I have been trying to make my backyard a place for birds... But I have a problem with rats getting in my feeder.I have done everything I can think of to keep them out...Does anyone know a way to keep them out? I have moved the feeders from the trees to poles and they still are getting into them. We have put out poison. But I donât like doing that cause some times the birds will find it and I dont like that...So know I am trying to find away to keeping them out and feed the birds...Can someone help me?
I now only keep 1 bird feeder and bring it inside in the evening so the tree rats can't feed. The vaseline works but you have to remember to reapply quite often.
I feed birds,squirrels,and a fox,but now I have a rat that appears in the garden.What do I do?I don't wan't to stop feeding the wild-life,so any answers,please
Reply to Masdip. The rat is just taking advantage of the food surplus. You could stop feeding for a while, in the hope that the rat goes away. The trouble is that rats are very clever, very quick breeders and very resilient. Even putting up dangling bird feeders will result in spills on the ground and the rat will still get its food.
Rats, like most wildlife , are everywhere. Just because you dont see them doesnt mean they dont exist. Get over it, they are just as valuable to the ecosystem as any other wildlife. They spread no more or less disease etc than anyhting else.
Rats like to tour, they wander the neighbourhood and may show up once a week or more in your garden, sniffing around, eating what they can and move on...they, like most wildlife are scavengers. Dont leave food laying around and they should just keep moving. So they dig a hole now and again! try and live with wildlife if you can. seeing it doesnt mean you have problems with it. However if it's moved in to your sheds or bins, then just clean them out now and again. As for hygiene for kids, adults etc playing in the garden...they can catch a million and one things...just make sure you all carry out regular handwashing and basic hygiene.
Stop trying to change wildlife, and just enjoy it. Their time on this planet is limited, just like ours.
I've been feeding the birds in our garden since we arrived at our house some 5 years ago. Summer 2007 heralded our first sighting of three brown rats who were trying to persuade me that they were birds clinging from my birdfeeders. I really don't want to stop feeding the birds, but would appreciate any helpful suggestions in how to get rid of them - apart from by using poison, as we border an 80-acre field with a great selection of wildlife habitat. Many thanks in advance.
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Rats like to tour, they wander the neighbourhood and may show up once a week or more in your garden, sniffing around, eating what they can and move on...they, like most wildlife are scavengers. Dont leave food laying around and they should just keep moving. So they dig a hole now and again! try and live with wildlife if you can. seeing it doesnt mean you have problems with it. However if it's moved in to your sheds or bins, then just clean them out now and again. As for hygiene for kids, adults etc playing in the garden...they can catch a million and one things...just make sure you all carry out regular handwashing and basic hygiene.
Stop trying to change wildlife, and just enjoy it. Their time on this planet is limited, just like ours.
Many thanks in advance.