Rats in city gardens & homes anyone?

[duckie83]

Hi, we just moved into a rental property in London (zone 2). It's a house with a small back yard. I saw a rat in the garden yesterday, eating the bird seed the birds had dropped from the feeder. It ran into an air vent thingy in the side of the house at the bottom of the wall. Not sure if it was hiding temporarily or it it has a whole lair under there.

I'm going to speak to the landlord today but just wanted to ask if others in cities / London have had this? Is it normal and what does one do? Up till now we've only lived in high rise flats and saw rats in the refuse room and on the street obviously (it's London) but never anywhere near our home. We also have a little one so I'm a bit concerned but don't know if IABU to be.

I would be worried if I saw a rat run into/under the house. You need pest control and all external access sealed up.

The landlord should sort this out. If you see one rat, there'll be a whole family of them not far away.

Could you somehow fix a tray under the bird feeder so the seeds/nuts don't drop on the ground?

Our whole streets crawling with them. I was watching 3 playing on my patio table last night. I disinfect everything in the garden every day before the kids go out. The council aren’t interested really.

Yep sadly they are everywhere. We had an infestation (well, our upstairs neighbour did) and it took months and months to sort it out. We also found a dead one in our garden - I assume killed by a fox who are so well fed, they didn't bother eating it.

I would definitely speak to your landlord but also speak to the council. Basically, take action ASAP.

What's the safest way to deter them, or should we just leave that to the LL?

Sorry should I speak to the council if it's a private rental, and not a council place?

If you feed the birds on your garden in London, you are going to attract rats, squirrels and foxes. Once you've attracted them, it's virtually impossible to get rid of them without removing the food source. So firstly, remove your bird feeder (assuming it's yours).

Then, contact your landlord. Rats can do a lot of damage so you'll need a pest control service round to put down poison and advise on how to block their entry point.

Unfortunately this is just one of the joys of living in London, there's no permanent solution.

I got rats in a previous garden (suburban Milton Keynes) eating dropped bird food. I stopped feeding the birds and paid for a round of pest control. Didn't see them again. I won't feel the birds again, rat honey pot.

@PraiseBee

I got rats in a previous garden (suburban Milton Keynes) eating dropped bird food. I stopped feeding the birds and paid for a round of pest control. Didn't see them again. I won't feel the birds again, rat honey pot.

Yes sadly I think you're right. We used to feed the birds from our previous balcony but on the 7th floor no worries about rats!

if you want to feed birds, you have to get squirrel-proof bird feeders and hang them from a metal hook so rats can't get to the food.

there will always be rats around in the city, but you want to be v sure that they are not in your house.

The Council supposedly do help with rat infestations but as far as I am aware, they aren't going to be looking for any access points. They'll just take steps to kill them - which is exactly the same as any pest control. There is no "nice" way of getting rid of rats. They need to be killed.

Your Landlord should take responsibility but you might want to take steps of your own. Killing rats will not get rid of them. You absolutely have to find out how they're getting in - you've mentioned an air vent - get that checked out and see if it gives access to a ceiling space / floor space etc.

@parietal

if you want to feed birds, you have to get squirrel-proof bird feeders and hang them from a metal hook so rats can't get to the food.

there will always be rats around in the city, but you want to be v sure that they are not in your house.

@parietal it is squirrel proof but I think it was more that the birds left debris from feeding, and bits of seeds dropped on the ground. That's where I saw the rat eating the crumbs.

@kirinm

The Council supposedly do help with rat infestations but as far as I am aware, they aren't going to be looking for any access points. They'll just take steps to kill them - which is exactly the same as any pest control. There is no "nice" way of getting rid of rats. They need to be killed.

Your Landlord should take responsibility but you might want to take steps of your own. Killing rats will not get rid of them. You absolutely have to find out how they're getting in - you've mentioned an air vent - get that checked out and see if it gives access to a ceiling space / floor space etc.

Ok thank you. I was just worried about my 2yo if poison is going to be left around. But yes I will contact LL today and get them to sort it out.

I'd stop feeding the birds. Then get onto your landlord about this air vent (normally you would have airbricks which a rat wouldn't fit through) There are rats everywhere in London but if you remove food/water/shelter they shouldn't bother you.

The pest control guys did leave poison inside but it was put behind the kick boards in the kitchen (not mine I hasten to add) so not accessible. They also used traps.

As for outside, you can get rat boxes (not sure of their proper name) and obviously foxes are your friends too.

I've found a dead rat or two in my London garden before, and also out in the street. Plus several live ones in the local park. The last time I found one it was the day after DH saw a fox toying with one out in the garden. Since my neighbour got decking some years ago there was an increase - never saw one in the garden before that but there are chewed holes at the base of her garden fence. I've never seen a rat in the house though. I'm not phased at all by seeing them outside.

@duckie83

[quote parietal]if you want to feed birds, you have to get squirrel-proof bird feeders and hang them from a metal hook so rats can't get to the food.

there will always be rats around in the city, but you want to be v sure that they are not in your house.

@parietal it is squirrel proof but I think it was more that the birds left debris from feeding, and bits of seeds dropped on the ground. That's where I saw the rat eating the crumbs.[/quote]Yes it was the dropped bird food the rats were eating in my garden, not directly from the feeder (that I saw)