Forum home Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

best way to get rid of rats

123457»

Posts

  • Hello again and thanks to Fairygirl for her logical advice and overview.  The problem with the lawn fertiliser bag being moved around my garden and broken open must mean it was foxes.  Although we probably do grow superhuman rats in London, the evidence that a creature had a really good time playing with the bag and the strength to move it, suggests foxes.  I garden organically and as biodiversely as possible. I don't artificially feed any wildlife - there are plenty of insects, bugs, snails, seeds and berries for the birds and would not recommend any kind of bird feeder if people want to avoid rats.  My mistake was stupidly leaving the lawn fertiliser out of my shed - and even more stupidly buying a product which contains 'material derived from food and foodstuffs' ie smells strong enough to attract animals from miles away. Note to Fairygirl re her photo from West Central Scotland:  agree beautiful isn't enough of a word ... my daughter has moved to Shawlands / South Glasgow and is discovering the wonders of the Scottish Highlands as well as the gems of her local parks.  Re the council and rats - the council charges high fees from individuals with rats coming into their gardens (even if they are not nesting there) but seem to be less pro-active about dealing with rats as an environmental issue, affecting whole roads or areas.  thanks for people's comments. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,095
    Thanks for your reply @tamara.capellaro - and I think it does sound more like foxes you have. Keeping everything under lock and key is the only solution ;)
    I'm not that far from Shawlands [about fifteen minutes drive] and I had a flat fairly near there when I was younger.
    Glad your daughter is discovering our landscape. The west Highlands are my playground when we're allowed out  :) 
    My current pic is a bit further north though - a single Munro near the west coast, about 4 hours drive away  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • I live my life at 'do no harm' this includes brown rats. About a year ago our terriers, 3 of them, found a rat and hastily killed it, this really upset me.  We now have another, pretty sure it is the only one. It comes into our concrete floored garage to a location where a drain was to be installed when the hose was built.  I have many videos of this rat digging out the sand place in that location.  It shoes no willingness to enter the house.  I'm not sure if it is preparing a nest or just loves to dig in sand.  What can I do to re home it?

  • Red mapleRed maple Posts: 1,115
    I'd advise you to contact the pest control of your local council. Our council don't charge if the problem is rats.
  • Rosemarie AdamsRosemarie Adams Posts: 9
    edited February 2021
    I would never use chilli pepper where there are squirrels, other animals (my cats) or birds scratching about. All of the above rely on their keen eyesight to stay safe and I once rubbed my eyes, very briefly, while pipping a pepper and suffered for days, in spite of all the cold water rinses - which animals and birds cannot undertake.
    There are *German companies on smile.amazon.co.uk (give to a Charity while you buy) which are producing non-toxic repellant sprays and sachets filled with peppermint and other essential oils that rodents do not like the smell of. They sell for around £12.00 in the UK per 250ml. It may take a few strong sprays, every 2-3 days or so to begin with but if it doesn't rid them altogether - it will almost certainly limit numbers and as mice are known to detest these sprays, it follows that baby rats would also be deterred.
    If you like feeding squirrels, put their food at the top of a steel pole with a middle foothold. They will soon find a way - and unlike rats, they can jump.  Rats are not good at climbing on metal, either. 
    *These products are non-toxic to children, dogs, cats or rabbits and chickens if you have them or other pets around. It also means that any bird of prey, or fox, snatching a rat, is not going to die of slow poison soon afterwards. I hope this helps. 
Sign In or Register to comment.