Rat stuck in Kitchen - help

[SickOfRats]

A bit of background - We have had a rat problem on and off for the past year since lockdown began. We've spent to the tune of 1k on pest control, a drain survey and traps/deterrents. We just haven't been able to get to the bottom of where they are coming in from but now reckon that it may be the kitchen extension roof due to identifying a few holes under some raised tiles. They have only ever been in the kitchen.

We decided it's best to get the whole reroof done. DH contacted over a dozen roofers in the past couple of days and only two answered(!), one said he is booked up until October and the other gave us a quote which was ridiculously high and therefore unaffordable for us. As a temporary measure DH and his friend climbed up onto the roof yesterday and secured chicken wire mesh over the holes. It seems to have worked... except now we have a trapped rat in the kitchen and it's currently sat on the washing machine. Luckily I don't need to go back in there for anything tonight but fucking hell, it's so brazen. I loudly banged on the living room/kitchen door (it has a panel window so have been watching it from that and behind the safety of the closed door), and despite the loud noise it didn't jump, run or even move. The little fucker just stared back unstartled.

DH has set a couple of snap traps (smeared with peanut butter), and there are some sticky boards behind the kickboards (rather pointless as they have never worked for us), but what else can we do? Any ideas welcome.

And please, no cries of the 'traps are so inhumane' - these fuckers have made our lives a misery for the past year. They've given my child anxiety, given me sleepless nights, and we have had to put up with this all lockdown whilst trapped inside the house. I've been unwell on and off past few months with unexplained cramps and vomiting. I can't help wondering if it's because of the rodents. I disinfect all surfaces etc every morning but it's impossible to know where they may have wandered about. I'm very clean, no food ever left out, no trash inside overnight, and no crumbs on the floor/on surfaces. Why tf do they keep coming back? And more urgently, how do I get this one out of my kitchen??

I'd suggest one of the humane traps, not because you want to be humane to it but because it's more likely to actually go inside it and therefore you can remove it.

Man with a terrier or pack of terriers. There won’t just be one rat.

It’s slightly gruesome but fascinating to watch the dogs do their thing.

OP I think this is one of the worst threads I've read. You poor thing. I'd a rat problem in my house many years ago, called in exterminators, expensive but sorted. It was just an awful time.

But you've done all that and are still cohabiting with them, God help you.

I think you need to get another exterminator out ASAP to deal with the immediate residents.

I also think you need to really hassle the council with evidence of what you are dealing with. They need to be pressured to take action with the wider environment.

I could not have stayed in the house after the bread incident. That's just awful (yes, incredible rat prowess but I'm not interested in praising them!)

I'm really concerned about your ill health. I think you have to assume it's linked to the rat issue, some of it may be stress but it's also likely to be there pervasive presence & the surfaces they touch. This needs to be relayed to the council too.

Forget all this get terriers stuff, by the way. This seems to be a singularly British solution, not in a million years would it be suggested here (Ireland). Joking aside, you need to continue to throw money at professional solutions - I know you already have. I think you've been unlucky. Also, the exterminators we used dealt with the problem but followed up over subsequent weeks to make sure the problem was eradicated. If it hadn't been, they'd have tried something else.

hi
you need farm grade rat poison blocks (pinky red things)
chicken wire wont stop a rat
and borrow a terrier for a day and night. good luck rats are very smart

They will be coming in from the ground, is there an open man hole cover somewhere,that's what caused our infestation?

Poison and traps, we were catching one every other day for 6 weeks,it was hellish.

Cut down any ivy/plants they can climb up. Check for open sewer covers. Poison and traps. Bleach your whole kitchen.

Ugh what an awful situation.

I think I'd call the professionals in again.

Good luck

If you are getting a terrier in make sure it's got decent length of leg. They kill the rats by getting hold of the neck and shaking to break it. Somebody I know has a smallish terrier, short legs. They saw a huge rat outside at home. Before they could try and stop it said terrier pounced, determined to defend its family. Got it by the neck but rat was too big and terrier too short to lift it totally off the ground. Terrier hung on, rat attacked it, friend had to try and intervene with spade. Rat was vanquished and the vet had a field day with antibiotics, injections and stitches. Dog was ok but it was nasty.

Contact your nearest hunt. They will know a man with terriers.

And go out whilst they are ‘working’.

There is only one reason they go to your kitchen. For food! You need to get rid of absolutely everything that's open. Get it all in sealed containers. Any rubbish goes straight outside. Not a single crumb left out available to them. I'd maybe leave a banquet of some food bags or cracked tubs over the back of your garden to try urge them to move at least while you get things sorted. Sticky traps ideally near the point of exit and entry. Maybe some Nutella on them!

Have you contacted the local council pest control? They're usually a lot cheaper and I've found them to be really helpful. Having rats in your house is dangerous as they carry disease, I'm sure they would take it seriously. If you have house insurance i would contact them over it as well. I'm only guessing but I'd imagine it's not safe for anyone especially a child to live in those conditions and you might be entitled to alternative accommodation.

