Rats in the garden - possibly a nest? Have kids and dog, so don’t want to put poison down…

[GardenQ1]

Every time I look out the window, I see at least one - if not two - hugely fat rats. The garden is only 20ft! I think there’s a nest as these sightings are all in the daytime. We live in a very tightly packed together central city flat, so I’m not sure if the nest is in our garden, or directly behind the fence, which is a sort of patio of a shop.

If I see one or two rats every single time I look out the window, there must be 100s of them, right?! Or am I overreacting?

How do I get rid of them? Or are they harmless?

They seem quite bold. They’re often rustling about in the bushes when the children play football out there.

We have a dog and small children, so I don’t want to put poison down. Also, it sounds really horrible for the rats

Any advice? Should I live and let live? Or are they dangerous to have running about the garden so freely?

(I have stopped enjoying going out there now too! And am paranoid they’re going to make their way indoors!)

This wont be popular, but if you have a friend with a terrier...

It’s probably kinder than any other method to be honest @SausagePourHomme

Ring the council.

We had one using our washing line as a handy shortcut to next door's fat balls. Turns out there was a pipe that hadn't been blocked off from an outdoor loo years ago. They dealt with it. Free. (Well, as part of council tax!)
We also have a local rat catcher (semi rural) who will do it privately.

Move any obvious food sources

Ha I don’t have any friends with terriers, damn! But I do say hello to the same person who has one when I take my dog out…

Out of interest, how long would a terrier take to sort it? Would the rats just be afraid of the terrier’s scent and flee? Or would the terrier kill them?!

The rats couldn’t give a… rat’s arse about my dog (a spaniel)!

The terrier would kill them but it is very very quick. Unpleasant of course.

Ugh imagine having a job as rat catcher. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful people do it but it makes me shudder!

@Nohomemadecandles

Ring the council.

We had one using our washing line as a handy shortcut to next door's fat balls. Turns out there was a pipe that hadn't been blocked off from an outdoor loo years ago. They dealt with it. Free. (Well, as part of council tax!)
We also have a local rat catcher (semi rural) who will do it privately.

Move any obvious food sources

The shop behind is quite run down and crappy - both inside and out. It doesn’t sell food, but I can’t think of any other food source. No bins out there etc.

We aren’t growing any veggies this year, but have a lot of mature, bushy plants and flowers. I water the garden a lot (probably their water source?)

The rats are constantly pottering around, nibbling at nothing I can see on the ground. But they are very fat. Although they’re out in the daytime? So does that mean they’re hungry?

It means there are a lot of them. Unfortunately

@summersflowers

The terrier would kill them but it is very very quick. Unpleasant of course.

Ugh imagine having a job as rat catcher. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful people do it but it makes me shudder!

sort of wishing we had a terrier and not a spaniel (even though I utterly adore my dog, and am horribly squeamish and would not enjoy clearing up the rat remains!).

@summersflowers

It means there are a lot of them. Unfortunately

😭 I thought so! 😭

You need a professional. Or a good few decent terriers (not mine, he'd look at you like you were insane and he isn't blessed with nanny teeth. Nor much instinct)

I have pet terriers and ended up with a rat infestation in my hen coop. The numbers over the weeks increased at a hideous rate. We sadly used poison and kept dogs away we then got a cat and no more rats. It wont go away on its own and they can chew through everything and be very damaging. Goid luck x

@Coconut80

I have pet terriers and ended up with a rat infestation in my hen coop. The numbers over the weeks increased at a hideous rate. We sadly used poison and kept dogs away we then got a cat and no more rats. It wont go away on its own and they can chew through everything and be very damaging. Goid luck x

How long did the poison take to work? I could keep my dog out of the garden for a while, just take him to the park (really nearby) when he has to “go”.

My youngest really wants a cat, but we’re planning to move, so I’m not sure I want to get another pet just yet…

You get poison traps that the rats get in but the dog and children can't. They are safe to have around the garden. You must do this ASAP or they will be in your house if there's a way. Very bad to have around you must move quickly.

I’m going to see if I can get a bait box today. I feel guilty, what a horrible way to go!

Out of interest, if anyone used them, did they work? And how long did it take?

I think you need to get a professional in. Next door had a rat and someone came and dealt with it.

I'd start by ringing the council actually.