Rats

[237SJ]

A while ago I saw a rat run across the patio and I have seen it a few times since. It comes under the fence from next door, runs across my patio and squeezes through a little gap in the opposite fence into my other neighbour's garden. (I have heard that they can squeeze through really small spaces and I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes) The house where the rat comes from is a rental and the last tenants built some decking last summer. I can see that the decking is open at the sides and am pretty sure the rat is living under there. The landlord and I have always got on but things have soured a bit. Anyway, I have bought some rat poison but if the decking remains as it is, the rats will come back. If the landlord refuses to do anything, would it be worth reporting him to the Environmental Health dept?

[shoota]

Where there is one there are fifty...

[EDDIE51]

We have the identical problem and put out rat bait. The rats will eat it and go back 'home' to die. There is NEVER just one rat, there will be a nest of them under the decking. But all the adult rats will come out after the bait if you put enough, keep renewing it if it gets eaten. Just keep on baiting until there are no more rats.

[jourdain2]

Same problem - decking either side of us. Terrier goes bananas because he can't reach the rats.
I asked Environmental Health (wasn't sure what else to do in UK -dog sorted them out in France) and all the chap said was, just put poison down. Hate doing it, but that's what we do. It's safely tucked away by the boundaries both sides. Unpleasantly, I'd a rat dying on the lawn the other day. There will be lots - and a lot more very soon as Spring approaches. :(

[237SJ]

I will put poison down but if the decking remains a good habitat for them, more will come. I did mention it to him and he said "I suppose poison is the answer". Thing is, I don't want to have to keep managing his rat problem so I was wondering if reporting him for ignoring his rat problem would be worthwhile.

[shoota]

Why not work with the occupants of all the houses nearby to keep your gardens free from rubbish and anything edible, including spilled bird food?
It's everyone's problem.

[237SJ]

It was never a problem until the decking was built. I have spoken to neighbours and asked them if they have seen it but only one (my immediate neighbour on the other side) has.

[KARL]

It is said that in the UK (maybe urban locations only, don't know) you are never more than X metres from a rat were the value of X is somewhere between 5 and 10 metres.

[mikey4444]

ratter is just the person to answer your question, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of him recently...

.ratter, where for art thou ?

[EDDIE51]

If not poison an air rifle is a good alternative. The guy across the road had one and killed loads of rats with it. If you have a good aim and a decent sight scope it is an instant death.

[Quoi]

I Keep chickens & i am in a constant running battle with rats - kill one there is always another.
The thing that internests me about your case is that rats dont usually stay around unless there is a ready food source - the decking on its own wont attract the rats but any food nearby will. Does either neighbour have a dird table or throwing bread out for the birds etc
remove the food source rather than worry about the decking.
If you're poisoning them - think about any cats that may suffer from eating the poisoned rats - always a risk.

[237SJ]

I know someone back at home who uses a humane trap for rats because his daughter doesn't like the thought of them being killed. When they are trapped, he then takes them up the field and uses them for target practice with his air rifle. I don't approve of that though - no point in making an animal suffer anymore than is necessary.

[tamborine]

Live with it & poison if it comes indoors. You cant expect decking to be removed.

[237SJ]

Quoi - one neighbour did put food out for foxes but he stopped that some years ago when he got a rat problem. Animals eating the poisoned dead rat does bother me a bit - I'm not sure cats would do that because they like to kill their own prey but I worry a bit about the scavenging foxes around here

[237SJ]

Tambo - I think the decking should be removed. It was only put in place by a tenant who lived in the house for 18 months and has moved out - the landlord didn't pay for it.

[Maydup]

If you do use poison, use one of the rat boxes you can buy. The rats smell the poison and go inside to eat it which protects the birds from pecking it, and all other wildlife and cats.

Ideally the miserable decking would be ripped up, but it sounds an unlikely option.

[237SJ]

Thanks Maydup. I bought one of those yesterday (you have to use that type of trap now by law) and have set it up. The Landlord has been so obstructive with one thing and another over the years that I have been persuaded by a friend to chuck any dead rats that I find in the garden over his fence and I am going to do that. ***, his rats, his problem.

[ladybirder]

Well I hope he removes them quickly 237, or you will have the stench of rotting rats to put up with.

[237SJ]

He won't do that but his tenants might complain to him which is good