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Will a storage box encourage vermin?

10 replies

Spinner70118 · 19/02/2024 14:57

I'm thinking of getting a Keter storage box (50" by 45" approx.) to store diy and gardening tools which I'm planning on placing on the concrete patio near the kitchen door. I think we have rats at the bottom of the garden, judging by some burrows years ago and next doors garden is a mess. I haven't seen a rat there but I hardly ever use the garden for multiple reasons unrelated to rodents. Will the storage box make them come closer to the house? There won't be food or soft furnishing stored in the box, just paint tubs and tools.
The reason I've not gone for metal is cost and assembly but if the storage box is going to be a pretty guaranteed encouragement then I will rethink.
Thank you

OP posts:
aitchteeaitch · 19/02/2024 15:19

They would not be interested in it at all. There's nothing in it they could possibly want, and no convenient space underneath.

CJ4713 · 19/02/2024 15:24

Can you see one already assembled and see how small/large any gaps and holes in it are? They can fit through very small holes, although there is nothing inside of interest, other than shelter.
Last year I opened our outdoor box to see a rat inside. I did have tulip bulbs in there drying though- so maybe it nibbled on those? Without any food- they are unlikely to want to get inside it.

Spinner70118 · 19/02/2024 15:38

Thank you both for the replies. I think I'd get a heart attack if I opened it and saw one!
I was planning on ordering online but I think it would be sensible to examin the boxes in person.
@CJ4713 did you just leave the door open and step away for it to scurry out or..?

OP posts:
CJ4713 · 19/02/2024 15:55

did you just leave the door open and step away for it to scurry out or..?

Yes, I left the lid open whilst I was pottering in the garden. I never saw it get out and never saw one in there again.🐀

Spinner70118 · 19/02/2024 16:10

They can look really cute it's the surprise element and their speed that frightens me 😂
Thank you.

OP posts:
andymary · 19/02/2024 16:20

As long as you don't store any bird food, fertiliser (blood and bone), chicken manure etc in there then they should not bother with it at all.
And if the storage box has an integral floor, then even better :)

blacksax · 19/02/2024 16:31

I've lived in this house for 38 years, our downstairs is all open-plan and you can see out into the back garden through the patio doors. In all that time, I have never seen a rat, or any evidence of one, in the garden. Never. Not once.

What makes you think that random rats are going to see your new storage box as so irresistible?

Spinner70118 · 19/02/2024 17:19

@blacksax 😂😂 well, it's because on my research for a storage solution I came across comments regarding rodents. They say we are never more than 6 feet from a rat or a mouse at any time!

@andymary thank you I will look out for a model like that.

OP posts:
aitchteeaitch · 20/02/2024 14:05

Spinner70118 · 19/02/2024 17:19

@blacksax 😂😂 well, it's because on my research for a storage solution I came across comments regarding rodents. They say we are never more than 6 feet from a rat or a mouse at any time!

@andymary thank you I will look out for a model like that.

Yeah, but probably six feet down running along a sewer pipe.

ErrolTheDragon · 26/02/2024 10:39

I've never seen evidence of rodents in our storage box (and they're definitely around in the area) but we did find a lot of false widow spiders had set up home in it so DH doesn't like using it any more. Ours has mostly just got old garden toys we should get rid of (it was very useful when dd was a kid) and the watering cans which are used for lawn and patio treatments etc.

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