Rats and Mice in my garden!
david fyfe2
Posts: 17
ok so 3 weeks ago there was a massive rat in my garden on which I chased off. I have seen it twice since as have my neighbours. My neighbours have a compost at the back of the garden where mice live. I left food out one night to see if they are there and 3 of them came out to grab the food. My neighbours garden is pretty disgusting, stuff everywhere, compost is stinking etc. They had mice in there garage couple times also.
My concern is I have 2 raised beds 8x5 size which are next to the neighbours side of fence near where I seen rat/mice. I have beetroot, spinach, radish, brocoli etc all growing in there.
1. Can I still eat the vegetables?
2. If so will cooking them kill any disease?
3. Do I need to throw all the vegetables out?
4. Also will I need to replace all the soil if they have been in there?
Any help is much appreciated
David
Posts
My garden is in the country, surrounded by arable and pastoral fields so assorted mice, voles and rats are a constant feature. We grow a variety of fruit and veg and have never had any health problems. They all need careful rinsing anyway as we don't use chemicals so there are always insects and caterpillars to wash off, especially on salads and brassicas.
Perhaps you could get the council round to deal with the rat infestation and they will then identify the problems in your neighbour's garden and require them to clean it up as rats can be a danger to public health.
Thank you for your response. My garden is at the edge of a small town. Well when I say small 16 thousand people. Over my fence is road then the fields so Im guessing they are coming from there.
I thought about getting the council round but its the neighbours that have the issue so they might be annoyed with me for complaining.
There is a river down the road where alot of rats live too! Guess I am just being paranoid.
Thanks again for your info
Ensure that rats are dealt with by professionals. If they are coming from your neighbour's land inform the local authority. If they are coming from the river, inform the river authority/water board they may (or may not) do something.
Good gardening practice:
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Glad you're getting it sorted. I wouldn't chuck the vegetables, but if it puts your wife's mind at rest
I've always said that decking provides the perfect home for rats
I blame Alan Titchmarsh 
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I would not throw the veggies, just wash them properly, and since your lady is expecting, cook them. It will be fine. I live in the countryside, and mice are a normal part of life. they are everywhere, in the garden and in the veg patch, and sometimes inevitably the get into the shed etc, it's not disgusting, it's just how life in the country is. No need to get scared stiff.
Thanks for your reply. Slightly overreacting I know
It's more the rats I'm worried about since one was in house. Don't mind mice
We have noticed a couple in our garden in the last month. We think they have moved into the pile of bricks, plasterboard, etc. on our new neighbours drive which has been there for a couple of months now. We have put down the proper bait trap and also the local cat community have been doing their bit to help too. We've never seen a rat in our garden before so are being careful.
hello, we had a rat problem for a number of years after moving to this property. they originated from next door and were getting into our attic via a hole between the roof spaces. we rang council who sent a man who put down traps and used a camera to check our main drain and next doors. he said next doors drain had a crack that the rats were squeezing through. the traps caught several of them in the attic (thankfully) and we sealed up the hole in the wall and any other gaps which we thought they might use. I would NOT be worried about what your neighbours might think, if they are on your property you have every right to call the council for help, especially with your OH in her delicate condition and even if she wasn't pregnant as well. I am all for helping our wildlife where possible, however, these are vermin and need to be dealt with asap.
good luck, am sure the problem will be sorted soon and you will be vermin free
So instead of eating home grown Veg where you know what has been sprayed on them, you are going to eat Shop bought ones with heaven knows what chemicals on them? And there is no guarantee that the fields where they grew do not have mice and rats running around in them either.
Like others on here, we are surrounded by fields and there are probably more rats around than people. Do as Dove says and worry not.