Taken me WEEKS to remove what ended up being 11 seen at one time (ranging from very tiny babies upwards). Been very upsetting as I don't like killing anything, but once 2 litters had come through something drastic had to be done (neighbours freaking).
Problem is, initially, I paid the council pest department and they put out 2 bait boxes for a month and the rats wouldn't go near them - or just had a nibble and moved on. I was also concerned about a poisoned "corpse" being eaten by a local cat or birds of prey.
Eventually a local guy (who is MUCH in demand as there is apparently a bit of a population explosion this year) did the business. He visited every other day and dropped poison packets down their holes and, I believe, shot a couple (I mostly disappeared as I didn't want to hurt them and it was killing me). Towards the end he moved my hedgehog house and found 2 large rats dead inside.
Unfortunately if they are nesting near your homes then you removing your bird seed will just make them roam further - but they will still come back "home", so you need to tackle the holes too. I had the bottom of my Hawthorn hedge trimmed to raise it up and removed the undergrowth, that was giving them the confidence to move around during the day. Holes were blocked.
Not seen anything in a month so hoping that's it now. Good luck.
Can you slide a little dish under next doors garage, I am able to slide one under the garden shed, away from other animals, it is where the rats are when around
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Problem is, initially, I paid the council pest department and they put out 2 bait boxes for a month and the rats wouldn't go near them - or just had a nibble and moved on. I was also concerned about a poisoned "corpse" being eaten by a local cat or birds of prey.
Eventually a local guy (who is MUCH in demand as there is apparently a bit of a population explosion this year) did the business. He visited every other day and dropped poison packets down their holes and, I believe, shot a couple (I mostly disappeared as I didn't want to hurt them and it was killing me). Towards the end he moved my hedgehog house and found 2 large rats dead inside.
Unfortunately if they are nesting near your homes then you removing your bird seed will just make them roam further - but they will still come back "home", so you need to tackle the holes too. I had the bottom of my Hawthorn hedge trimmed to raise it up and removed the undergrowth, that was giving them the confidence to move around during the day. Holes were blocked.
Not seen anything in a month so hoping that's it now. Good luck.