The Big Rat Diary

[Hilary B]

The question about the 'ballistics' ammunition was curiosity. Our air rifles were lost in a fir 12 years ago, and at present if we get rats, shooting would not be an option anyway. The ballistics pellets worked fine for us when we had the air rifles (over some 6 years). Where a 'normal' pellet is a hollow shell of lead, these had a 'steel core' inside the round part, but still a lead 'shell'. The limits of accuracy were in the hands of the operator, and we never shot a rat at more than 10 yds range anyway (usually much less).

[FB.]

Hilary B

At close range, choice of ammo probably won't make much difference, but I'd still favour a lead pellet (possibly hollowpoint with "flower petal" slits cut in the hollow to aid expansion of the soft lead, causing enormous damage). With lead, there is also less chance of ricochets and penetrating holes in your shed/barn etc.
But as a seasoned pest controller, I can assure you that there are far better options of ammo (and possibly cheaper as well as being less damaging to your gun barrel) available than the "ballistic tips".
My choices of airgun pellets are usually Air Arms Field, H&N Field & Target Trophy or Logun Penetrator. I tend to stick with roundhead pellets for their superior accuracy and aerodynamics. Changing to different ammo can upset accuracy, due to different lead alloy hardnesses, so I stick with the same pellets in each gun.
I have a .25cal for close-medium range use. I use H&N FTT in that gun. If I found H&N FTT to be inadequate, I'd use Bisley Pest Control in .25cal.
However, the .25cal H&N FTT seem to do the job very well - even on vermin other than rats.

[frias]

what blocks do you use Frias ?
Could do with a better and more ongoing solution than a shotgun

I know that rats live in my compost heap despite my best efforts - we're very rural and in between a lot of farms so it's kind of inevitable.

Bait stations with fixed bait sound like a good bet as our hens free range and there's all sorts of other wildlife about.

My brother-in-law keeps me supplied (he buys in bulk) but he thinks you can buy Solo blocks or Contrac blocks from agricultural stores.

[Johnny Appleseed]

The incidence in the UK of Leptospirosis is 22 per year in a population of 60 million. You are more in danger of driving your car to buy the rat poison. 3000 people a year are killed by driving.

ETA: oops the article quoted says 40 per year but only 3 deaths since 1996.

Mark - you misunderstood my post - I said the nhs put the risk into perspective - so I agree the risks are low

However, I still don't want these vermin wandering unchecked around my garden. It is a risk I do want to take.

Knowing rats are running around my garden, urinating everywhere, does not give me a good feeling especially with toddlers touching garden furniture where rats may have been.

Having vermin in the garden and kids around shortens the odds considerably as I have more rats than cars criss-crossing my lawn and borders. So forget the odds - it's poison and high speed lead as far as I'm concerned.

Also with the flu like symptoms of Lepto - I wonder how many cases in this country could possibly be misdiagnosed?

[FB.]

I was talking to a friend today and when he has uncovered rats nests, he has found many cracked-open snail shells inside.
He strongly believes that the sheer number of snail shells around certain rat nests points to rats actually eating snails and therefore doing some good.

[Twinkle]

bought some Endorat blocks from the local agri place today, nailed them to pieces of wood and put them in foot long sections of soil-pipe dotted around where I've seen rats about

Will let you know, and thanks for the tips

[Johnny Appleseed]

Thanks Twinkle.

bought some Endorat blocks from the local agri place today, nailed them to pieces of wood and put them in foot long sections of soil-pipe dotted around where I've seen rats about

Will let you know, and thanks for the tips

Very good idea Twinkle - I'll be trying that one as having trapped so many squirrels in the garden I think the rats have learnt from the squirrels mistakes and become trap shy.

Also, in the catch 'em alive traps I've found one pigeon and a large thrush who have wandered in to take the peanut butter bait left for the rat! They flew off joyously once the door was opened - soaring up and away with great gusto. A bit like "Lark ascending" set to a disco beat on fast forward if set to music

I've tried to avoid poison because of my dogs but it looks like I've no choice now if I want a greater level of protection.

[Peter]

I believe taht Eradirat is supposed to be rodent specific and not dangerous to other animals.

[Twinkle]

quick update - checked the tubes today and 2 out of the 3 show signs of the bait being nibbled, and rat droppings in the tubes as well.
I'm stunned at the speed of them taking it to be honest - thought they'd be shy of it for a week or so.

[frias]

Oh well done. I might try tubes as well. I bought 2 bait boxes at Wilkinsons at 75% off which made them only £3.75 each. They are back to full price now so wish I had bought more. Rats tend to have runs along fences so tubes seem a good idea especially as nothing else is likely to go in there. Actually slugs might, as they like rat poison too!

[womble]

Also with the flu like symptoms of Lepto - I wonder how many cases in this country could possibly be misdiagnosed?

None, they do a blood test to find out.

However, they don't know if you have it before it's too late, so they start you on the course of medicine before they know the results. They did it to me last year (sorry if I already wrote this last year, can't remember).
I had very bad symptoms after working in a rat populated stream and accidentally getting some water in my mouth. I know a farm worker died here many many years ago of it.

Luckily I was clear. But if you do think you may be in danger, do not hesitate to go to the doctor and tell them exactly what has happened.

[-pat m]

Hi I was given a humane rat trap – I knew something had been eating out of the chicken pen – Luckily I opted for the humane trap and not a fatal one as the next morning I had a hedgehog init!
I keep the trap near my chicken house now and leave food down occasionally to see if it has been taken but luckily no rats – still get the occasional hedgehog!!

Regards
Pat

[poppy_lillysmum]

Hi, OH told be he saw a massive rat run between his legs and under the shed towards the chickens, about a month ago. So that day we went and bought the blue block of rat poison, put a about 6 blocks down the side, and pushed some underneath and waited. Well the next day all the blocks down the side of the shed had gone, so put more out. None have been touched for ages. So on Wednesday I was cleaning out the shed, lifted a bag of rubbish and found the big blighter dead. OH was well happy, i wasn't. so hopefully no more problems...

[frias]

Glad you have got your rat but where there's one! Suggest blue blocks are nailed to a large piece of wood then they are nibbled in situ. If they carry them off it's wasteful as one block should be enough to kill several rats. Also if the blocks are carried off you don't know if they get dropped before they get to the nest and another animal might eat them.

[Capsid]

Darn. The rats in my compost bin have really settled in now!