rats in my garden

[godsall84]

help help help. i have noticed over the last few weeks that rats have been coming into my garden. last year i grew a few vegtables in a raised bed this year i had planned three raised beds which i built over the winter. im now concerned about growing because of these pesky rodants are there any steps i can take to stop them goin for my veg. im aware of the deseases an there wee being a major factor will any root veg wee d on by them be non cosumable. im at a complete loss i have thought of putting rat proof netting around each bed but this will detract form the enjoyment and also look like my veg are on lockdown. any help or tips would be great

[scott78]

i would say the first thing you need to do is find where they live, have a look around sheds etc for rat holes. if you can find them then its a good start as it gives you a place to act. even if you cant find them you have two choices, rat poison in an area where you know they have been, place it on a slab with another slab on top (spaced with a few bricks, this lets the rats in but should stop cats and children) it can be expensive stuff and your never sure if its working as they die else where. the other choice is a more hands on and long term cheaper squirrel trap with a fat ball or 2 inside. drop trap in bucket of water once its worked, repeat until your happy. do both if you really hate rats. as for eating veg im not sure, if we thought of all the things that could be on the veg i doubt we would eat much of it, just give it a harder scrub?

[Snadger]

Bird feeders are one of the main food supplies for rats and dalek type compost bins are there des res!

[Florence Fennel]

Are you in a city godsall, or out in the sticks? Just wondering if you have a rubbish tip nearby, or overfilled bins. I wish I hadn't seen your comment Snadge about the des res for rats, I have 2 daleks, but hopefully no rats!

[dogsbody]

Get a cat or Jack Russell (or borrow one).

[Aberdeenplotter]

Just a word of caution. Do not under any circumstances drop your rat trap in a bucket of water to drown any rats trapped. I read someone recently was convicted of cruelty and causing un-necessary suffering to grey squirrels trapped and drowned in this way.

[lizzylemon]

Nearly everyone will at some time have rats either living in or passing through their garden / land as rats are absolutely every where. More noticeable in the towns / cities though.

There will be signs of heavy use, so look for flattened areas of soil or grass plus lots of droppings. Contact your local council, most have a pest control department which will come out and help kill them off. I don't know if there's a charge or not, probably changes from council to council anyway.

Rats are no more likely to cause you harm with germs than any thing else in the garden as long as you practise good levels of hygiene. Washing fruit / veg and hands. You're probably thinking of Weils disease which is water born. Heres a link Leptospirosis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Two_Sheds]

Rats won't dig up and eat vegetables, there are much easier pickings to be had ... rubbish bins, takeaways thrown on the ground etc.

Remove their nests: if you have compost heaps soak them thoroughly and dig them over (rats hate being disturbed) and don't leave any food waste out where they can smell it, ie don't throw food away if you can help it (on the rare occasions that we have bones or fish waste, we take it to a street bin, which are emptied more frequently than home bins)