A.I.B.U. to Complain?

[RainboweBrite]

Hi,
Newbie posting here, so please be gentle!

I tried to go camping today with my DH and DS(8), staying in a pod with decking rather than a tent. I was just saying to DH that I would never have decking in our garden, as it could be a nesting place for rats or mice. I am TOTALLY phobic of rats (to the point where I actually used to scribble out the word if I came across it in books when I was a child!) and not much better with mice.

Anyway, just as I'd uttered the fateful words, something scurried across the decking! DH later admitted he'd seen it go under the decking before I even started talking about it. I was really scared, as it was only about 2 p.m., but I convinced myself it was probably a mouse. Then a few minutes later, the creature scurried across the decking again, very close to the door, and there was no doubt, folks, it was indeed a rat :O. I was absolutely petrified. Luckily, we were all inside already, so DH locked the door and pulled down the blinds, while I paced up and down,trembling and sweating. Eventually, I calmed down enough to play a few games of cards with DH and DS, but I knew there was just no way I could stay there after that.

So, after a couple of hours, I gathered enough courage to RUN for the car and DH and DS drove me home, about an hour's drive away. They have gone back there to spend the night, as they don't share my extreme phobia. I feel much safer, but still rather anxious, and I doubt I will sleep that well tonight.

Finally, I get to the point: AIBU to complain about seeing rats in broad daylight practically in my accommodation in a woodland setting? DH feels the site owner should be made aware of this, so s/he can take steps to deal with the situation.
Please advise.
Thanks, Rainbow Brite.

nojustificationneeded
They are sort of everywhere - I see them all the time in London, urban myth that you're never more than 5 feet away from one, or whatever.

But that's different from being in a situation where your potentially going to ingest their piss, which camping necessarily would be, if they're that close by.

Urgh, there was a mahoossive pheasant that kept coming right up to the patio doors and staring in at me when we went to Centerparcs. It was terrifying - one minute nothing, next minute AAAAAGH he was right there with his beady eyes and head on one side just... looking at me.

emsyj
He'd have been looking at his own reflection in the glass, wanting a fight...

• oh, and before anyone gets exercised about this, he would definitely have been a he.

I'm absolutely phobic about rats too OP, so completely understand how you feel. I lived in a deeply, deeply rural area for many years (the nearest village was 20 minutes away) and never got over my phobia (in fact it was what started it...let's just say 8 year old child finds rat in bed, when child is also in the bed).
I'd definitely bring it to the campsite owners attention - they probably have a regular contract with a pest control service (we used to) and will want to tell them where any pests have been seen. I wouldn't complain though, as it is the middle of the countryside! That's the one thing I miss about being in the city now - no hedgehogs, woodpeckers, badgers, weasels, owls, bats, adders, deer etc wandering through the garden.

Worst of it was my godson wanted to open the patio doors and let him in!!!! Had to almost sit on him to prevent it. I am feeling a bit wibbly now just thinking about it!!!

What, so camping's out for me in future? :( I have enjoyed it on a few occasions, without any sign of rats or other creatures. DH pointed out I probably would have been safer in a tent! Maryz, I wonder how on earth a pheasant got in to your tent? Surely you should be safe once everything's zipped up?

I was SO looking forward to staying in a pod. The only thing I was a bit worried about was the decking, but I didn't really think my worst fears would come true, especially in broad daylight. I think what scared me most was that I've heard if you actually see a rat in the day, there are meant to be loads more around!

GeraldineAubergine, I think I WOULD have died! Agh!

Nojustificationneeded, the location is a site of 5 pods on a larger woodland site that has lodges (with hot tubs) in Yorkshire. I had been wondering about staying in a lodge there later in the summer, but that's out of the question now. Knowing my luck, I'd probably find a dead rat in the hot tub! Eek!

I think I would avoid camping if I had any phobia!

Maryz, I think you're right not to dwell on it too much. I certainly don't like thinking about rats running over the ground I'm sitting on :o. In fact, I did quickly rub the soles of my shoes over with some disinfectant wipes when I came home, as they had been on the same decking as the rat!

I have a cat too, but luckily she has never caught anything bigger than a baby mouse, and that was only once, recently, at the grand old age of 13! I like to think she scares them away though!

yabu....to go camping in the first place

I love the idea of it, I love the countryside...I didn't love my one and only experience of it. Coldest night of my life, poor exp had a bag of tent pegs thrown at him the next day

I'm not high maintenance, I just have a problem with some eejit forgetting the sleeping bags!!

