Rats, how do you get rid?

[4390evans]

So there has been a pizza shop left abandoned as a working kitchen over the road from me. 3 Streets a pub, hairdressers and a few shops are riddled with rats, not just 10 or 20 we are talking 100s!

They were disturbed when baliffs went in a few weeks ago and now they are everywhere. They are in my raised bed, in my house Ive caught 4 in 4 days and just reaping havoc. I've called the council and they said all they can do is send the rat man out to put posion down but I've done that myself. Now im soo ill im worried incase i have caught anything from them.

[Floyd]

Ordinarily I would suggest an air rifle and/or a lurcher! However in your situation I'm sure the council have to act on this. Try a call to your local environmental health office, since the premises from which the problem is stemming must have A1/A2 consent to sell food/takeaways and therefore should fall under their jurisdiction aswell which means they can force the owner of the property to sort the problem.

[mothhawk]

Let the council rat man come and do his job. That's what he's paid for, and he has the training and the knowledge to know the best way to go about it. he will find where they are coming from, get in touch with the EHO, will know where and how to place poisoned baits safely, and he will return until the job is done. You haven't caused the problem, so you shouldn't have the expense of getting rid of them.

[4390evans]

I know, Ive had rats for the 5 year I have been here but never to this scale. They are running all over my house on a night, Im worried incase they get into the bairns cot. The council and enviromental dept has been out so many times nd still they just put posion down

[roitelet]

It takes time for the poison on to work. Last time I had to use it I think that it took at least a week. The only quick answer is a gun and a Jack Russel.

[kathyd]

You poor thing, that must be horrible for you. I assume you're being treated for your 'illness'? I have no idea what to suggest since it's on such a large scale and over such a wide area... But I guess you should keep having the council and environmental health ppl in until you can find a better solution. I wonder if a letter to the local paper and/or radio station might help move things along a bit faster, especially since you have a baby ... . If you could get any photos to accompany it that would undoubtedly help too. I get so angry when things like this happen - it's someone else's fault that you and your family have been put at risk, but no-one seems to care! Keep us up to date with progress won't you?

[4390evans]

Will do, I'm going to ring them again this morning. I'm going to pester them till something is done.

[weed]

If you bought rat poison over the counter it is nearly useless most rats are immune to it the stuff councils use much more stronger poison and can only be used under licence and is still the best option so do not worry about it not working it will but it will take time to cover such a large area try to get all your neighbours involved the more property's they have access too the better as this is normally there biggest problem and it sounds as if they need to cover a large area not just individual property's also ask the council if they haven't already to include the areas drain system you could also ask them for a time table of action for the coming weeks and what the results are just for peace of mind

[Jay22]

For goodness sake...and I say that because I won't use stronger language on here! I am horrified that you have to live in a situation like that in this day and age. How you sleep at night I do not know. Surely the council have an obligation to sort this out immediately when the rats are actually in your house, especially if you have a child. I think kathyd's suggestion of contacting the environmental health department is a good one. Really hope this gets sorted soon for you...will be thinking of you, not that that is of any help. Keep on and on at them...I'm sure they wouldn't like to live like this!

[alldigging]

Council EHO. They need to go in and sort the problem out.