Rat on my birdfeeder

[Curlykale]

A few days ago I looked out of my kitchen window and saw a rat shinning up the pole of my bird feeder . I have taken all the bird food down in the hope that it will move on, but it still seems to be living in the shrubbery in the border where the feeder was. I have tried bashing a shovel against the wall and prodding at the shrubs with a rake, but he's still there. My family are freaking out! Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get rid of it?

(By the way, is it correct that birds should only be fed throughout the winter, and should be left to fend for themselves during the summer? Seems a bit mean to me!)

[rana]

The rat is part of our native wildlife and a common garden visitor. As long as there is no out of control breeding why not enjoy watching the animal - like you do with the birds.

Secondly - once birds have become reliant on being fed (eg by nesting and raising fledglings nearby) do you think it is appropriate to then stop their meals?

[Two_Sheds]

On the other hand: I definitely would not encourage the rat by feeding it. If you do, it will take up permanent residence in your garden and breed 100s of baby rats. Rats will eat baby birds too

Change how you feed your birds: never put bread out and never leave any food on the bird table. Try using individual fat balls hanging from fine branches which will hold a bird but not the weight of a rat

My blackbirds are feeding more than ever now: I throw them a handful of soaked sultanas every morning ... they sit on the fence waiting for me

[Curlykale]

Rana and TS - thanks for your replies.

Rana, no I don't think it's appropriate to stop their meals - that's why I said it seems mean! It's just that someone told me that you should only feed them during the winter while it may be difficult for them to find their own food.

I took their food down because the rat was obviously eating the food that the birds had dropped into the undergrowth, and had got cheeky enough to climb up the pole of the feeder. I know rats are a natural part of rural wildlife, but our family has a particular aversion to them after our cat died after apparently being bitten by one.

TS, that is exactly my worry - that if it doesn't move on, we will be over-run with babies, and as the bird feeder is only about 6' away from the kitchen, that would be MUCH too close for comfort! Unfortunately I don't have any branches to hang food from - only 'shrubby' shrubs, which is why I put the feeder up. I hang fat balls from it and fill hanging feeders with mixed seeds and peanuts. I never put bread out and there is no 'table' as such.

The shrubbery needs a bit of tidying up anyway so I will get out there and crash about a bit with the secateurs and fork and remove some of his hiding places - hopefully that will disturb the rat enough to make it decide to move on. I will leave it for a couple of weeks before putting the bird food out again.