Thundering
Well-Known Member
Is there a way to get rats to move on without killing them? I dont want to put poison down and dont want to trap them. Are there any repellents that work?
Rats! How to get rid of them humanly.
- Thread starter Thundering
- Start date
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
I find that the sonic repellers do work if they are already gone and you don't want more to come.
Sadly, I either poison, trap or have terriers kill them.
Alternatively, get a cat.
Sadly, I either poison, trap or have terriers kill them.
Alternatively, get a cat.
HappyHollyDays
Slave to a house cat, 4 yard cats and 2 ponies
No. I have been overrun with them the last few months. They got into my attic and it has been horrendous. The only way to rid them is using poison or a rat dog person/professional pest control. Just remind yourself for every 2 breeding rats you have in their lifetime they will produce 2000 offspring. It’s taken me 3 months to break the cycle of breeding rats, juveniles and adults and I sincerely hope I don’t have another infestation for a few years.
Abacus
Well-Known Member
Cats. We definitely have fewer rats since having a yard cat, not because of catching them all but I think he deters them.
HappyHollyDays
Slave to a house cat, 4 yard cats and 2 ponies
We have 10 cats, didn’t make a dent in the infestation.
spotty_pony
...
We have the humane traps. They have been great at catching them - as long as you have a way to dispose of them once you’ve caught them! In our case we set them free on the lawn and our Dobermann finishes the job. She loves it and patrols round to check the traps! ?
Griffin
Well-Known Member
I am not sure if the do versions that kill multiple rats but I have found an electric trap really useful in my house for reducing the population. It shocks them, which is at least quick.
AmyMay
Situation normal
It very much depends on why they are there in the first place on how effective humane control can be.
Pmf27
Well-Known Member
If repellents don't work and you do find that killing them is the way to go, an airgun is the most humane method I have seen.
Provided you have someone who is happy to shoot them, it's a quick death. I despise poison as it's such a cruel way to kill an animal, and then predators of that animal also suffer. Glad to read you are not planning on using it!
Provided you have someone who is happy to shoot them, it's a quick death. I despise poison as it's such a cruel way to kill an animal, and then predators of that animal also suffer. Glad to read you are not planning on using it!
HappyHollyDays
Slave to a house cat, 4 yard cats and 2 ponies
If you had them running around above your head every night you’d soon change your mind about poison. Having tried humane traps, natural repellents and electronic traps nothing else has worked. They are vermin and apart from the urine they leak everywhere which stinks they chew everything in sight including the electrics. I agree terriers and a .22 rifle are the best methods but unfortunately bullets make a bit of a mess of plasterboard.
ThreeFurs
Well-Known Member
Here in the land of terrifyingly poisonous things that can kill you in a millisecond, er, snakes keep them down. The Eastern Brown likes a bit of a chew on them. But that's the problem. The rats [and mice] attract the snakes. And then the snakes become a danger to dogs, horses, and people.
I've used the 'Big Cheese' electric shock devices for mice, and got 10 in the first week, and their obvs safe around pets. But for a bigger problem, what the other posters have said, terriers and guns.
I've used the 'Big Cheese' electric shock devices for mice, and got 10 in the first week, and their obvs safe around pets. But for a bigger problem, what the other posters have said, terriers and guns.
SEL
Well-Known Member
Electric shock traps but move location regularly because they're smart.
If you're on a stable yard then being meticulous about food not being around. When I bought my place they were everywhere. My only livery lost her horse last march and all my feed is stored in those blue bins which are rat proof. I think I've seen one this winter and even an open bag of cat biscuits hasn't been disturbed. Her food was in black plastic bins and the rats would chew through them.
If you're on a stable yard then being meticulous about food not being around. When I bought my place they were everywhere. My only livery lost her horse last march and all my feed is stored in those blue bins which are rat proof. I think I've seen one this winter and even an open bag of cat biscuits hasn't been disturbed. Her food was in black plastic bins and the rats would chew through them.
poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
We had some rats about recently. I know they are everywhere but we have never had enough to see. OH and all are pretty meticulous on pest control. I don’t keep any feed around but the grain stores are full and easily accessible to rats (I imagine)
It was a case of extra bait points. I’m not convinced shop bought bait works much either tbh. Several friends have battled rats and get no where, my OH can go and put proper stuff down and sort it fairly quickly.
Cats I think (at least mine!) is a bit over whelmed by a rat! He did once being a baby home but I don’t think he’d manage a big one.
Imo if you have lots you need to hit them hard not humanely ?
It was a case of extra bait points. I’m not convinced shop bought bait works much either tbh. Several friends have battled rats and get no where, my OH can go and put proper stuff down and sort it fairly quickly.
Cats I think (at least mine!) is a bit over whelmed by a rat! He did once being a baby home but I don’t think he’d manage a big one.
Imo if you have lots you need to hit them hard not humanely ?
mini_b
Well-Known Member
No experience of rats in house (thankfully)
But we have air gun and terrier
we’ve stopped leaving our feeder out and raised the coop and we definitely don’t see as many
But we have air gun and terrier
we’ve stopped leaving our feeder out and raised the coop and we definitely don’t see as many
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
I'm really surprised about that. I've always had cats, been very lackadaisical about spilling horse food, and the only rats I saw in 31 years were 2 dead ones.
