Rats in the Veg garden..

[HotnSunnyRainbowRoses]

Does anyone know if any of my edibles are actually going to be safe to eat..?

Before anyone says it, no I’m not going to poison them.
Mostly because I’m a live and let live kind of person but also because it would be pointless.

I’m sandwiched in between two filthy bastards of neighbours either side of me.
We’ve had a rat infestation before due to one of them and their filthy ways.
It’s been a long time since I’ve noticed flies, smells etc (yes it’s that bad) but in the past week I’ve noticed a suspicious hole that looks a lot like a rat tunnel between our fences.

I’ve been putting down loads of compost in preparation for sowing veg so the hole was covered until about an hour ago when I saw a very healthy looking rat rummaging around having dug the hole back open...

Basically because the two neighbours either side are so dirty there’s no real point killing off the rats because more will just replace them because of the constant filth.

I have to live with them but I’m concerned the fruit and veg I grow may no longer be safe?
Strawberries for example which my kids like to pick straight off the plants, could they be contaminated by Weils and such if a rat has walked over/chewed/peed on them?

Should I wash my edibles in a mild bleach or vinegar solution before eating them, would that remove any rat disease?

Scoop it all up, rats and all, for a perfect Ratatouille.

You need to contact environmental health at your local council to report your neighbours.

rats will eat all your fuit/veggies and you will be over run with them if you don't contact council or private pest control.

No idea about the veg but as Absolute said, contact the authorities about the infestation.

You need to contact environmental health at your local council to report your neighbours
I’m not doing it again.
I’ve went through all that shit the last time.

I won’t go into details but we contacted the landlord and threatened environmental health (after the landlord repeatedly took no action whatsoever)
It resulted in extreme hostility and tension, both with the dirty neighbour and the landlord who basically insinuated that we were the ones causing a problem by complaining and that they could find new tenants.
So, yes, I’m not going down that route again.
We can’t afford to rent another house of this size unless we move out of the area.

rats will eat all your fuit/veggies
Oh FFS!!
😡
I thought the little bastards mostly ate grain in the ‘wild’ like mice.

Nope. They really like sweet little strawberries. My first thought when I saw your title was "Yum! Meat and two veg "

I can't help sorry as I am a live and let live kind of person. The only thing I know is that rats hate being disturbed so keep messing around near the hole area. Otherwise borrow a ratter for the day.

They really like sweet little strawberries
Ugh.
Those furry little assholes are going to think they’ve hit the jackpot then.

I have tons of established strawberries growing, blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries and cherries too and I was hoping my apple, pear, plum and nectarine trees might fruit for me this year

The only thing I know is that rats hate being disturbed so keep messing around near the hole area
I can do this.

Otherwise borrow a ratter for the day
I did for a second regret my choice of an elderly hard of hearing collie and a chihuahua who repeatedly requests to be let out at night (now I know why!!) but immediately comes back in on not seeing the rat/s instead of a savage little Jack but tbh I wouldn’t like the thought of a dog shaking them to death.
Though it’s more humane than poison I suspect.

rats will also find a way into your house and start destroying things - I had some that were attracted to my fruit trees and ended up in the conservatory, professional pest control is the way to go - our council charges £60 for this.

A neighbour has days because her next door neighbour scrapes his dinner plates into the pavement and out in the car park behind our houses for the birds seagulls. Environmental Health and the Council have given him a warning but I've seen a fox with a dead rat burying it in my garden and retrieving it later. Perhaps you need to get a fox

why on earth has rats been autocorrect to days?