Getting rid of rats without using poison

[twiggy2]

Just put the bait in bait boxes or plastic piping so other animals cannot get it

 

[TPO]

Trap here too

Wouldn't put down poison as too many other animals going about and/pr if anything picked up the carcasses.

We're next to a burn too but only had 2 rats all winter. They gnawed one feed bag that had been left out but apart from that no damage. Only knew we had them because a hole appeared and then a small amount of droppings.

It took a while to catch one because they are pretty switched on with traps. However caught one and the other has disappeared too.

 

[MagicMelon]

I get rats very occassionally (twice so far - they come across from my neighbour who keeps chickens etc.). I use a humane trap - its a big cage thing with a hole down one end. I just stick a couple of biscuits with peanut butter on them in one end. One night I actually caught about 6 of them, they were literally crammed in so tight that unfortunately it looked like they'd trampled one of the others dead during the night (Id check it morning and night). I think I caught the whole family that night as I let them go miles away in a wood, haven't had any back since (touch wood). I dont like killing things just because they're an irriation. Poisoning is a horrid way to go too.

 

[ester]

see when people say they don't want to use poison I presume they don't want to use bait boxes either as it can/does get spread out from them?!

 

[Megan V1]

A good cat does the trick.

 

[WandaMare]

see when people say they don't want to use poison I presume they don't want to use bait boxes either as it can/does get spread out from them?!

Yes and also if a rat eats the poison, and then another animal eats the dying rat, it will also be at risk from poisoning.

 

[Littlebear]

We had a rat problem in the muck heap a few years ago, they were so bold, just ran out in front of you!!
I am paranoid about poison but I got a dozen of the plastic poison boxes like this one, you can lock it and the bait goes in a chamber inside so totally inaccessible to other animals.
We've no rats now.

View attachment 32860

We tried these and the rats ate through the plastic! we also have 2 jack russells, one was awesome the other was useless so really I only had one terrier doing the job. In then end I got a specialist out who went through everything with a fine tooth comb and set poison, it was a last resort but had to be done unfortunately.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Thanks for everyone's replies.

Some good things to try here!

Re. cat. Yes we have a cat, two actually, but Big-Puss is older now and whilst she does pull her weight and catches the blighters, she's at least 10 to our knowledge and so we can't really expect her to do as much as she would've say even 5 years ago. The other cat mainly catches the smaller stuff like mice, she's a small cat and physically I think she'd struggle with a rat. Can't get any more cats right now as it would break the Old Girl's heart, plus she's a spiteful old thing when she wants to be and would make any other cat's life sheer hell! When she goes...... we'll get a load of kittens from Cats Protection, but can't at the moment.

We also have dogs: one is an (aged) terrier, who, again, does do his bit, but the dang things have got under the woodpile and places like that, and he just can't get them out!

I've asked a local contact if they know of anyone with some ferrets/ratting terriers to come over to my place: that should clear the air a bit to start with! Then try to keep on top with non-poisonous methods, whilst being scrupulous about feed etc left around, tho' in the chooks pen that isn't easy!

 

[AnShanDan]

I think I got them on ebay they were a lot cheaper for a big box full. I've never found any bait taken out, we use the type that comes in blocks with a hole in the middle, there is a kind of skewer thing in the box that you put the bait on. I also have never known any other animals eat a dead rat. My cats won't eat a rat that they've killed themselves, let alone one that's already dead. Worst case scenario, if a dog say ate a dead rat, the amount of poison in the rat would be too small to adversely affect the dog, unless it ate them every day. Luckily we got rid of ours, just have lots of mice, which the cats bring into the house live and let go

 

[WandaMare]

I think I got them on ebay they were a lot cheaper for a big box full. I've never found any bait taken out, we use the type that comes in blocks with a hole in the middle, there is a kind of skewer thing in the box that you put the bait on. I also have never known any other animals eat a dead rat. My cats won't eat a rat that they've killed themselves, let alone one that's already dead. Worst case scenario, if a dog say ate a dead rat, the amount of poison in the rat would be too small to adversely affect the dog, unless it ate them every day. Luckily we got rid of ours, just have lots of mice, which the cats bring into the house live and let go

That's interesting AnShanDan, it was my farmer neighbour who told me that eating poisoned rats was a danger to other animals. If its definitely not a risk then I might consider using it because its the best way to clear them if you can do it safely?

I have to be completely sure because I have other peoples animals on my premises.

 

[{97702}]

I saw a report just last week where a farmer had put poison down supposedly securely, it was carried from his land to a neighbours land where 2 dogs ate the poison. Thankfully their owner is incredibly on the ball and had them to the vets and vomiting within 1/2 an hour, but I could never take that risk personally ☹️

 

[WandaMare]

That's what worries me too. The farmer who warned me against it said he lost his 13 year old collie having put poison in bait boxes. He had always used them and she had never touched it, he thought she got poisoned eating a poisoned dead rat.

 

[AnShanDan]

That's what my vet told me. He said that he'd never known of a case of rat bait poisoning that wasn't from a direct contact with the bait, but dogs especially are known for eating bait.

I wasn't happy about using bait at all when we had a rat population explosion, that's why we got the boxes and I made sure they were secured in place as well, so they can't be tipped up or knocked (most of them are surrounded by bricks, some are wired onto wooden beams).

I have dogs and cats, not to mention kids around and I am paranoid about things like that. I also hate the idea of poisoning anything, but rats carry disease and they had to go.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

We bought some sticky pad rat traps on ebay, fold out cardboard with glue strong enough on the inside that it could probably hold up a brick. Put them in the known 'rat runs' & they have to pass over them, and therefore get stuck & what we also found is the dead one on the sticky pad would attract others who would go to eat it & get stuck too! Disgusting creatures. Pretty inhumane but works very well - when they had chewed into the guinea pig hutch & eaten one of the guineas feet & down to its skull leaving it in horrendous pain, they deserve what they get in my mind. If you do use them, make sure there in places under cover where birds dont go as they could also easily get stuck.

