Rodent rage!

[Lesley81]

I need some Advice, if anyone can offer any?

My garden is completely enclosed, brick built wall to rear and one side, and fencing to the other side.

The brick built wall to the side, is actually the back wall of my neighbours outbuildings (would've originally been the outside toilet).

The problem I have is that there appears to be rats living in my neighbours outbuilding, but rather than bothering her in her garden, they are making routes through gaps in the walls and into my garden.

They are getting under my decking and troughing around in my flower pots, they've pulled up a few bulbs too 😡

I've been trying to make life very difficult for them, blocking the gaps with narrowed hole chicken wire, rocks and other heavy items. This has reduced their numbers, but not stopped them completely. I understand they are everywhere, but at one point I'd look out my kitchen window and see 3 or 4 at once.

Ive tried a humane trap, which failed miserably, and I can't poison or trap them, as there is too much other life in my garden plus local cats, and I have a small dog. Plus, I really hate killing things, regardless of how annoying and unwelcome they are.

I can't very well stick a hose in my neighbours shed wall, and she has been uninterested in helping to remedy the issue.

Short of calling in pest control, what else could I try?

Thanks in advance!

[Scarlet]

Sorry, but I think you need to forget about humane traps and get the poison out. No one likes killing things but if you ar seeing 3 and 4 at a time you are seriously over run You can use safe boxes that can't be accessed by your dog.
Sticking a hose in your neighbours wall will just relocate more to your area.
If you feel uneasy doing it yourself get someone in to do it for you.

[veggiechicken]

Call in pest control. They'll put the poison under the decking or somewhere inaccessible to your dog. If you don't tackle it now, there'll be herds more in spring.

[Guest]

As Scarlet and VC have said you have an infestation and the only real answer is to be mean. Get a proper pest man in and he should put bait stations down possibly with traps inside.

[Nicos]

Sorry...pest control...no alternative.
Have a look at what diseases rats carry....you'll soon change your mind when your family are at risk.

[Greenleaves]

I am afraid I have to agree with the others....failure to deal with the problem will significantly increase the population and expose you to Leptospirosis.

The council will assist and if the problem is being caused by the neighbour there may serve them with a formal notice to deal with the problem.

[Lesley81]

OK, I have woken up! I'm calling a few pest experts today to see what can be done. I checked on my local council website and they won't do anything, just send you to their recommended company.

My council is honestly rubbish... It won't help that they have changed our bin collections to three weekly.... Yeah... THREE WEEKLY! ����

[Nicos]

Good on ya!

I notice you said that behind the wall is their old outdoor lav....if it's still in there and the seat is up, the rats will happily swim around the U bend from the sewers...then it's unrestricted access to your garden.....

Just a thought.....( sorry)

[4Shoes]

Have to agree with everyone else. Pest control

Sure pest control will give advice, but for the population you have indicated, there must be a good food source. It's not the occasional rodent popping its head up through the U bend.

If you are feeding birds, remove the food source and water at night and clean up any spills - make the area less inviting for them.

However rats do love decking.

[jackarmy]

I agree with the pest control route , but..........
If you would prefer to keep away from the poison route, a man a dog and a ferret can work wonders and probably do it for a couple of beers and the sport for the dog , maybe not everyones cup of tea but a lot more humane than poison.

[4Shoes]

OK, I have woken up! I'm calling a few pest experts today to see what can be done. I checked on my local council website and they won't do anything, just send you to their recommended company.

My council is honestly rubbish... It won't help that they have changed our bin collections to three weekly.... Yeah... THREE WEEKLY! ����

How big is your Garden?
If small and you are not feeding bird / wildlife , then the problem is likely to be much wider than you alone. Perhaps group together and share complaint to council and solution

[Lesley81]

Good on ya!

I notice you said that behind the wall is their old outdoor lav....if it's still in there and the seat is up, the rats will happily swim around the U bend from the sewers...then it's unrestricted access to your garden.....

Just a thought.....( sorry)

No Nicos, I do not believe it is still in there 🤔 I do not know what she keeps in there to be honest, I have never even seen her go in it. Perhaps she knows there is a problem??? 🙄

I will be clearing out my shed this week (as long as the weather plays nice) and tipping more or less everything in there. Then Fingers crossed I should have someone out early next week to advise/sort the problem.
I haven't seen any for a about a week now, and I certainly haven't seen more than one, in any one sighting for at least 6 weeks, but I know there are still there... Little buggers!

[Lesley81]

How big is your Garden?
If small and you are not feeding bird / wildlife , then the problem is likely to be much wider than you alone. Perhaps group together and share complaint to council and solution

The garden is not that big, maybe 15 metres long, 8-10 wide "ish".

[ESBkevin]

A pair of rats is capable of reproducing to 2000 rats in a single year! They grow to maturity in 3-4 months. You should destroy them at the first opportunity. It sounds harsh but thier nature is to dominate and multiply (like humans really) and they will take every advantage.