or eat the food and get disease. Some of which can be fatal to humans.

So even if you like rats, for the sake of your neighbours please don’t ignore this issue. It’s an environmental health problem waiting to happen.

Yes @Elieza that's my worry. I know there's never just one and they spread all sorts of nasties.

Apparently, more are moving into residential areas as food outlets have been closed for so long.

Don't worry, I like pet rats, not the ones that make nests under decking & gnaw through your wiring!! Just said this as I wouldn't really freak out if I saw one in the garden. If I saw one in a cereal packet in my cupboard however....

Right, I'll give pest control a call.

Good plan OP. Perhaps it will say on your council website if they offer a free or subsidised service. Hope so.

If not B&Q apparently sells stuff.