A rat..I hope its just one.

[bramble]

Today we were sitting in the conservatory having our lunch.
I have an old plum tree in a container. It doesnt produce much in the way of fruit anymore but we hang a bird feeder from it and watch thrm feed.
As we were watching a rat came snd climbed up to the feeder and tried to eat the nuts.
My hubby banged the window and he ran.
This evening he has appeared again so we took the bird feeder indoors.
He has just come back again now and gone now there is nothing to eat.
Is this normal?
We always feed the birds snd have never seen this before.
Any advice please as I am so scared of rats.

[veggiechicken]

I used to have a bird feeder outside the patio doors about 4' from the kitchen. Spilled seeds attracted rats and I would see them scuttling past the doors. That was enough - I stopped feeding the birds. Sorry birds, I'm as disappointed as you are

[greenishfing]

Airgun!!!!!

[Scarlet]

If you see one then there are likely to me more. Those snapper rat traps are pretty good...

[fishpond]

I assume this was during daylight.
Rats do not tend to come out and stay out during daylight, unless they have been kicked out the nest or there is a lot of them.
It sounds like you have a nest nearby, and as you have only seen one I am thinking it has been kicked out (weaker than the rest--old, runt of the litter etc) & is fending for itself.
It has found a source of food so it is unlikely to go very far.
Really depends on your pets and wildlife ---hedgehogs etc, as to what method you use to get rid of it.
Be mindful they are not stupid and can take a couple of weeks to trap.
If using poison, it is a slow,painful, lingering death and other animals may find the body.
They can be entertaining when you watch them climb---also incredible the size of holes they can go through.
As you are in Dublin, it could be doubly entertaining if it plays a musical instrument or sings.

[bramble]

Thsnks all for your information.

[Jungle Jane]

If you don't feed the birds for a couple of weeks & maybe try & find a hole they use to access your garden. I found a hole at the bottom of my garden years ago,before I had a cat a rat came here,I saw it having a drink on my tiny pond so I bought some poison from the garden centre,wrapped it in clingfilm & put it down the hole,I also put another parcel under the fence in a hole that looked suspicious & cover it with a bit of tile so other animals can't get it.

[Nicos]

Here's a brill reply from the RSPB site.....

"Birds are not affected by "capsaicin" - the active ingredient in chilli peppers. Research has shown that there is no evidence that birds code capsaicin as an irritant at concentrations as high as 20,000 ppm (the hottest chilli is about 2,000 ppm). Mammals, such as squirrels and rats, reject capsaicin concentrations as low as 1-10 ppm

The reason behind it is evolutionary....Most botanists and ornithologists believe that chilli peppers evolved this way so that small mammals would avoid the hot taste, while birds freely eat the pungent pepper pod thereby resulting in wider ranging dispersal of the seeds to ensure the natural growth and long term survival of the chilli pepper plant.

Chilli pepper seeds consumed by birds pass through the digestive tract unharmed, whereas those consumed by mammals do not germinate at all. The presence of capsaicin in the fruits therefore protects them from being consumed by mammals, which have molars that can kill seeds.



Studies show that mammals, including squirrels, have receptors on the tongue and in the mouth that react to chilli peppers by sending heat signals to the brain. Although there's no actual damage, the sensation makes it seem as though the mouth is on fire (much the same as ourselves). Birds lack the receptors that make chewing chilli peppers such an eye-watering experience for mammals -- they can eat peppers all day long and never feel a thing! "

from this link about squirrels!....
https://www.rspb.org.uk/community/wi...249.aspx#82249

[Nicos]

So...add chilli to the birdfeed!

[fishpond]

Here's a brill reply from the RSPB site.....

"Birds are not affected by "capsaicin" - the active ingredient in chilli peppers. Research has shown that there is no evidence that birds code capsaicin as an irritant at concentrations as high as 20,000 ppm (the hottest chilli is about 2,000 ppm). Mammals, such as squirrels and rats, reject capsaicin concentrations as low as 1-10 ppm

The reason behind it is evolutionary....Most botanists and ornithologists believe that chilli peppers evolved this way so that small mammals would avoid the hot taste, while birds freely eat the pungent pepper pod thereby resulting in wider ranging dispersal of the seeds to ensure the natural growth and long term survival of the chilli pepper plant.

Chilli pepper seeds consumed by birds pass through the digestive tract unharmed, whereas those consumed by mammals do not germinate at all. The presence of capsaicin in the fruits therefore protects them from being consumed by mammals, which have molars that can kill seeds.



Studies show that mammals, including squirrels, have receptors on the tongue and in the mouth that react to chilli peppers by sending heat signals to the brain. Although there's no actual damage, the sensation makes it seem as though the mouth is on fire (much the same as ourselves). Birds lack the receptors that make chewing chilli peppers such an eye-watering experience for mammals -- they can eat peppers all day long and never feel a thing! "

from this link about squirrels!....
https://www.rspb.org.uk/community/wi...249.aspx#82249

Nicos
You are a star.
Thank you

[simonb6714]

Rats are social animals and live in packs so there are most likely at least several more. Usually at least one dominant male with several femals. Although you may get lucky and it could be a lone male looking to start his own.