Be afraid - be very afraid

[RogerS]

This time, every year, rats find their way up into our loft. I've never been able to work out how or how to stop them. So, it's a case of rat poison and endure the smell when they die.

I used to use the large chunky pellets but, ever since I was told that they simply took these away and stored them and didn't get round to eating them, I've used the granulated form. I've even got a special feeder designed for outdoor use and prevents birds from entering. So I put this in the loft and filled it up. I also primed a rat-trap with a piece of Snickers.

Nights came and went and we could hear them scampering about. The rat poison was eaten and I refilled it. The trap remained un-trapped. Gradually the scampering got less and the pace quieter until silence. All dead, I thought.

Until last night. When the scampering started again.

I've just come down from the loft. The last lot of poison that I put down in the trap remains intact. They have blocked up both access holes to the poison dispenser with fibreglass insulation. If I was paranoid then I'd say that they were blocking the holes up to prevent other rats from getting poisoned. If I was not paranoid then they have simply converted it into a B&B.

The rat trap remains unsprung.

I know what I think.

 

[motownmartin]

Do you remember the Hitchcock film 'The Birds', just beware Roger :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[DaveL]

Roger,

Rats are very intelligent, that is why most normal poisons don't work with them. They will eat small amounts of 'new food' and if it cause unpleasant side effects they will stop eating it. They have worked out that your poison was killing them and stooped eating it.

Warfarin and other anticoagulant baits don't kill directly and the rats don't make the link so continue to eat them.

 

[ByronBlack]

Sounds like it's time to call in Tommy Saxondale!

 

[Bodrighy]

On the ships we found that the only thing thatseemed to work was either laying bait (usually bacon) and an air rifle or using a humane trap again with bacon. As a callous youth the former was more fun but the latter more effective. It was basically a cage that sprang closed when the rat entered.

Pete

 

[RogerS]

But to block up the tube that contained the poison? That either reveals a frightening degree of intelligence or they were simply making a cosy nest.

The poison is the anti-coagulant type.

I'll give bacon a go in the trap.

 

[Vormulac]

You don't happen to live anywhere near James Herbert do you, Roger...? :shock:

 

[dunbarhamlin]

Know anyone with ferrets? Used to be used by some navies in preference to cats. Ferret teeth scare cats, ferret doodoo scares rodents.

 

[Harbo]

I occasionally get rats in my back garden picking up spilled bird food.
Most rats are now resistant to the propriety makes (like Warfarin) they seemed to thrive on it - I used 3 large packs!! In the end I had to resort to calling in the "Rat-man" (Pest Control Officer) from the Council who used much stronger stuff which cleared them away. I did try traps - the open ones and the humane types - you have to secure the bait with some thin wire and if possible modify to a "hair trigger" with rubber bands. The rats are sensitive to human smells so use gloves to prevent your scent being transferred to the traps. I gave up on them when my open one killed a Blackbird and the humane one caught a rat but then you have the problem of disposing of a vicious snarling monster!
I now ensure all the bird food is hanging in feeders up in the air and I now have a air rifle and when the odd one comes back I pop them off with it.

Rod

 

[Jhalfa]

I keep a few chickens in the garden and have had problems with rats before.

I tried humane traps and they only worked once for rats and several times for some very pissed off squirrels. I drive the captured rat a mile away and let it go. Other rats never went near the thing again.

Tried rat poison and eventually managed to kill the large rat after it had eaten a bucketful of the stuff.

Best solution is the pest control officer as they should be able to get rid of the vermin quickly. Bearing in mind the amount of disease that rats carry (very easy to catch), you need to get rid of them fast.

Would love to shoot them, but they are generally too wary and too quick.

best of luck!

 

[Fecn]

We used to keep chickens and rats wanted to live under the coop, but we also had a big mean tom cat who liked to hunt rats and leave them outside the back door for us to find in the morning. I understand that it's rare for cats to hunt rats, but Hercules was a well 'ard tom cat with his tackle in tact and he liked a challenge - He seemed to get about one a fortnight for about 6 months and no more ever after.

 

[MrJay]

Bearing in mind the amount of disease that rats carry (very easy to catch), you need to get rid of them fast.

Rats pose very little health risk. That's not to say you want them in your house or near food stores, but if they're scuttling about outside it's nothing to write home about.

 

[newt]

A Jack Russel is very effective.

 

[Sawdust]

A Jack Russel is very effective.

I couldn't agree more - and they are even happy in their work!

 

[Jhalfa]

Rats pose very little health risk.

Try googling Weils disease.

 

[Taffy Turner]

A Jack Russel is very effective.

By far the best solution - ours is deadly!!! She gets very glum when she has killed them all and has to wait a few months for the next batch to appear.

Our cats will take babies and youngsters, but very few cats will tackle a full grown rat.

Ferret's are also good as previously stated - handy to know someone who keeps them.

I have also used a 12 bore shotgun - messy but effective - less practical inside a house though! :shock:

I don't like killing them - after all they are only doing what comes naturally, but they are very destructive, and if you don't keep on top of them, you end up with millions of them in no-time, as they breed like fury.

Regards

Gary

 

[StevieB]

I don't like killing them - after all they are only doing what comes naturally, but they are very destructive, and if you don't keep on top of them, you end up with millions of them in no-time, as they breed like fury.

I have the sneaky feeling that if any species ever evolves past humans the same might be said about us....

Steve.

 

[RogerS]

A Jack Russel is very effective.

Wouldn't he be even more noisy up there in the attic? :lol:

 

[Knot Competent]

We moved into our home a year ago. It's a barn conversion on a non-working farm, and we soon became aware of much scuttling around in the roof. I put trays of poison in the roof space, which didn't get touched. One evening at dusk I happened to be outside, and realised that dozens of bats were emerging from various places around the roof, which accounts for all the noise. Can't say I'm delighted with them, but as they're protected there isn't anything I can do, but I'm relieved it isn't rats or mice, which could well do damage to electrical wiring.

As for your problem, see if there's a piper from Hamelin in your Yellow Pages.. But the local pest control is probably the best bet. They aren't cheap these days though!

Regards, John

 

[CWatters]

We had rats in our loft once. They were climbing up the inside of the rainwater down pipes along the gutter and then in through a hole they'd made under the tiles. Fiitted leaf guards to the tops of the rainwater pipes and that stopped them. The wire leaf guards had to be secured on with wire though.