Rentokil, were totally effective for us. It sounds like someone has cemented yours inside which is dangerous for hygiene but also wires etc.
Is every bit of food in containers (metal)? What really helps is cats.

OP this might sound ridiculous but I'm assuming you're willing to try anything. Get one of those machines that puts out essential oils in steam (there is a proper name but it's gone from my head now). Leave it on with peppermint oil in as much as possible, peppermint oil on cotton wool in as many nooks and crannies as possible. It's too strong for them to cope with since it messes with their sense of smell. This is along with what everyone else has said to keep them out/dead.

Most come in under the roof, so you need to address that

Fried bacon is apparently great for the traps. You really need to close the access though otherwise it will never go away.

You need one of the rat companies to come back and put rat traps down again. Then repeat repeat repeat until your problem is over

Also, they get in through the roof yeah, but it will be nesting under the floor boards.

The problem is this rat isn’t going to eat any of your bait on traps while it has access to other food. It takes a few days for them to trust new objects so it will avoid the traps at first, and continually if there is better food sources.

@rjacksmiss

Also, they get in through the roof yeah, but it will be nesting under the floor boards.

No, they get in anywhere. When we had our problem, the exterminator explained that even tiny gaps at the back door for instance, would allow them in.

Where are you OP? I've got an army of cat ratters and the world's angriest little dog that once she smells them will hunt them down Liam Neeson style ...

Failing you not being local I've got people scattered around the country with similar rat killing capabilities.

The problem if you sealed its exits off from the roof but not internally and its got got sources it isn't going to be that bothered. They can be brazen fuckers and it isn't going to want to run out an open door if threatened. It's either going to run back up its trail to your roof or stand its ground. Whilst it's not going to kill you obviously a rat bite can be a nasty bugger!

Our rat problem turned out to be next doors compost heap compost heap removed rats moved on.

I really feel for you OP. Happened to me in our last gone. Council think it came through the cat flap, but was definitely living in the kitchen, although we couldn't figure it out and the cats weren't interested. Finally pulled out the big (new) American fridge freezer. The little shit had chewed a hole in the grill and was nesting in the internal drip tray. Big pile of cat biscuits.

Decided to empty the dishwasher pantry to get rid of food sources and it jumped out at me. Huge. One cat shrieking, the rat screaming, DH and me hopping round while it ran in circles. Yuk. Anyway it eventually hid in a box which DH managed to put a plank over and ran about a mile up the road to get rid.

Doesn't help you, just wanted to share the horror. Honestly, it screamed like an enraged toddler and I wouldn't let the cats anywhere near it. Vicious thing.

Typos! Home. Built in pantry. 🙄

You probably want soneone with a ferret or mink rather than a dog if it's escaping into the roof. Try googling in your area - I found a bloke in Wales but I've no idea where you are!

It's dead!

Ding dong the rat is dead! Which old rat? The wicked rat...
For the trap fell on its head and DH pronounced it dead
And through the house the joyous news was spread

I'm happy now and can finally sing!

It got caught in a trap under the sink. There are drops of blood all over the sink and counter top. My theory is it tried escaping up through the roof, got caught in the chicken wire, came back down and then eventually got caught in the trap. Time to put a message in the family group whatsapp to see which lovely parent/sibling is willing to remove the corpse and help bleach the murder scene entire kitchen! Btw I'm pretty certain it's just the one.

@LimpLettice

I really feel for you OP. Happened to me in our last gone. Council think it came through the cat flap, but was definitely living in the kitchen, although we couldn't figure it out and the cats weren't interested. Finally pulled out the big (new) American fridge freezer. The little shit had chewed a hole in the grill and was nesting in the internal drip tray. Big pile of cat biscuits.

Decided to empty the dishwasher pantry to get rid of food sources and it jumped out at me. Huge. One cat shrieking, the rat screaming, DH and me hopping round while it ran in circles. Yuk. Anyway it eventually hid in a box which DH managed to put a plank over and ran about a mile up the road to get rid.

Doesn't help you, just wanted to share the horror. Honestly, it screamed like an enraged toddler and I wouldn't let the cats anywhere near it. Vicious thing.

Oh god I know that's not funny when you in the moment but I snorted.

My DM once did this when encountered with a squirrel. We have no idea how or why it got in but she'd walked in the kitchen and it was sitting purchased on top of the fridge. She got a broom to try and nudge it out and it leapt of the fridge and ran up the broom to DM. (Later retellings have it attacking her). She screamed bloody murder and we all came flying from different parts to see what was happening. Dogs barking. People yelling. Cats underfoot. Somehow it was finally banged outside and DM just collapsed to the floor like shed been in a marathon. She hates squirrels now and takes great delight in putting out bird feeders which the squirrels can't access and watching them try and fail