Rats

[cerealchange]

We are doing a renovation. Builder exposed a sewer and left it open. We now have a rat! It might be more than one but I don't see tons of drones so not sure. It had made a nest and tools the bait I bought back to it. It had chewed one corner of a bait block but the rest looked intact. It isn't dead though as I've heard it both nights since. I don't think it's an infestation as not many droppings were in the nest. How would I tell?

I think I’d get a professional in tbh.

Get a professional and quickly.
My son’s student accommodation in Liverpool was infested very quickly. Like something out of a horror movie.

Hoping not to have to get a professional as just don't have the money at the moment.

We had rats in our garden in a previous property as ndn had chickens and they took the bait I left out and disappeared so hoping for a good result first. Will call a professional if still not sorted in a week but the Screwfix rat poison wax blocks get really good reviews so feeling hopeful.

The nest only had like 20 droppings in and there have been none elsewhere so I'm hoping that was the only rat as apparently they will poo about 40 pellets a night each. My guess is it's pregnant which is why it was hoarding food (and poison). Have used concrete to block any access points (mid renovation so there were several). I realise that the sound I heard was the rat trying to get to where the nest was. The sewer is now blocked too, covered by a metal dog bowl and concreted in position! Have left some bait today in a bait box outside near the sewer, and some inside too. I don't think she can access where I left it on day two where I discovered the nest because of the concrete blocking access to that area. I think the noise I heard was her trying to get in there! So today I have gone round and filled up all the other access points with concrete. The Screwfix blurb says it takes 4-7 days to work although some people report no rats after 24 hrs and others after 48hrs. Keeping fingers crossed I hear nothing tonight!

You could try council pest control? They aren’t hugely expensive.

Have you left the bait safely in a bait box?

Yes bait is in a bait box and also screwed to wall in unacessible areas as Screwfix reviews reported this was a good way of seeing if there was any activity in the area.

Didn't hear anything last night so keeping fingers crossed that's the last we hear. Bait was also not taken from any of the places I put it

That’s good, fingers crossed they’ve gone.