Rats!

[jakep]

We have had a rat roaming the garden, often in daylight, for quite a while now. My policy is to live and let live.
Yesterday Ratty bought one of his/her offspring for a mooch.
OH now wants to “get rid” but my feelings are to leave alone as long as they make no move towards the house.
Thoughts please....

[margarettom]

I thought you were legally obliged to report rat sightings to the local authority. I certainly did when we had one and they sent someone round to deal with it. If I thought my neighbours were harbouring rats I would be horrified, as in no time at all, they would be on my property. They are vermin and need to be dealt with. Vile things!!

[retrocop]

I read that Rats,when hungry, are partial to gnawing at young babies when left unattended in their prams whilst in the garden. During this hot weather could be asking for trouble.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/newborn-baby-100-rat-bites-found-15-days-old-charles-elliot-hospital-magnolia-arkansas-erica-shryock-a7742081.html
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2440930/giant-rats-eaten-baby-girl-alive-mother-drinking-johannesburg/

[ladybirder]

Find out what is attracting them and get rid of that. This will be either food, water or somewhere comfortable to live and breed.

[chelle7272]

I agree with woof gang, try to get rid humanely first, remove the things they need or want.
https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/rats-in-the-garden/

[woofgang]

"I thought you were legally obliged to report rat sightings to the local authority. I certainly did when we had one and they sent someone round to deal with it. If I thought my neighbours were harbouring rats I would be horrified, as in no time at all, they would be on my property. They are vermin and need to be dealt with. Vile things!!"

Nope, no legal obligation, the councils would have no time to deal with anything else! I think that many councils now make a charge for vermin services unless you are on benefits. If you think that an area of land is a health risk then you can report it and the council will investigate and require action if your complaint is upheld.

[woofgang]

retro stop scaremongering

[nannym]

I would get rid definitely

[Ken4155]

Plenty of stray cats in my area keep the number of rats down. Though my little Jack Russell caught one on the back street just last week. Dispatched it tout suite and, thankfully, didn't eat it. Ever smelled a dog's farts when it's eaten a rat? Get rid of rats at the first sighting is my advice.

[Tashi]

Dreadful animals, get rid ASAP.

[woofgang]

yes one of my dogs is an efficient ratter....always worries me a bit as their bites (rats) are dirty and happily he never wants to eat them either as they are full of parasites and carry ticks.....btw hedgehogs carry ticks too, so much as I like them and wish them well, do be careful how you handle them and behave around them generally.

[jakep]

I appreciate all your comments (SO clever hereiam)
The rats will be ‘got rid’ but it really does feel awful to take the lives of creatures that are just getting on with their life.
A friend has the black bait boxes and I will use them.
I have been convinced by some of the arguments.

[hereIam]

Yes, I was quite pleased with that jakep.

[andres]

Why don't you try the humane traps and then take them miles away to release them?

[Canary42]

Let them be - if you're happy to contract Leptospirosis (Weil's Disease).

[woofgang]

As I said, more important than despatching the residents is making the environment un welcoming. Apart from around 6 despatched by my dog over the last 8 or so years, I have never had to kill any or put down bait. My rubbish is kept in a storage box (no wheely bins here) birds are fed but close to the house and little and often, outbuildings are kept tidy and clear of overgrowth and I or the dogs fossick around the overgrown corners of the garden on a regular basis.

[237SJ]

It's all well and good saying that one's environment should be unattractive to rats but you can`t control the environment in the neighbours' gardens. We had rats that ran across our patio from next door - one neighbour was having building work done (open soil/ditches) and another idiot was feeding the foxes. End result - rats. I was the only person who bothered to kill them.

[woofgang]

true and I would have done the same....but I would have spoken to the fox feeding neighbour and/or the council.

[237SJ]

Tried that (and the Council aren't interested)

[lankeela]

I would hazard a guess that it is not the same one you are seeing - if you are seeing one then as sure as eggs is eggs there is already going to be a whole colony living nearby.