Rats in cellar - how would YOU block holes from the outside?

[cumbrian]

Hey Folks

At the back of my house, rats have burrowed down and got in to the cellar through the exterior of the cellar wall. It's been a right hassle - as they've got from the cellar, under suspended floors etc. It's gone on for months. We've tried to block up what we can from the inside, but actually it just needs properly doing from the *outside*.

So .. we've dug down along the back of the house, where they are getting in - and create about a 1 metre deep trench against the exterior of the cellar wall. There are several holes where the rats have got in, and builders are suggesting that we just flood it with concrete. Sure this will work, of course it will - but I kind of think that will just trap moisture against the cellar wall, and prevent moisture from the cellar ever getting out.

My little brain can't work out whether that's a big deal or not, and in fact, it's just had soil up against the side of the house for the last 150 years.

What would you do?

Beer tokens for smart answers!

Thank you all

James of Cumbria

 

[Cubist]

I would be tempted to try filling the cavity with small pebbles. Too hard to gnaw through and prone to collapse on any tunnellers and accumulated silt will wash down to the bottom so no weeds either.

 

[cumbrian]

I would be tempted to try filling the cavity with small pebbles. Too hard to gnaw through and prone to collapse on any tunnellers and accumulated silt will wash down to the bottom so no weeds either.

Hmmm, yeah, I think that's pretty interesting. Maybe just repoint exterior of wall .. put a galvanized metal mesh at the bottom of trench (so they can't dig further down, which I think is unlikely anyway), maybe even up the sides - and flood with small pebbles like you say.

 

[LadyArowana]

I would be tempted to try filling the cavity with small pebbles. Too hard to gnaw through and prone to collapse on any tunnellers and accumulated silt will wash down to the bottom so no weeds either.

Tiny fairy doors on their holes, and a toy to keep them busy while they wait for squeaks to be answerd?

 

[cumbrian]

Tiny fairy doors on their holes, and a toy to keep them busy while they wait for squeaks to be answerd?View attachment 11274View attachment 11275

Well it is so obvious now you have said it!! ;-)

 

[Lacan07]

Seal the holes up with lime mortar and any aggregate of your choice and then fill the cavity with pebbles if you like.

I wouldn't fill it with concrete.

 

[Mrs McG]

Keep in mind that rats have a floating skeleton so they can get in through any hole big enough for their skull, say around a 10p piece.

Rats are photosensitive so will avoid bright light. What I found made a difference was lighting the underground space.

Whatever you do, make sure you do it during the day otherwise you risk walling them in your cellar, instead of out of it!