Mum putting rat poison down in her garden - do others see this as cruel or unethical or is it just me?

[GardenRat]

My mum has been having a problem with rats being present in her back garden. She is dealing with it by putting rat poison in bait boxes around the garden. I don’t agree with her on this as I understand that rats die a slow and agonising death from the effects of the poison. Also, if any other animal (including birds) was to eat the rat poison itself, or try to eat a rat that has died from poisoning, then that other animal could also potentially become very ill or die. Her position is that she doesn’t care about that, and that using rat poison is the only realistic option she has to dissuade the rodents from entering her house. What are your thoughts on the matter MN?

I wouldn't tolerate a visually obvious rat infestation, so in this case I'd probably accept it as a necessary evil. Surely the rat gets trapped inside the box? The problem can arise if they crawl off to die somewhere in the house, like inside the walls and it will stink.
I am afraid to say I'm not bothered really about rats suffering a painful death. They're absolutely gross. If they don't show their faces and I can't smell or hear them, I accept they are there. But otherwise, gloves are off! Not literally of course.

If she has a persistent rat infestation, it would be worth getting the professionals in for advice.

It's cruel and unnecessary. I know a dog who ate rat poison and took days to die in agony.

Rats are vermin.Rats were the cause of the Plague. If they are in your garden the next step is they will be in your house. So everyone who thinks they are cute crack on.Would you still think they are cute if your child got a disease and ended up in A&E !!

If my child ended up in A&E with the plague I would be more surprised than anything else
Most people have rats in their garden along with many other wildlife and they never get any in the house.
I have spotted rats in my garden many times and we are all still alive, I have had various birds brought in by my cats (once very impressively a live kingfisher) and the odd mouse but never a rat.
I appreciate that people don't want them in their house and if they are causing a problem in the garden then fiar enough but I don't agree with poisoning them just for existing.

On a side note, we actually have a vaccine for the plague now. And it was the fleas on the rats not the rats themselves, just to be pedantic!
Edit: ah its easily treatable with antibiotics. I knew there was something to do with it not being a problem any more.

This is a very interesting discussion.
I always assumed that we fear rats beacuse of The Plague...

So if wildlife is an inconvenience to you, you're not bothered about cruelty?

And you have not other thoughts on the matter? Your thinking is so limited that you can't understand the ridiculous of this black/white thinking?

I'm not a vegetarian but I can see the absolute lunacy of human beings (including myself) seeing some animals as acceptable or worthy of good treatment, while others are not worthy. And for people of limited thinking, it's even ok to inflict cruelty. Perhaps you should do some research into sociopathy.

I thought the latest rat poisons meant the chemicals break down when ingested by the rat, and by the time rattus rattus croaks, the active ingredient has become inert and no longer a danger to wildlife?
Rats spread disease, and they can cause massive damage longer term. Op's mum might be very rigorous in ensuring no food source, but neighbours less so, also anywhere that has a grain source be it for chickens or wild birds will attract them.
Whilst I think pet rats are cute, the wild rats are an issue, much like the grey squirrels (rats are a problem for ground nesting birds). Your mum is using a bait box, so I can't really see an issue. As an aside the rat is not native to UK shores, and have disturbed our natural ecosystem.

Off topic, but after the apocalypse the only living animals on earth will be rats, crows, humans, and cockroaches.
i.e. the ones that can live anywhere, eat anything, and have brains (not sure if cockroaches have brains)

It's a good question - i don't honestly know where my line is. I wouldn't use poison, I think it's ridiculous when my neighbours use ant powder outside, I don't kill insects, don't do anything to deter slugs and accept that squirrels digging up half my spring bulbs is a consequence of backing on to woodland.

I am sure her intention is to only kill rats but no doubt is she killing other wildlife and pets too. She doesn't sound very animal friendly or smart.

As someone who has a grain drying shed as a neighbour, we have done our best to seal our back garden by burying rat cage wire down 4ft and pinning it to the fence above very tightly around the whole perimeter. I can see the rat runs behind it where they try to chew through sometimes. I don't put anything attractive like bird food or have a water feature out there either.

Prevention is better than cure. Poison is awful and kills owls. Poison is also self-defeating in some ways as it actually attracts rats to it. Just make the garden unattractive to them, and seal entry points if you can.

Rats didn't used to bother me, I thought they were quite cute, until they started coming in my house, the damage they caused was considerable.

It took 3 pest control visits to get rid over 6 weeks. Not to mention the sleepless nights, being on edge etc. they are dirty disease ridden creatures.

Oh and my cat was useless, he ran away from them.

Are the germs in your house?
If so then fine

Im on the fence. Ive seen it dying and it was truly awful, wouldn't wish it on anything. I also would not want a cat or bid then eating sny affecting rats.
i wouldn't want rats, but i would use poison.

Agree with this. We had an infestation of rats when we moved into a cottage with a stream right next to it (so great water supply for them). They were chewing through wires and all sorts and we had no hesitation in getting poison put down. We had to get rid of our chicken because they attracted rats too. 😞
They are awful things.

I think it's very cruel and inhumane. Get her a hunting cat instead. We have wild cats here and never see any rodents.

I think it's important to know not all rat poisonn is created equal.

We had an issue in the garden and called pest control. The poison they use is a lot better than what's readily available in the shops, it doesn't cause a slow agonising death and has virtually zero risk of secondary poisoning or risk to other animals.

It's not ideal, and I'm also happy to live and let live in general, but indeed when they are visible in the day its a sign of a sizeable infestation and it's wise to do something about it. (They'd nested under the decking in our case)

So because I don’t give a shit about rats, I’m a sociopath? Hilarious.😆

Also, I don’t know if you missed it, but it’s not me putting down the poison. I just wouldn’t give a shit about them dying. I’d rather be me than the poster above who cried for hours when she saw a dying one.

No I don’t care about rats, they are vermin and spread disease. They need to be got rid of if they are infesting property.

Domestic rat poison is pretty much ineffective, due to resistance, but it will kill other animals. Traps, keeping areas clear of food waste, compost bins (which are in effect mobile homes for rodents) away from housing and clearing undergrowth will help. Where I live they use dogs and shoot them, as they can become huge problems in farms and you need care around water too, as they carry Weil's disease.

Vitamin K administered by vet could have saved the poor dog.

Actually killing the rats only solves "those rats" and not the underlying problems.

Harbourage and Food removal are key parts of the solution. Rat proofing entries to your home if they're getting is vital.

s

I watched this recently and it explains some of the issues.

He's got a good video on traps too, which are a better option in terms of not poisoning wildlife more generally.

Dogs ( Whippets/ Jack Russells give almost instantaneous death.
A shake and drop.
Poisons are awful .