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Original poster

RATS RATS AND RATS

91 replies

HJWT · 08/04/2019 11:11

So my neighbour has noticed RATS living under her shed 🤢 not even told me but has told the neighbour at the other side (terraced houses) and she has informed me THANK GOD because today I was sat in the garden with DD and one ran through my garden back into hers! I nearly had heart attack

We have lived here for 2.5 years and never seen a rat before but we do live next to water were they will live!!

SO how do I get rid of them, and what should I put down to make sure they don't keep coming back!

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 08/04/2019 11:12

You need to get a pest controller in. Your council may have a service which is likely to be cheaper than a private company

LakieLady · 08/04/2019 11:15

Get a terrier and fit a dog flap.

My neighbour has rats in her garden too, but we haven't seen them in our garden for years. The only ones we saw were ones the dog had killed.

We don't have a problem with cats shitting in our garden, either.

Confusedbeetle · 08/04/2019 11:15

You and your neighbours need to call in the pest control from your local council. They are not too expensive and do an excellent job. You cannot tackle it just in your garden. Talk to your neighbours. It is important as rats spread a lot of disease, Leptospirosis from their urine that can kill you if you get it in a cut. Please don't underestimate the problem. All connecting gardens should be aware

Confusedbeetle · 08/04/2019 11:16

lakie lady that is not a good rationale to get a dog unless you wanted a dog anyway and are prepared to be a good owner

Original poster
HJWT · 08/04/2019 11:17

@CMOTDibbler I can't do that when they aren't even living in my garden, I cant exactly get someone out and let myself into my neighbours garden! I just need to control what is coming in to mine through the massive hole in the fence that funnily enough iv never noticed before now 😔 She said she has rang the council but they aren't coming for a week! X

OP posts:
HoraceCope · 08/04/2019 11:18

put poison down, where birds and pets cant get
or call your council to do same.
dont feed bread to the birds

continuallychargingmyphone · 08/04/2019 11:21

Look, calm down. Rats are everywhere. I wouldn’t want them in my garden, but yes, they will live under decking, sheds and other areas that are sheltered and protected from predators.

Rats are very low down on the food chain. They are predated on by birds of prey, foxes, dogs, cats, weasels, stoats, even other rats.

If they’ve never bothered you before, leave it. Or you could get a cat - less trouble than dogs!

dorisdog · 08/04/2019 11:36

Get pest control in. We had rats in our house. Poisoning them yourself can result in other animals getting poisoned so I think it's best to get professionals in. (I'm pretty soft so I did all sorts of things first like humane traps - they're too clever to fall for it!) However, rats do live everywhere. I'm not sure I'd try to do much about it if they are outside, tbh. It's when they get into living spaces it's a problem.

Jebuschristchocolatebar · 08/04/2019 11:39

You need to keep your back door closed and wait for the council to do whatever the need to do. There is nothing more you can do for the moment. Our neighbours are getting building work done and obviously displaced a load of rats. They got rentokill out and they are now gone (the rats not the neighbours)

Original poster
HJWT · 08/04/2019 11:49

I was thinking of getting a poison trap and putting it right in front of the hole so when they try and come in they will get stuck in there?

I had a bbq out there yesterday 🤢

OP posts:
MaMaMaMySharona · 08/04/2019 11:51

Look, calm down. Rats are everywhere. I wouldn’t want them in my garden, but yes, they will live under decking, sheds and other areas that are sheltered and protected from predators.

Agree with this I'm afraid - putting poison down is incredibly cruel and won't permanently fix any issues.

Just ensure there's nowhere in your garden for them to nest and ensure your house is sealed. They may travel through your garden, but that's hardly going to kill you.

Original poster
HJWT · 08/04/2019 11:58

@MaMaMaMySharona so should I just tell DD she cant go out into the garden then? Because I don't want to be cruel to the rats 🙄

OP posts:
Villanellesproudmum · 08/04/2019 11:58

Do you want to borrow one of my cats, she is part feral and a master catcher. Otherwise the council, although would you neighbour be the one paying?

