A RAT!!

[zaffa]

I have seen a rat in the garden. The cats alerted me to it, not by chasing it away out of the garden or even by generally deterring it from being there in the first place, but by prancing around like Morris dancers in a circle.

They managed to chase it under the shed, which is so far from ideal as I can't track it, see how big it is or check whether it actually is part of a whole family of rats that live in the garden unbeknownst to me.

I'm not at all happy, but not sure how much of an issue the rat is. Could the rat live here? The garden is a bit overgrown with weeds in the beds, but we are in the process of getting it cleared out. We don't have any food or wood piles or anything about, although there is a pear tree that has a few pears that weren't eaten and may have rotted away. The neighbors have apple trees and I have found apples in the garden before (which made no sense as the branches don't overhang but I didn't dwell on it too much). Now I'm wondering if super rat has carried them over the fence ...

Only moved in in January so no knowledge of rat history. Live within walking distance of the local lakes but still live in a small town so not rural. Garden is much bigger than anything we have dealt with previously but doesn't count as particularly large. Less than 50 meters long.

We had already blocked up any gaps in the fence (but not very effectively as cats can't get out but found a hedgehog a few months ago had gotten in) but we don't leave food out etc. also neighbors who have much overgrown garden waste have piled it up against back corner of fence and caused panel to collapse against our shed - on our list to address this before next summer but it's blocked off so didn't concern ourselves as cats can't get down side of shed to escape.

I don't want to poison the rat, I am displeased but it's not really it's fault and I've heard awful things about how poison kills them. There had also been a mouse siting (cat actually killed mouse which was a huge surprise) so clearly garden attracts vermin somehow but I have heard that it is fairly usual to have mice in a larger garden. Wasn't thrilled but only ever saw one and again I don't want to poison anything and couldn't see how to deter them.

Does anyone have any advice or happy ending stories following a rat siting?

[AliceLutherNeeMorgan]

Yes! Noticed rats fleeing from our flooded woodland recently; flash floods are worst for them apparently.

I’ve come round to the fact that they’re there; knowing they’re at the bottom of our garden is fine because they’re not in the house. I can’t remember the exact number but you’re never more than a few metres from a rat, either in town or in the country. TBH lots of other wildlife is just as dirty/ unhygienic/ parasite carrying

[FunnysInLaJardin]

Meh, we live rurally and have chickens therefore we have rats too. We put poison down and be sure to keep it from the hens and our cat.

It really is no big deal. They have never once come into the house and are generally quite shy. Found the odd dead rat round and about, but otherwise they keep themselves to themselves on the most part.

Please don't panic, rats really are a part of gardening life!

[TiddleTaddleTat]

We had a rat in our previous garden , I was freaked out at first but then spotted our neighbour throwing pieces of bread around his lawn for the birds so ...

[MoreSchnitzelPlease]

Please don't block the garden off from Hedgehogs. it really is a good idea to give them access to as many gardens as possible. They are an absolute joy to observe. We really need to support local wildlife as so much of their habitat has been lost. We live in a residential area and have hedgehogs visit our garden each night. They also gain access to next door's garden via a gap under the fence, before leaving again.

I don't think you need to worry too much about seeing a rat. I don't think you will be able to get rid of them completely as you live so near to a waterway. Your cats will act as a good deterrent.

[MereDintofPandiculation]

I heard an item on Radio 4 the other day - in summary - a) there are about twice as many rats as there are people in this country b) despite what the pest control companies would have you believe, the rat population has been more or less stable for a good many years.

Rats are intelligent beasts suspicious of new things, not liking disturbance. They won't choose to live in close proximity to cats - even if the cats won't take on a full grown, they'll be delighted to hunt the babies.

Spaces under decking, log piles, sheds are good rat hiding places - if you're going to have such spaces, make them high enough to easily accommodate a cat.

Keep your house clean and free of crumbs and dropped food, allow your cats good access to the garden, and try to stop worrying.