There is a fucking rat in my garden

[Wonderdogdoris]

Obviously you can't burn down a garden...or can you?

What should I do? The fucker just looked at me and then scuttled through my garden to the neighbours. The neighbour has foxes and that is bad enough but now rats I'm horrified.

My kitchen is a decent size but I couldn’t fit ponies, cows, goats and pigs in it.

Not all at the same time anyway.

@missshilling see, all about the grammar 🤣

Missing something after beardy

we could use some sort of military tech that uses microwaves or something similar to repel them

I would hate that too op

Get some chickens. Mine despatched a random rat the other day. I only know they did as I found the fur, feet and tail in their run. They love mice too 😁

@hjrl next time we're up in Scotland I'll look you up 😁 My DH is from Fife but he's been down here (south coast England) for 20 years. We were in Dumfries last year. An absolutely beautiful place.

Could be worse op we found one in the kitchen! We only know it was there because my dc saw it, but lest control reckon it's about a while yet we've seen no droppings, it hasn't chewed any food or got in the cupboards. Most odd. Behind our kick boards was a,literal shit show though. We've no idea how it even got in, seems it's git into the cavity wall then chewed through the plasterboard into the kitchen.

There are probably rats in most gardens. They're not doing any harm.

OP there is every chance your home is just part of a rat run so no need to burn the garden down ... yet

First steps secure your property -

Get our tomorrow and clear all clutter as they love hiding places, also they are creatures of habitat and like to use the same routes so if anything changes it spook's them for a bit

Ensure there is never any food or water hanging about. So no bird feed, empty anything rain has collected in and make sure rubbish bags are secured and in a closed bin

Spend some time looking at your property on the outside for any small gaps, holes, broken bricks or stains areas and signs of digging near where drain pipes go into the ground.

Hopefully your property is just on its daily route and not it's potential new home.

To be fair last summer we were having sightings in our garden and didn't worry.

Until after Christmas I heard scraping inside our walls and scurrying in the loft. They can get in and that's not good. Best to be vigilant

Same problem! Where we live we often see piles of food left on grassy areas – cereals, rice, all sorts. Guessing it’s a cultural thing to leave unused food out for animals.

Our next door neighbours often throw leftover rice into their yard. We frequently see rats out there 😫🐀

Didn’t realise environmental health is an option. Although wouldn’t want to offend them 😕 (and their yard is only overlooked by us)

Let’s hope it’s not fucking, otherwise there will be a load more 😂

Exactly. Rats are very intelligent creatures. There are rats everywhere. I don't understand your reaction.

///

I think for many people it's a natural reaction. We have been to a degree conditioned to fear rats. Probably other things that may horrify you may not phase OP

Christ!

But.... they're outside....

For some reason I had a vague notion that chickens were vegetarian!

I really wouldn't worry there are rats everywhere. And foxes. Today I discovered my daughters lunch bag has been made into a rather cosy mouse house as they have found a way back into the kitchen cupboard.
A couple of weeks ago one of my Labradors brought a mouse up to me in bed...a rat at the end of your garden minding its own business is really not a big deal!

@IClaudine they are actually killers. They eat other chickens off they are injured..you have to treat any chicken with any damage as they will kill and eat them. It's amazing what you learn when you own chickens

We have a furry visitor at times too. Last year a neighbour discovered a nest in his compost heap! He put out traps.

😂😂

There will be loads of rats in and around your garden. You just don't see them.

Bloody hell! You are shattering all my illusions about chickens!

Thanks Pupp I did indeed read that.

I'm not saying it's rational to have that unease or fear but some people do.

The rat is in its own habitat (the one we probably built over) just leave it alone.

And?