Rat poison law

[Bex2012]

Im posting this here as wasnt sure where else to put it! With the introduction of the newish laws regarding the buying of rat poison, I was wondering how other allotment societies were handling it? We can buy several 1.5kg tubs in one go, but if we wanted a larger amount (which is considerably cheaper) I understand we need to do a course first.
Have you done the course? Or do you just buy the smaller amounts or let the plot holders buy their own?

[Guest]

Is your site completely private? If it is only managed but still council owned I would get their pest control department on to it.

I would find it hard to believe that anyone could justify the course and registration fee just to get a cheaper rate on products for one site - but then again I haven't done the math.

[JMCKG]

What new laws? I buy Neosorexia Gold from ebay.

[Thelma Sanders]

The new rules only apply to professional rodenticide, I believe.

[Mr Bones]

We stopped stocking rat poison a couple of years back and let the gardeners source their own if they want it.

[Stan79]

Why have you got rats?

[4Shoes]

The new legislation is aimed at professional strength rodenticide with the goals of
1. Reducing the number of untargeted species deaths - direct poisoning (Children, Birds, pets etc) and indirect deaths by consuming the poisoned dead - (Cats, dogs, Birds of Pray etc) - by training
2. to reduce the resistance of vermin to the rodenticides by ensuring complete treatment of the sites preventing the build up or resistance in the population

I personally don't think reducing the packet size will help achieve the 2nd goal. With smaller pack sizes and weaker products, the whole site may not be treated, allowing the vermin to build up resistance.

The key is to have a management plan, to quickly identify the issue, trap the scouts, and then remove shelter, water and food to prevent colonisation. Poisons are a secondary weapon. The problem is that they can quickly invade when your back is turned

This can be a problem on the allotment with compost bins (food and shelter) and water butts, but with good bio security (covering the water and additional defence to the compost heap) and keeping a tidy house - removal of rubbish and cover - the incidents can be reduced. The issue is that everyone needs to be part of the solution. So you end up reaching for a pack to control "your local problem"

There is a free course here - https://lodifarm.skillspassport.org/index.php, and even a quick scan will give valuable information on pest control

[Snadger]

We usually get a large plastic bucket of rat poison dropped off by the Council on request. We alternate between the large pellets one year and the grain the next, so that hopefully they don't become immune or used to it.
This year has been a good year I think as even though quite a few of us keep chooks, we haven't had a rat problem and I personally haven't seen any, or the damage they do.

[Bex2012]

Thank you all, sorry its taken me a while to respond. Our allotments are surrounded on three sides by fields. When the grains/crops are cut and harvested, all the wildlife takes refuge on our plots!!! The rats are starting to get more brazen, so we do really need to do something to get them under control. We are unlikely to eradicate them due to our location, but hopefully we can at least keep the numbers down.