there's a rat in my garden ... etc

[olatt]

but really, what am I going to do?! I've seen it four times now at various times of day over several months. we're kind of semi-rural (recently moved city folk). is there any kind of child-friendly repellent we can use? anyone tried the electronic type?
thank you!

I get the council to come out and they put down poison pellets, they also give advice about not making the garden "rat friendly"

what about the the kids though - am guessing the pellets aren't great for them?!

also worried about neighbour's cat with poison - even though he's useless

IME they put the pellets near to the rats holes and then, if possible, put a bit of wood or something to cover them so the kids can't see them. We have other people's carts coming into our garden and they have never eaten any of the pellets - not sure if thats luck or judgment on the part of the cat

I suppose it depends how old your kids are - I have in the past said to DS - "that is poison, do not touch it, go near it" from age of 3/4 (not that we have rats all the time)

that would be handy lljkk dons flameproof suit if poison kills the cat and the rat, 2 birds with one stone & all (serves cat right for roaming & probably using ur garden as latrine).
Other Solutions:

Get a dog.
Throw stones at the rat (havent seen our wild ratty since dh pegged it).

"eradirat" kills rats but won't harm anything else.

maybe it'll work!

thanks for those tips!