My friend had rats chewing through her dustbins after she lost the last of her three feral cats, so she got 2 more ferals from a rescue, no more issues.
magicmoments
Well-Known Member
I was in a yard that had loads of rats, and the owner had multiple cats. Not sure whether they were all female cats, so smaller generally than males. Found 2 dead rats in my mares straw bed. They'd eaten through wooden floor of feed shed.
southerncomfort
Well-Known Member
In my view, the instant kill snap traps are about as humane as you're going to get.
I believe it is illegal to trap them and release them elsewhere.
I believe it is illegal to trap them and release them elsewhere.
scats
Well-Known Member
We got a cat in June 2021 and our rat population vanished within weeks. She is incredible, I’ve seen her take out three separate rats in the space of one muck out! Trouble is, she leaves the innards for me as a present.
Before that, YO had to poison them and it was horrid.
Before that, YO had to poison them and it was horrid.
Ratface
Well-Known Member
In my experience, cats are the most effective deterrent.
Many years ago, I had rats in the engine room of my current barge.
The introduction of a Bumese cat soon encouraged their permanent exit.
My current cat, Kevin, has ensured that we remain a rat-free zone.
Many years ago, I had rats in the engine room of my current barge.
The introduction of a Bumese cat soon encouraged their permanent exit.
My current cat, Kevin, has ensured that we remain a rat-free zone.
miscat
Active Member
Remove the food source.
poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
The replies since mine confirm to me that Arlo cat is just useless then ?
HappyHollyDays
Slave to a house cat, 4 yard cats and 2 ponies
While we have 10 only 4 are hunters and they are very effective especially the Maine Coon who catches squirrels, moles, pigeons and occasionally brings home the odd sausage from the neighbours BBQ but last autumn the rat population just exploded and even they couldn’t keep up. Our local pest control terrier men are working round the clock this year.
Errin Paddywack
Well-Known Member
They are but I only catch young rats in mine. Older ones are too savvy to get caught and can trigger them without getting caught.
Sprogladite01
Well-Known Member
We used a combination of snap traps (which were useless), spraying peppermint water everywhere and locking all the food up tight - they moved on. Luckily we weren't *totally* infested but they were there long enough to ruin an entire batch of hay we cut which is now sitting uselessly taking up space coz shockingly enough, ponies won't eat rat pee-soaked hay.
Apparently using sugar beet is quite effective - I didn't get a chance to test it but wouldn't hesitate now - they apparently eat it and it kills them. Perhaps not the most humane but frankly I was right on the edge of calling a rat man in to put poison down before they seemed to vanish! And I have the rat man's number now for if/when they come back which I will do the second I see any sign of them.
Apparently using sugar beet is quite effective - I didn't get a chance to test it but wouldn't hesitate now - they apparently eat it and it kills them. Perhaps not the most humane but frankly I was right on the edge of calling a rat man in to put poison down before they seemed to vanish! And I have the rat man's number now for if/when they come back which I will do the second I see any sign of them.
Thundering
Well-Known Member
They are not in house, they are in stables. I have only seen them on my camera. I have seen 2. I sweep up daily and food is in a feed bin. We have dogs around so I really do not want to put anything nasty down. I hate killing anything so would just like to get them to leave!
Birker2020
Well-Known Member
We've put down four traps for mice in Mums garage and two were snapped and killed, a mother and baby judging by the sizes of them. The two were emptied and reset. But then we went the following week and two were sprung with the cream cheese eaten but no bodies. We wondered if they were clever enough to avoid the trap but we can't think how though.
OP they do make humane traps for mice but not sure about rats. I wanted humane traps to set them free a few miles away but we could only visit Mum once or twice a week which wouldn't have made them very humane.
Hormonal Filly
Well-Known Member
Now they’ve found a home I doubt they’ll willingly leave. I don’t like killing things for no reason, but they can multiply fast and carry diseases. I’d get some snap traps or someone with an air rifle to get it done as humanely and quick as possible.
It’s a bit different to mice.
Fransurrey
Well-Known Member
Depends on how big your stables is, but my most effective deterrent is disturbing likely areas, constantly. The only place on the yard I haven't seen rats is my field shelter, but I sweep out the storage regularly and move things around. I also discovered that rabbits won't tolerate them and I have rabbits under my shelter! At home we get them as it's a smallholding and we're near a river, ditch AND ponds. We did have a bit of a problem a year or so ago and FIL got in a 'professional' who just put poison down. I did have snap traps, but I caught more small birds than rats, so stopped using them as it was heartbreaking. Since then I've made sure I only store one straw bale at a time at home and move everything around the shed every time I muck out the geese and chickens. Not much, just enough to disturb the area. I haven't seen one at all this winter (I know some must be there, but generally when you see them it's a massive infestation).
Velcrobum
Well-Known Member
Birker2020
Well-Known Member
I can't believe that there is still a market for glue traps, I keep seeing them in places like Wilco and our local £pound shops. Makes me queasy. How can people be so unbelievably cruel. I know rats are nasty creatures that spread disease but nothing deserves a long and painful draw out death terrified stuck on a glue trap. Nothing.