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Rat or mouse? Plus help..

RubyLeafRubyLeaf Posts: 260
in Problem solving
I seem to have a vermin problem, though thankfully its just one. Looks like a rat to me? Either way, I have a few questions:

1: From the video, its shoving the bag into its den hole. I assume its going to eat them later?

2: This is the 8th bag of poison, and it looks perfectly healthy! From the video it leaps onto the brick wall and climbs up! Not the symptoms of a dying rat at all.. I'm wondering if its going off outside and finding other food which is diluting the poison. I drastically reduced the bird food I put out, and only keeping food in feeders where there is practically little chance of any spillage. I've seen where the rat goes at night, in that there's another hole under a fence, so I'm assuming he's hunting for more food.

3: What should I do? What should I buy? I've never had this problem before where its still alive and kicking after 8 bags of poison...





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Posts

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I would check whether your local council offers a pest control service. Ours does, for a fee of £97 which includes two visits.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I would stop putting all and any food out for critters at all for the duration.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    The usual initial advice from any approved Pest controller would be to stop feeding the birds altogether until there are no more signs of vermin.  Hard to accept, particularly at this time of year but it should be done.  Having said that, if there is another easily available source of food nearby it won't necessarily solve the problem.
    Also worth bearing in mind that rats now seem to have an immunity against the poison offered for sale to the domestic market which could explain why yours isn't working.  If you know where the rat is then a strategically placed Snap Trap baited with something like Peanut Butter should do the job.  Instant and kinder.  Just ensure that no other wildlife can access the trap.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Rats are now immune to the poison you can buy over the counter.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    punkdoc said:
    Rats are now immune to the poison you can buy over the counter.
    But rat predators aren't. I wonder how poisonous rats are now? There are plenty of examples in nature of animals eating poisonous food to make themselves poisonous. Like this guy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maned_rat
    Sorry for getting off topic... :#


    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Not really Off Topic - just shows the danger of using poisons - the one you are trying to kill may not die but could possibly be eaten by something else which is not immune to the poison.
  • RubyLeafRubyLeaf Posts: 260
    philippasmith2 said:
    The usual initial advice from any approved Pest controller would be to stop feeding the birds altogether until there are no more signs of vermin.  Hard to accept, particularly at this time of year but it should be done.  Having said that, if there is another easily available source of food nearby it won't necessarily solve the problem.
    Also worth bearing in mind that rats now seem to have an immunity against the poison offered for sale to the domestic market which could explain why yours isn't working.  If you know where the rat is then a strategically placed Snap Trap baited with something like Peanut Butter should do the job.  Instant and kinder.  Just ensure that no other wildlife can access the trap.
    I know exactly where the rat is. Thanks for the suggestion of snap traps! I'll buy a couple tomorrow, just in case one brand doesn't work.
  • RubyLeafRubyLeaf Posts: 260
    Plantminded said:
    I would check whether your local council offers a pest control service. Ours does, for a fee of £97 which includes two visits.
    This has crossed my mind, but its definitely a last resort, due to the cost. Fingers crossed other methods work in the mean time.
  • Red mapleRed maple Posts: 1,138
    Check with your own council regarding the cost @RubyLeaf. Different councils charge different rates - ours, for example, charge £50 & includes 3 visits.
  • RubyLeafRubyLeaf Posts: 260
    Red maple said:
    Check with your own council regarding the cost @RubyLeaf. Different councils charge different rates - ours, for example, charge £50 & includes 3 visits.
    That's pretty good! Thanks for that info!
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