First Rat

[Eco-Chic]

Janeyo,

My JRs aren't at all aggressive and stalking and catching rodents doesn't make them any more so. In fact allowing them to 'work' would make them less aggressive I should think. Try it on your neighbour for size.

Stalking is part of their nature and boy, are they patient and tenacious. They'll sit and stare at an area they know has rodents in for hours and hours if you'll let them.

[moola]

Janeyo - about your cats - how about a quick call to your vets/pop in for some advice. They may advise that some types of rat poison are less harmful to cats them others. Certainly when I brought one of my dogs in, after he'd chowed down a rat - the only reason why they medicated him was that I could'nt tell them exactly what type of poison he'd be given. It was a case of bring safe rather than sorry...

[Eco-Chic]

Janeyo,

EradiBait is poisonous to rodents (including red squirrels, be warned) but isn't harmful to animals which may subsequently eat the poisoned rodent.

You can search GYO and Google for more info.

[janeyo]

Thanks, I will get some of that if we haven't caught it within a week in the trap

[janeyo]

HOORAH!!!

Patience has paid off - not seen or heard anything from the rat for ages, but left the trap still baited and hey ho this morning it's caught it!



Just got to get OH to drive down the fens and let it out as no way either of us can clonk it on the head.

[Two_Sheds]

Good news there. You're not "allowed" to release vermin though are you? Get Snadger round to despatch it pdq

[janeyo]

I know I am not allowed to release it. That's why I am gettting OH to do it miles away! He's got to go somewhere weird later so can take it with him.

[Nicos]

Tell him to watch out it doesn't try and nip him- it'll be mighty cross with him when it's released

[Snadger]

I've got a rat recipe somewhere.....................

Rat-et-to-ey? Or rat on a stick?

[Two_Sheds]

He's got to go somewhere weird later

What, Great Yarmouth?

[janeyo]

lol at 2sheds, wouldn't wish that on him lol.

Ok ratty gone, think will set trap again to see if he had any friends, the length of time it took should catch another in March lol.

OH used to have pet rats and said he thought this wild one had a really cute face. Think he is the weird one. And the 5 yr old wanted to keep it as a pet!

I must confess to having a very girlie moment in the shed earlier when I realised there was something in the trap, then feeling VERY silly when I realised it couldn't get out

[Nicos]

I have heard ( but have no idea!!) that once a trap smells of another rat- or human, you're very unlikely to trap another one in it. Maybe that's if it's dead perhaps???
My OH has caught 5 mice over Xmas ( living in the wall insulation!)- but we have the quick death traditional traps.

[jacob marley]

If you wear rubber gloves and get some stiff wire and form into a hook on one end and dangle the trap in the water but you can use it many times dipping after use each time..jacob

[janeyo]

Well I hope I can use it again it cost me 20 quid!

[jacob marley]

Well I hope I can use it again it cost me 20 quid!

I have been using the same one for about 20 years it is a mink trap but the rats don't know that.
Do not forget to have your gloves on when baiting the trap old gal marley usually brings a Mackerel head from the fish mongers they work brilliant as bait...jacob