Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Rats nest on allotment

Collapse

X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Rats nest on allotment

    Any advice on how to deal with rats living in a mound of turf / topsoil in an allotment I've taken over?

    The plot (5x7m) has been uncultivated for a year or so. I've cleared the top growth and uncovered a mound of what I think is old turf. There are lots of burrow tunnel holes and I saw a rat exit it today. The mound is about 1 metre high, full of weed roots and is rock solid. Someone has put rat poison outside a couple of the tunnels. I'm thinking if I can break up the mound I will get rid of the rats, but i'm unsure of how to proceed. I really struggled to get a fork into the mound.

    Thanks

  • #2
    My advice would be to have a bonfire with the mound at the centre. Rats have a pathological fear of fire and even if the fire itself doesn't nuke them because they have an exit or some other means of escape, the smoke/bonfire smell should persuade them to move home

    Comment


    • #3
      hi

      i agree a good fire gets them shifted and it will also burn off any nest material and waste they produce.

      Just be ready with your fork

      happy gardening


      Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum mobile app

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by GrewSomeBorage View Post
        I'm thinking if I can break up the mound I will get rid of the rats
        You're right, you will. They dislike being disturbed and they hate being wet. I would give that mound a real good soaking every day until it's softened enough to destroy it with your fork/spade

        The biggest draw for them is not compost heaps (they don't eat compost) but the bread & scraps that people throw out for the birds
        They will also steal chicken food if anyone keeps chickens
        All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

        Comment


        • #5
          Thanks for the advice. The mound is almost 2 metres long and in the corner of the plot so a bonfire all around it might be difficult. Since it rained yesterday I was able to chip away at the west side of "rat hotel". Slow going as the surface is one thick mat of couch grass and nettle roots. Uncovered a straw lined chamber - no sign of any rat guests - hopefully they will take the hint and move out.

          Comment


          • #6
            use a few smoke bombs (flea bomb/mini fogger) .... the ones you use to get rid of fleas in homes ... place them in the holes and cover so that the smoke goes through all th passages

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by GrewSomeBorage View Post
              the surface is one thick mat of couch grass and nettle roots.
              When the rats have moved out, continue soaking the ground frequently (rain isn't enough, it won't penetrate very far and may well just run off the mound onto lower ground).
              Saturate the ground and then get it covered with a mulch to kill the weeds: wet newspapers, cardboard, carpet, whatever

              After the winter, the soil will be much easier to work, moist, full of worms and almost weed-free
              All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

              Comment


              • #8
                I am absolutely phobic about rats (and to a slightly lesser degree mice). If I was in your position I would have my husband soaking the mound with the hose for hours while I sat out of the immediate area with the air rifle ready to kill any escapees.

                More than for any other reason I wouldn't be convinced they wouldn't relocate to somewhere else such as under my shed. I wouldn't go in my shed for 3 months once because we had mice.

                Comment


                • #9
                  I have a mouse, or mouses, in my shed at the moment. They ate a whole pack of corn seed the other day, and half the pack too.

                  I've given them a bit of Snickers bar for the next course (it's in the trap, hehehe)
                  All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

                  Comment

                  Latest Topics

                  Collapse

                  Recent Blog Posts

                  Collapse
                  Working...
                  X