Greetings from Manchester

[The Ratcatcher]

Hi, all.
I only found this introductions forum after I'd been on here a while, so I'm a little bit late introducing myself.

I'm Alan. I've been doing this stuff for too many years, but when I started, it wasn't called Bushcraft, it was called "too skint to buy proper kit". (I still use tin cans as cooking pots and stoves occasionally, just for old times sake.)

I'm the last Traditional Ratcatcher in Manchester, which means I use traps and snares on a daily basis. Handy if the food runs out!

I hope I meet some of you soon because even though I've been doing this for a very long time, there's always something new to learn.

Alan.

 

[John Fenna]

Hello and welcome!

 

[spandit]

Welcome, Alan. Have you tried the Nooski trap? I bought one but by then my resident rat had already died from the poison I'd put out whilst waiting for delivery

 

[silentbob]

Welcome from a fellow Mancunian.

 

[JonathanD]

Hello Alan, and welcome.

 

[Teepee]

Hi Alan, welcome to the forum

 

[The Ratcatcher]

Yes, I have two Nooski's for special jobs. They are the only rat-trap that's safe to use in places where there are toddlers, because they are finger-safe. They also have the advantage that you don't have to extract a squishy rat carcase from between powerful spring-loaded trap jaws. Keep hold of yours, because if you've had one rat, another may follow.

 

[spandit]

Nice to hear a professional using one! I bought it as didn't want poison about with a toddler & dog roaming free. Even in a bait box - I've caught the dog with a dead rat in his mouth. I also wanted to see the evidence!

I remember my father telling me how he once called in a team of ratters to a pub cellar that was "alive with rats". They lost 2 dogs...

 

[mentalnurse]

welcome to the group. why dont you post some photos of you working they would be intresting to see.

 

[spandit]

What bait do you use in the Nooski? I was using peanut butter but haven't caught anything yet. I suppose you could use them to catch squirrels too with a few nuts inside

 

[Barn Owl]

Hi Alan, welcome.

 

[The Ratcatcher]

What bait do you use in the Nooski? I was using peanut butter but haven't caught anything yet. I suppose you could use them to catch squirrels too with a few nuts inside

The best bait in any trap is to identify what the target is eating already, and then use that if you can. Try to place the baited trap in the same place as the original food source, and don't forget, rats are neophobic, so they won't enter the trap until they get used to it. I also use baited but unset traps to get them used to feeding from the trap before I set it.

 

[DaveBromley]

Nice to hear there are some more mancs about

Where abouts in the fair city are you?

Dave

 

[ged]

Ratcatchers are always welcome here!

 

[The Ratcatcher]

welcome to the group. why dont you post some photos of you working they would be intresting to see.

By the nature of the job, I don't have much in the way of photos of me at work, but I'll see if I can sort something out. Unfortunately having a photographer following me about would be difficult, and it might put some clients off if they thought there might be anything in the pictures that could identify them. Some people are very touchy about who knows they have a pest problem.