robby

I've been putting nuts in the garden for the squirels (5 come to visit) as they're fun to watch (i know they're vermin but like watching them), and bird food for the Jays and other birds.
A few months ago we saw a couple of baby mice comming out from under the shed so i started feeding them the leftovers from the bird table (aw - aren't i kind)
Today i saw what i thought was a mouse under the shed but i'm not 100% sure it is a mouse as it's quite big (looks 5"-6") - could be a Rat?

can anyone tell from this pic what it is?

mystery_machine

iTrader: (1)

that is a rat

Chip

Its a rat.

Chip

David Lock

Rat

I had EXACTLY the same last year and the little sods knawed into the shed.

Devil's own job to get rid of them but you don't stand a chance if you have a bird table or any food around.

And they carry Weil's disease in their p,iss.

'orrible things.

dl

dl

speedking

We have one living under the shed at the mo. Was there last year in the extreme cold as well. I borrowed an air rifle but never saw him then.

Can anyone confirm that bread soaked in olive oil is poisonous to rats? Advice I've been given, and they do at least seem to eat it, whereas all the traps etc. are ignored

zs_phil

iTrader: (1)

where theres 1 theres many more ,also mice etc etc .practically impossible to remove for good
foxes are on the up too

David Lock

Don't know about that but I used poison as I couldn't be arsed with live traps but I learnt my lesson......

Removing a 3 day old dead rat hidden in the shed is not a job for the faint hearted

dl

robby

bugger

guess i'll leave the neighbours cats to get to them?

Thanks

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

If you can shoot it with a camera, borrow and air rifle !

robby

I do have a BB gun but today was the 1st time i've seen it leave the shed (must be getting brave), it even scared the squirel away

Do rats and mice live together or would this have scared the mice away (or eaten them)?

Aaron1978

iTrader: (12)

Some councils will sort rat problems for free. Also as said poisoning is not always a good idea as they will crawl somewhere to die and will rot. Rats will generally get in a hole the size of a 10p and mice the size of a pencil! So I would go round your house checking round waste pipes and air bricks ( if you have any) for holes etc.

Aaron

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Its a rat - I know as our Border Terrier caught one in my mum's house on Xmas eve

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Yes, painful as it is, stop feeding the birds, rats will go where there is food and once they get themselves nice and cosy, every 6 weeks they will multiply and on average its x6 per litter, 3 months and you have a nasty infestation problem (like we did, but the council cleared them all out )

Tony

Jimbob

iTrader: (13)

Get a cat, bye bye rats.

Or a .22 and a scope!! lol.


My dog likes killing rats and squirrels, wanna lends??

The Zohan

If it has a smooth and hairless tail then it is likely a rat.

Best sorted with an air pistol or rifle, dog/cat/poison could end up killing the squirrels instead.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

...and this is a bad thing?

Unless you have a population of red squirrels.

David Lock

You can get these poison holder boxes, forgotten what they are called, that you put the poison in which only a rat/mouse can access. About £6 from a farm/country shop.

Protects birds and nosey dogs.

But the key thing is to get rid of ANYTHING that rats might eat or chew. The kamikaze ones will even chew off the plastic lid of a tub of poison for some breakfast. I had some bulbs stored in my shed, big mistake

Happy hunting

dl

Chip

When we had rats a ferw years ago we called the council in. They charged £20 but it was worth it as I hate the things.

Now got 2 cats local cats , so no rats.

Chip

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Want some more cats for your rat problem? I've got plenty s**ting in my garden that would serve you well....its an epidemic almost as bad as the rats

One thing good about the snow is most are staying indoors so its owners have to endure its fecal habits (like they should - for once in their lives).

r32

Get rat poison on a small tray poke it under the shed.

The Zohan

You take everything so literally mr Obtuse

Included along with squirrels are other animals and birds which are on the look out for food

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

If you have rats, you are no longer likelty to have mice and vice versa.

Chip

Correct, the 2 species do not mix.

Chip

TopBanana

Contact your local air rifle club / use a forum to find someone to come and shoot them for you. They like doing that sort of thing

robby

Thanks for the replies

I have a BB pistol but i don't get to see the rat as i'm out during the day and it's too dark when i get home, this is the 1st time i've seen it properly.
If i use poison then as mentioned above it'll crawl back under the shed to die? and i'll never get it out - don't fancy the smell
there are 3 neighbourhood cats that come around so hopefully they'll sort it?

i looked on the council website and they charge £75 for 3 visits (not guaranteed tosort it for good)

we have 5 grey squirells that visit so don't want to poison them - they're fun to watch and don't do any damage

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Grey squirrels are extremely damaging to indigenous species of birds destroying nests and their contents. They look cute, but they are simply rats with fluffy tails.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

I just like to get clarity from the hard of thinking

Blue and Gold

iTrader: (1)

Agreed squirrels aren't cute we had a family of grey squirrels in our loft a few years ago and they were noisy as hell in the early hours of a morning, in the end we shot mommy and drowned the rest in a council trap a neighbour had nicked.
Dirty vermin animals and you should here them scream when they are in a trap and this was a humane trap

markjmd

iTrader: (11)

I would guess that to make it rodent-proof, a bird-feeder would need to be suspended from a wire or something similar that's too thin and/or smooth for them to crawl down.

It definitely is worth making the effort though to feed birds when there's snow or ice for weeks on end. It's very hard for them to find food in those conditions.

The Zohan

Being as smart as you clearly think you are really you shouldn't have to you sad little man