Neighbours and rat problem

[kwaziseyepatch]

Next door's garden is currently overrun with rats. I think they've been driven out by building works in a nearby field. When they first moved in last year they set up a bird feeding table and I let them know I could see a rat feeding from it from my window one day as there's been problems with that house in the past. Yesterday they let us know that they've had to get rentokil in as they saw 4 within the space of an hour in the day time. Unfortunately they're going under a hole in the fence next to the table and using our garden as a run and DH has seen one in our garden yesterday. Despite rentokil coming and placing bait boxes the bloody bird feeder is still there. WIBU to tell them to get rid of it? We have toddlers that play in the area

Tell them politely that feeding the birds while there is a current rat infestation is just feeding the rats.

You can’t tell them what to do, but could suggest it.

Removing the feeding table may help, but not necessarily solve the rat problem. It sounds like it’s a bigger local issue, due to them being disturbed due to building works.

Perhaps you could give them an early Christmas present of a hanging bird feeder?

I doubt the bird feeder will make much difference tbh.

Rather than getting rid of the table entirely, ask them to please stop putting feed out for a few weeks, the rats will keep coming back to an easy food source

Also, get the hole in the fence blocked or mended, it wont stop them in their tracks but disturbing their known routes will help. Make sure you checl the edges of your house for any nooks and crannies, and stuff any you find with wire wool.

I think our neighbours have rats in their compost heap. The only time we ever saw them in our garden was when we had a bird feeding station up last winter. As soon as I took the bird feeding station away, I never saw a rat in the garden again. Sadly a quick google at the time confirmed that bird feeders do attract rats as so much seed etc falls to the floor.
In a previous house years ago, people a few houses away were putting food on the ground for birds and we had rats dashing through the garden on their way there. Those people had to get in rentokill as they developed such a rat problem, and had to stop putting food out for the birds.

My neighbours not only have a feeding table in the back garden and a feeding station in the front garden, but put bread and stuff out on the grass as well.

I see a rat practically every time I look out the window and have often seen one eating the bread on the ground. Last winter, we had a rat in the house and had to get the council round to put down bait and traps to kill the bugger before we blocked the (tiny) hole in the brickwork where it had got in.

There's no point in talking to my neighbours about it because they are, frankly, morons.

If you're neighbours are reasonable people and not morons, OP, I'd have a word.

We blocked up all the holes in our fences when we realised the jungle garden next door was attracting rats. There's nothing to be gained from talking to her AGAIN so I fortify things from my side.

Suggest they use just the hanging sort (No food on flat surfaces) AFTER a two to three week break where the only food (including in your rat run) is poison. It should make enough of a dent in the population.

But you would be ridiculous to suppose they won't come back. Rats are everywhere.

You’ve already mentioned it and you can’t control what they have out in their own garden. Harsh as it sounds, where your children play really isn’t their problem.

THey are doing something about it but make sure there are no peanuts in bird feed - this acts as an antidote to the poison. The council should have someone to send out FOC with Rat Issues and if caused by building works then they should also be contacted. Its hardly the neighbours fault

You both have a rat problem- not just them

What are you doing about it?

We had a similar problem, due to a neighbour who didn't seem to understand that dustbins need lids. The whole terrace was overrun and people had to remove decking and sheds where the rats had set up home.

The first thing environmental health said was no bird feeders, hanging or otherwise. Birds scatter food when they feed and rats can climb. The offending neighbour got a visit from the Education Team about unsecured bin bags.

If they got rentokil out, I imagine they already advised no bird feeding but you cant make people do things they dont want to do.

Thanks all for suggestions.

We're going to get bait boxes too, our garden is pretty clear but I'm going to make sure it's spotless, no leaves etc and I'm also going to take my cat out for rat patrols, maybe scatter some of his wet wood litter around. I'll get that hole blocked up ASAP, I was just worried about them being trapped in our garden