RATS!

[British Red]

When I did my qualifications the plan (integrated pest management plan) would normally consider

1) Deny harbourage. The areas on your property where they have a safe haven need addressing. If necessary re-stack the woodpile up off the ground and install pipe guards on the drain.

2) Deny sustenance. Any and all sources of food and drinking water need to be removed. Without food & drink rats are much less likely to stay. The numbers you describe must have an appreciable food source

3) Elimination. There are a variety of methods available but poison is likely to be the most effective for substantial numbers. It is no longer legal to use anticoagulant rodenticides in open areas. Their use is restricted to "in and around buildings". "Around" is a loose term but.for safety I adhere to the maxim of "touching the building".

The best poisons and most effective doses are only available to those with a professional rodenticide qualification who are appropriately trained in their use. You can take qualifications online fairly inexpensively. They last five years.

With these qualifications you can use more effective poisons in appropriate bait stations in open areas.

I would suggest sort out the woodpile & pipe, secure any food sources (bird feeders are notorious) & look into a professional rodenticide qualification through LANTRA on a scheme that follows the CRRU (campaign for responsible rodenticide use). Then deploy cholecalciferol as a rodenticide in staked, secure, tethered bait boxes.

 

[Woody girl]

All food sources have been removed about 3 weeks ago when I first noticed rats, also had the area tidied and cleaned up by my gardener.
I've removed the cover over the woodpile that was keeping it dry, and poured hot bleach water over it to make it wet, and smell offensive to rats, as per google advice. I've used essential oils as recommended by Google advice, on all entry points. Bleached the path along the back of the house outside the back door.
There are no water sources..... they still come.

 

[Toddy]

Thing is; if you're seeing so many, and killing so many, then there must be hundreds more in your neighbours gardens, and they're not doing anything about them by the sounds of it.
The whole neighbourhood needs to actively root them out. Otherwise you'll never see an end to it.
If you've cleaned out your part, removed food and water and hiding places, then they're coming from elsewhere and just chancing their luck, and you'll only be getting a few in the traps.

I'm sorry you're going through this; it's never easy getting rid of vermin, but they are so incredibly unhealthy to have around, especially since they seem happy to use sewers.

 

[HillBill]

Get a couple of good sized cats. Underfeed them a little (not enough to harm health, just keep them a little bit hungry)... Problem will solve itself. Cats will kill some, rest will know they will get chomped on... they will leave/avoid.

You get good company, pest control, and not needing poison around the gaff which i'm not a fan of.

We had 7 cats.. now got 5. A dog got one, and the road got another... They do like to apply for every Darwin award going... understanding a war of attrition will keep you well supplied with cute, savage, rodent controlling machines.

 

[Tengu]

I like the sound of the cute little dog.

In my experience they are the best ratters.

 

[HillBill]

I like the sound of the cute little dog.

In my experience they are the best ratters.

Dogs are horrible little ba.tards. You get a dog thats good with rats, they will kill anything they can. Don't get me wrong, i love dogs. I have a springer that was basically step dad to our cats, but other dogs... Lets just say i have my compound bow, and broadheads for the next time the neighbours dog (working Lurcher, used for deer and rabbit/hare)kills another of mine. It wont last an hour.

 

[gibson 175]

It's difficult to really assess the root of your problem without actually physically seeing whats going on and being there. There could be all sorts of reasons as to the source of the rats. It may be a broken drain somewhere( majority of rat problems) or maybe you have a rat burrow nearby. You seem quite adept and knowledgable and have trapped a lot of rats yourself but still they come-so my gut feeling is that you may have a major problem and may have to resort to professional help-even though there is a cost to this. I hope I am wrong!

 

[gibson 175]

All food sources have been removed about 3 weeks ago when I first noticed rats, also had the area tidied and cleaned up by my gardener.
I've removed the cover over the woodpile that was keeping it dry, and poured hot bleach water over it to make it wet, and smell offensive to rats, as per google advice. I've used essential oils as recommended by Google advice, on all entry points. Bleached the path along the back of the house outside the back door.
There are no water sources..... they still come.

pouring bleach or other chemicals will absolutely not work

 

[Nice65]

Dogs are horrible little ba.tards. You get a dog thats good with rats, they will kill anything they can. Don't get me wrong, i love dogs. I have a springer that was basically step dad to our cats, but other dogs... Let’s just say i have my compound bow, and broadheads for the next time the neighbours dog (working Lurcher, used for deer and rabbit/hare)kills another of mine. It wont last an hour.

No, they’re not. Bit of a broad remark mate, aggressive too. I’m fairly sure you don’t have the only dog in the world that’s nice, nor should you publicly threaten to shoot other peoples. I have a JRT that’ll hunt rats and mice all day long. She won’t touch a free range hen on the farm or show any interest in a mates ducks. She will go for pheasants, but only because I’ve never told her not to.

 

[Woody girl]

pouring bleach or other chemicals will absolutely not work

It is worth a try, I'll try anything to deter them.
Toddy is right though, I discovered yet another area today where they have actualy dug under the fence from next door. I've watched them climb over the fence before now.

Spring is breeding time, and the weather has been good, so they have had a good start.
Caught another this evening at about 11pm, so the trap has been reset yet again. I check it every two hours or so when awake.

Get a couple of good sized cats. Underfeed them a little (not enough to harm health, just keep them a little bit hungry)... Problem will solve itself. Cats will kill some, rest will know they will get chomped on... they will leave/avoid.

You get good company, pest control, and not needing poison around the gaff which i'm not a fan of.

We had 7 cats.. now got 5. A dog got one, and the road got another... They do like to apply for every Darwin award going... understanding a war of attrition will keep you well supplied with cute, savage, rodent controlling machines.

Plenty of cats round here, 10 houses and 7 cats. Am listening to cats fighting outside my bedroom window right this moment. Don't need any more of them , and they are themselves a problem using my veg beds as litter trays. Between them and the rats, it's a loosing battle!( and that's without the pheasants shi***g all over the lawn. These rats are the final straw!