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Rats
Mim
Posts: 18
Help!
I have had a compost bin for 30+ years with no problems. Now Rats.
I have got rid of it once by empting the bin and re-making it now 1 month later the rat is back. I don't put cooked food in, I kick the bin on passing and can't afford the £60 the council charges to call. Any safe suggestions? I don't have the strength for frequent turning, I'm a once a year person when it comes to turning the compost bin.
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Posts
In the first instance I would use this http://www.pestcontroldirect.co.uk/acatalog/Rat_Control_Pack.html
It worked in this garden when we first came here and we've not had another infestation.
The poison used will work on rats that have developed a resistence to Warfarin.
Also check around any drains, manholes etc for cracks, holes, ill-fitting covers etc to make sure that they're not getting onto your property in that way. If they are it may be useful to contact your water company - if your drains are on a shared system they may well be responsible for repairs and dealing with the rats.
Good luck.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Rats hate dampness, try soaking the compost with a hose, should send the rat running
I don't like the idea of rats anywhere in my garden - you can get a special box with a small hole for the rat to go on in and eat the bate you put inside - harmless to other animals I think - believe they are made by rentokil
If you've got one in your compost bin there will be a whole family somewhere nearby
Thanks for the advice, I think that I'll try the hosepipe first. I'm a bit nervous about using poison in the garden.
If you could find a vibrating alarm clock or maybe an old mobile phone set it to go off every 30 minutes put it in a box and place it on top of the compost bin this may deter the rats.
I have been to my local hardware shop and bought a bait box and bait. I hope it works but I feel really bad about doing it.
We have no ducklings on the river this year so far, we also have a bad rat problem so I suppose they are linked. We need to discourage people feeding the ducks so much although it brings such pleasure to the children.
you don't need to feel bad - rats spread disease and can multiply at an alarming rate. the year we were invaded it was tracked down to a factory that was being demolished and had failed to put the required rat control procedures in place. Hopefully you'll only need to use the box for a short while - I think as long as the bait continues to be taken. They do not die in the box, but take the bait back to their nesting places. I hope it works for you.
Thankyou for the support