OT rats - again

[JoceAndChris]

They might be off topic but they're bloody persistent.

Anyway, I've got my hands on an amazing 67 page professional document (written by a rat-catcher). Knowledge is power. Within this document are such gems as how to overcome neophobia (fear of new objects), how to identify and correctly bait a rat-run, a fascinating analysis of first and second generation poisons and what to do if a rat is poison resistant, and other extraordinary insights.

If anyone would like it just PM me.

 

[Flyfisher]

what to do if a rat is poison resistant,

Rats are remarkably adaptable creatures. I've read that when they find a new source of food they will only eat a little of it at first. If they become ill they will never eat it again. Clever little devils. :evil:

 

[Penners]

Identifying the rat-runs here is absolutely no problem. The thunder of hundreds of tiny feet has carved motorways through the garden. Neophobia? I reckon I could stand Boris's ArcelorMittal Orbit olympic tower in the garden, and they'd just glance at it and shrug.

Our dog is great at spotting rats. She lies in the garden, idly watching the little b*ggers for hours on end. :roll:

However, I have just about got them on the run, with a combination of poison and a .22 air rifle.

 

[Penners]

when they find a new source of food they will only eat a little of it at first. If they become ill they will never eat it again.

Did you know that rats can't vomit? Most modern rat poisons contain a vomit-inducing agent, so that your domestic pets (or you!) won't get poisoned. But the substance doesn't affect the rats.

 

[JoceAndChris]

They're so clever. Fancy evolving not to vomit!


Penners - so glad to hear you're winning.


The manual contains a lot about messing with their minds in order to get them to take bait. If they are avoiding bait boxes, it may be that they have neophobia having spent a good portion of their lives in an environment where not much moves about. A new bait box is then highly suspicious, and will be avoided if other food is present. So it's best to keep everything constantly on the move, and plenty of new objects turning up. If they won't take poison from the box, bait the box for two weeks with tasty, unpoisonous bait. Then, when they've relaxed into thinking they're free meal spots, put the poison in. Try the same with traps - put the bait on the trap for a while without setting it.

In some cases they cannot be fooled and gassing is the only way.

I realise now the chicken feeder has to be suspended at beak height, removed at dusk and the ground swept. At last I've figured out how do this without building a kind of gallows structure.

Hopefully this will reduce the problem as much as anything.

 

[Penners]

Unfortunately, suspending the food may not solve the problem. Our rats have mostly been attracted by Mrs P's insistence on feeding the garden birds. The feeders are suspended high above the ground, but the rats (a) eat the birds' spillages on the ground below the feeders, and (b) perform the most amazing high-wire acts to get up to the feeders.

Fortunately, (b) makes them much easier to see through a telescopic sight.... :twisted:

 

[yamin]

Our rats have mostly been attracted by Mrs P's insistence on feeding the garden birds.

So having cats and a greedy here may be no use against the actual rats, but since I have no wish to tempt our feathered friends into an arena of certain death, there is no food around to attract the rats!

I'm surprised we don't apparently have them though - we removed a 2.5 ton shed from the garden (fully half the space!) when we moved in and there was the odd one there, but no evidence since. Fingers crossed.

Joce, a 60 page document - how do you get these things - is this war??

 

[Flyfisher]

Unfortunately, suspending the food may not solve the problem. Our rats have mostly been attracted by Mrs P's insistence on feeding the garden birds. The feeders are suspended high above the ground, but the rats (a) eat the birds' spillages on the ground below the feeders, and (b) perform the most amazing high-wire acts to get up to the feeders.

We have a similar bird-feeding arrangement but, fortunately, we also have a steady procession of ducks and geese that clear up the inevitable dropped food.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Mmm, I have pheasants who do that too.

They're a nightmare though, these rats, especially when they decide they aren't going to be nocturnal and they'll just help themselves during the day.

They construct complex underground larders as well. And when I've trapped their babies, they've eaten them off the traps.

Abi - yes this is war! The doc came from a kind lady off the hen forum.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Joce,

KABOOM !!

It's the only way.

 

[Penners]

when I've trapped their babies, they've eaten them off the traps.

Well, I'm delighted to hear that you're not one of the humane trapping brigade. Catching them live and releasing them elsewhere just makes them someone else's problem. And leaves them free to breed more rats.

Ours certainly aren't nocturnal. Oh no - they love a nice sunny day, when they can graze on bird food, sniff the air, take a little stroll around the garden, have a coffee and read the paper.... :evil: :evil: :evil:

 

[yamin]

Ours certainly aren't nocturnal. Oh no - they love a nice sunny day, when they can graze on bird food, sniff the air, take a little stroll around the garden, have a coffee and read the paper.... :evil: :evil: :evil:

Isn't that estate agents? :lol:

 

[Penners]

Isn't that estate agents?

Oh, the temptation to write a (possibly libelous) dissertation on the difference between estate agents and rats. :wink:

Needless to say, this would be a very short tome.

 

[biffvernon]

What's Sarah Palin got to do with Period Property UK?

 

[Penners]

That can't be Sarah Palin. She ain't totin' a .44 Magnum - the most powerful handgun in the world, that would blow yer head clean ahf.

 

[yamin]

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I think we'd all hire you Abi! 8)

 

[Penners]

Ye Gods - Biff was right! It IS Sarah Palin!

Do you feel lucky, punk?

 

[yamin]

Make my day. :x

 

[JoceAndChris]

Please come here with your guns Abi!

when I've trapped their babies, they've eaten them off the traps.

Well, I'm delighted to hear that you're not one of the humane trapping brigade. Catching them live and releasing them elsewhere just makes them someone else's problem. And leaves them free to breed more rats.

Ours certainly aren't nocturnal. Oh no - they love a nice sunny day, when they can graze on bird food, sniff the air, take a little stroll around the garden, have a coffee and read the paper.... :evil: :evil: :evil:

Oh, God, I hate them. How can they be so evil and so nonchalent at the same time?

I just can't believe people trap them and release them live elsewhere, tell me it's not true!