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RATS UNDER DECKING

damnthatlooksgood6cyfyDZUdamnthatlooksgood6cyfyDZU Posts: 7
in Problem solving
Hi everyone,
I am so worried i have seen a rat/rats in my garden living under my decking, i live in council property, who have sent pest control round, they put traps out for 3 weeks but caught nothing! 
I live next door to a couple who have left the garden and side ally severely overgrown, pest control said that the overgrown garden is causing the problem.
I was sitting in garden yesterday and saw it run across my decking, i have 3 chihuahuas and one of them is obsessed with the rats she will patrol up and down sniffing and if she sees it she goes absolutely mad and tries to get it, it frightens the life out of me, I am worried the rat will bite my dog or my dog will get the rat and then i will have to sort it out.
Its causing me proper anxiety as soon as i open the back door in the morning my dog will charge to the area and sniff etc she is not doing her business and just obsessed with the rats. 
 I  have noticed in the last couple of days it seems t be getting more active? Yesterday the dog and i saw it about 3 times during the day. 
Is there a reason why its getting more active and also seen one on the other side of the garden, it went down my drain, i honestly want to cry and i am also dreaming about rats the size of rabbits.
The council are meant to be writing to the next door neighbour but its taking weeks and im so close to approaching them but we have had running's in the past, and i am told to keep away from them.

Can anyone suggest anything or does anyone know where i stand with council and my rights.
 
Thanks for your help in advance.
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Posts

  • damnthatlooksgood6cyfyDZUdamnthatlooksgood6cyfyDZU Posts: 7

  • damnthatlooksgood6cyfyDZUdamnthatlooksgood6cyfyDZU Posts: 7
    Side Alley, back garden is worse but file is too large to post.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Overgrown gardens don't get rats. A ready food source gets rats.  This could be someone throwing food out  or bird seed dropping from feeders.  Decking is an ideal place for rats to hide under, it saves them digging holes.
  • CH1973CH1973 Posts: 73
    Rats everywhere including the human type. Decking I wouldn't have for that reason. Know numerous people who have had the same problem through decking. Food source and somewhere to hide is all they need. Keep the garden clean and get a air rifle or someone who has one and would gladly try to shoot them for you. 
  • damnthatlooksgood6cyfyDZUdamnthatlooksgood6cyfyDZU Posts: 7
    edited June 2022
    :s fidgetbones said:
    Overgrown gardens don't get rats. A ready food source gets rats.  This could be someone throwing food out  or bird seed dropping from feeders.  Decking is an ideal place for rats to hide under, it saves them digging holes.
    So the pest control man was wrong?? It may not cause them but are you telling me its not contributing?? And if decking is somewhere them to hide then so is waist high grass and rubbish!!!  
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    I wonder if your neighbours is putting food waste in their rubbish?  If so, this could be the food source and the reason why they are not taking the bait your rat controller put out.  We had rats too at one point - they were even getting into the kitchen up a waste pipe!  They eventually took the bait - and we had the kitchen knocked down and a new one built!  (Actually, that was already on the cards, but I was so relieved not to worry about rats any more - although I did see one or two taking food I'd put out for the birds one winter when there was snow on the ground.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • damnthatlooksgood6cyfyDZUdamnthatlooksgood6cyfyDZU Posts: 7
    didyw said:
    I wonder if your neighbours is putting food waste in their rubbish?  If so, this could be the food source and the reason why they are not taking the bait your rat controller put out.  We had rats too at one point - they were even getting into the kitchen up a waste pipe!  They eventually took the bait - and we had the kitchen knocked down and a new one built!  (Actually, that was already on the cards, but I was so relieved not to worry about rats any more - although I did see one or two taking food I'd put out for the birds one winter when there was snow on the ground.
    Hi yes they're bins are in the side alley and no doubt they putting food in there?? We had a fox family in the garden during winter too!! Thanks for the advice its awful isn't it? 
  • a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108
    The rats shouldn’t be any match for the dogs, but please check if they are up to date with vaccinations.
  • damnthatlooksgood6cyfyDZUdamnthatlooksgood6cyfyDZU Posts: 7
    Yes they are all up to date but that is what I'm worried about  :confused: and they are small chihuahuas.
    Also dnt want rats in garden but wouldn't want to see anything nasty like an injured/ dying rat either.  :open_mouth:
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    So sorry that it’s upsetting you . Your dogs are doing what their breed was always meant to do ,that is chase vermin ,however that doesn’t help you does it ? If you want to kill them put rat poison down and keep the dogs on a lead away from it ,other than that the only alternative is to ask the council to move you. A bit drastic I know but can’t think of another solution.I do sympathise .
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