 

[D66]

Our dog eats the rats she kills, she will eats dead squirrels too.
I have no evidence that crows, magpies, ravens, sparrow hawks, buzzards, red kite, owls of various types, badgers or foxes will chew on dead rats, but we have all those in the vicinity and Im not prepared to risk it.

 

[Merrymoles]

I'd go with the ferret plan. However, our yard has a big trap which they can get into but not get out - like a wire cat basket size but not big enough an entrance for the cats to get in - and then the YO's husband shoots any that have been caught. If anything else does get caught, it can just be released.

 

[WandaMare]

Ok I've just googled can dogs & cats die from eating poisoned rats and there are fairly credible websites saying that secondary poisoning does happen, one even said it was quite common. So another risk to be aware of.

I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to do the glue pads even though they do sound effective..it would make good material for a horror film though lol

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

We bought some sticky pad rat traps on ebay, fold out cardboard with glue strong enough on the inside that it could probably hold up a brick. Put them in the known 'rat runs' & they have to pass over them, and therefore get stuck & what we also found is the dead one on the sticky pad would attract others who would go to eat it & get stuck too! Disgusting creatures. Pretty inhumane but works very well - when they had chewed into the guinea pig hutch & eaten one of the guineas feet & down to its skull leaving it in horrendous pain, they deserve what they get in my mind. If you do use them, make sure there in places under cover where birds dont go as they could also easily get stuck.

Eeuuuwww, that is seriously gross!!

I might consider this as a solution, this hadn't occurred to me to use them like this; though know that (because of the awful pictures on-line where you could see what had happened) that using them where birds can get stuck on them, is a big no-no.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Make your own rat trap, like in this video.

 

[silv]

We bought some sticky pad rat traps on ebay, fold out cardboard with glue strong enough on the inside that it could probably hold up a brick. Put them in the known 'rat runs' & they have to pass over them, and therefore get stuck & what we also found is the dead one on the sticky pad would attract others who would go to eat it & get stuck too! Disgusting creatures. Pretty inhumane but works very well - when they had chewed into the guinea pig hutch & eaten one of the guineas feet & down to its skull leaving it in horrendous pain, they deserve what they get in my mind. If you do use them, make sure there in places under cover where birds dont go as they could also easily get stuck.

I thought those sticky pads had been banned,due to being extremely cruel. I know rats are vile but still living creatures who should be disposed of humanely

 

[Keith_Beef]

I thought those sticky pads had been banned,due to being extremely cruel. I know rats are vile but still living creatures who should be disposed of humanely

Still, it doesn't seem to be as cruel as sewing up its areshole...

 

[cundlegreen]

A good cat does the trick.

Not so. I have a big tank of a cat who has caught all sorts. He won't tackle the adults, although has killed babies.

 

[cobgoblin]

A female feral cat would kill the lot.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We used to have an average sized tom cat who would kill biggish rats. They didn't get the chance to grow enormous as we had a couple of others who also killed their fair share - and rabbits!
We are currently missing them.

 

[Honey08]

We had a massive rat problem this year. We had a professional pest control man out, he wouldnt use poison as he said it was likely other animals would eat it (and i wouldnt want to use it either, its a horrible death). But the rats left all treats left in traps and were getting in places where the cats couldnt reach. Once all feed and rugs were in metal containers they just stole all the eggs. In the end we rehomed the hens. The rats left immediately afterwards and havent been seen since.

And glueing a live animal to the floor and letting it die slowly is disgusting. Shame on people who do that, thats inhumane and disgusting.

 

[MotherOfChickens]

some cats won't go near rats and I completely agree that some of the methods mentioned on here are inhumane. ferrets also get injured ratting.

man + terriers or another professional. once they get to a certain point of infestation you need professional help.

I've been keeping poultry for over a decade-never had an issue. I do have excellent farm cats least one of which I know will tackle a rat but also-only put out a days food for chickens and ducks, no food left out overnight, all food stored in bins and nowhere for rats to live-coops are all on stilts/plastic pallets, no piles of wood etc.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Righto, so - thanking everyone for their advice - the "Battle of the Rats" has now commenced!!

Have made enquiries re. a bloke-with-ferrets and a few ratting terriers, plus:-

Last night I put down a mixture of Sugar, Flour, and some Concrete powder I pinched from the builder! Plus some water nearby...... I'm on a FB "Girly Homesteaders" page and this is one of the solutions I thought that yep, can do this!! Got all the raw ingredients, and cracked on.

Just about to go out to the yard: don't expect to see carcasses littered everywhere, but hoping that there has been some take-up to my "recipe".

Will keep you posted.

 

[JanetGeorge]

see when people say they don't want to use poison I presume they don't want to use bait boxes either as it can/does get spread out from them?!

That's certainly my worry - bloody Labs will eat almost anything! I tried several different methods - the only one that was 'safe' was throwing them on the floor of my stocks, which the dogs cannot get into as they're fully clad to the floor. Gave that one up when rats appeared to have their own routes and didn't find them.

 

[ROMANY 1959]

Hope I don’t get shot down for this..but many years ago, Arnold bloke who was known as “ the rat man” told my grandad, mix plaster of Paris with porridge oats, and leave it in side a plastic pipe near where rats are living.. you can imagine what happens when rats drink water.. but it worked, and we did not poison our cats.