"But that's different from being in a situation where your potentially going to ingest their piss, which camping necessarily would be, if they're that close by."

uh... i don't geddit? why on earth would you have to ingest rat piss just because you were camping?

i live in a large town. i have seen rats in broad daylight walking across the park. i am more likely to "ingest" rat piss there than if i go camping I think. if you mean ingest through touching stuff and then putting your hands in your mouth?

thisisyesterday
Yep, that's exactly what i mean.

If you want to get over your phobia OP, I suggest CBT (cognitive-behaviourial therapy). A therapist would take you through a program of gradual exposure. Talk to your GP?

It would be reasonable to inform the camp manager, unreasonable to complain. You need to untangle the facts from your emotional reaction.

Oh you poor soul! (Not that I think that anyone who likes camping is sane, mind you!).

I like rats in their place, used to own pet ones, but if you have a fear there's little worse. I'll cope with your rats, you can have any blood tests I need and go on boats when required because I can't!

The biggest (real) risk that rats present is Weils disease, which more commonly affects pet dogs who swim in rat-piss tainted water. Aside from your fear they realistically pose very little risk to humans as they're far more scared of us and will avoid us.

Alert the campsite owner sure but I don't know what can be done about rats wild in the countryside. If the fear is stopping you from enjoying a normal life (though I'd argue that camoing ain't normal!) it may well be worth you investigating counselling to de-sensitise (is that a word?) you.

DogsBestFriend, what a kind post :).

Strangely enough, I am not THAT afraid of pet rats. Sure, I feel jittery around them, but as long as they are in their cages when I come to visit, I can cope.
I don't really feel like my phobia rules my life, as it's been years since I've even seen a rat, before today. I think this one was very cheeky indeed to be scurrying around the decking in broad daylight, with humans around!

RainbowBrite I'm exactly the same - pet rats are fine in their cages (although I do shudder a bit, and hide behind DP). Wild rats freak me out. A lot. (Did you not see my post earlier? I was 8! A rat was in my bed! It bit me on the ankle! I screeched like a banshee and stood on a table until my dad came back from the pub!).
Tasmanian Devils freak me out the most though - it's like a rat that's grown to human toddler size.

OMG, iceandsliceplease! You poor, poor thing. No wonder you have a phobia!

I don't know what sparked mine off, but it was definitely when I was tiny, as I can remember being 6 and freaked out by a gory dead mouse, but I know I was already frightened of the creatures by then.

BTW, I love your user name. A G&T without ice and a slice is a no-no, as far as I'm concerned.

I don't know about complain, but please do tell the owners of the site. If there's one bold rat running around in broad daylight there are probably a lot more. They will probably have been attracted by food waste left about by campers, and perish the thought, maybe this one is bold because it's been fed.
The site owners will want to know so that they can do something about it. If they get a rat infestation not only will it be unhygenic, but the rats will also start making tunnels and runs under the decking.

Well I'll be damned I think I need to go to that stupid thread, I thought Tasmanian devils were made up .

Pffft.. YABU. Rats can get anywhere, you could wake up to one in your bathroom FFS, so the 'idea' of camping, but getting somewhere with a lock and a deck..

Don;t think someone is U to camp with a phobia. there are plenty of tents available that nothing could get into; we have one. But you need to make sure you have suitable kit.

Not sure I would ingest rat pee on a trip though- huh? Bottled water or from a tap is a fairly basic provision these days! We have the same hygiene standards we have at home, possibly higher as no fridge etc.

My point re. camping/rats/danger is that if it's possible for rats to run over your things then it's also probable that they're peeing on them. (You wouldn't see or smell their pee, btw.) You don't have to be using brackish puddle water for cooking/washing for this to happen.
Obviously this wouldn't be likely to happen when you're at home - unless there are rats in the house/garden.
So if there are rats in a camping area - and they're confident enough to be out and about right under your nose - then there could well be very real health risks, and don't see the problem with flagging this up with the site manager. (It wouldn't have to be done as a whingy complaint.)

Apologies if I'm sounding doomy or paranoid, here. A neighbour of my family died from Weill's fairly recently.

If I was a site manager, I'd much rather be alerted to any possible danger than not.

yabu - it is back to nature ! Having said that I don't think I'd camp in UK now (did as a teen) as have similar if less extreme issue but ironically have done a Luxury camp in Kenya (platform, proper bed and bathroom) and didn't even think about it !