Original poster
HJWT · 08/04/2019 12:08

@Villanellesproudmum Well this is the problem, I would pay but I cant give someone access to her garden and they are living under her shed, venturing into other gardens to get food then going back into her garden! Neighbour behind has a cat and its not doing a very good job only in its own garden! 😔

I just want to be able to let my daughter in the garden without having to watch her constantly! She would run after the bloody thing trying to pet it 🤣

OP posts:
TheFairyCaravan · 08/04/2019 12:12

We had a rat in our garden last year. It came up where some concrete was cracked around the drains. The fecking thing was huge and I almost peed myself when I saw it.

I bought this and the boxes that go with it. DH repaired the drain and hung some blocks down there too. When pest control came a week later they said that's what they would have done too.

TixieLix · 08/04/2019 12:14

Can you not have a conversation with the neighbour and say you'd be prepared to have pest control come in quicker at your expense if she'll grant access at the appointed time? I'm sure she'll be as keen as you to get rid of them, and if she knows you'd be prepared to pay it's a win-win for her.

InspectorClouseauMNdivision · 08/04/2019 12:16

It's not just cruel to rats. You can accidentally poison number of other animals. Since you know where the hole is, close it off. Go around the fence and close off points of entry as much as you can.
Don't leave food out, pick upbany which fell on a ground and check where they could nest. If you don't have anything of interest in a garden, they won't really bother. And later when the council comes, it will get sorted.

Agree with pp that rats are everywhere. Though I am bit surprised it's runing around when you are out there and during the day.

Oysterbabe · 08/04/2019 12:19

Personally I would just get on with my life. Of course your daughter can go in the garden, the rats won't go near her.

bigKiteFlying · 08/04/2019 12:22

We made sure our decking was completely sealed off - then removed all sources of food and water - ( which means feeding the birds had to stop). Blocked off whole between fence and walls they were using for access and cut down climbing plants that were providing cover.

Did try Mint scented cotton wool balls in areas they were using as access and planted mint plants are supposed to deter.

Next door dealt with the rats under their shed - then their next door neighbour had them dealt with them - then they moved few doors down - regularly see them in next doors garden as they keep putting food for the birds out.

Neighbourhoods cats have been useful - chasing them off when we restarted bird feeding and found they were still around.

bigKiteFlying · 08/04/2019 12:24

Though I am bit surprised it's runing around when you are out there and during the day.

This seems to happen periodically with rats here - suddenly they are out in the day - also seem to get more cat visits when that starts to happen.

Barbie222 · 08/04/2019 12:27

If the rats are getting in to your house, you need pest control to help you get them out and stop up the gap.

If the rats are in your garden pretty much everyone else is in the same boat. You can't poison all the rats in the locality. Nothing for them to eat and nowhere for them to drink and they will soon move on.

bigKiteFlying · 08/04/2019 12:28

You can get foam to block holes off. The ones we have are probably coming down from nearby woods - if they are coming up from sewers I’d get pest control in.

longearedbat · 08/04/2019 12:37

We have got rats again this year, first time in years. I removed the bird feeders as that is what attracts them.
Previously we also had compost bins and a compost heap, but we've got rid of them because rats love living in them. We also used to have a jack Russell who was an ace ratter, but he is sadly no more.
I have been putting poison down. I have one of those bait boxes, and also put bait blocks in hidden places where other wildlife can't get to them. As soon as a block goes I replace it. This is exactly what the council pest controller will do. I have been doing this for a week now, in conjunction with my neighbour, who also has a problem. For the first time this morning the bait is untouched, so I think I am starting to win. It can take up to a month to get rid of a rat colony.

MyKingdomForBrie · 08/04/2019 12:40

Ffs the hysteria. Rats live in many places, they won't hurt your daughter, why on earth would you keep her out of the garden? You're really never far from a rat.

The neighbour knows about it so as it's her she'd presumably she will do something about it, in the mean time you can chicken wire over the hole and any other fencing gaps. They could go over if they wanted to though.

NunoGoncalves · 08/04/2019 12:44

I don't get it. Is it like a plague of rats roaming the garden 24 hours a day? I assume it must be something like that if you're not letting your daughter out to play and you're getting worried that, shock horror, you HAD A BBQ OUT THERE yesterday!

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