There's a rat in mi garden

[mrscalex]

I think the lack of human activity has encouraged 2 rats to move into town and take up residence under next door's patio decking. In 13 years here I've never seen rodents before. The little devils keep running into my garden. I only have a small suburban garden/property and need to get rid of them for health reasons and because I dare not have my patio doors (no windows) open for fresh air in this heat.

I've ordered a couple of humane traps as I've no wish to kill them. So the question for all you wildlife people is what is a safe distance to release them in case they work out how to get back home again? 0.5 miles, 2 miles etc? And where is the kindest place to release them? I was going to take them to the country park 0.5 mile away.

 

[Bampz]

What a great excuse for a 100 mile round trip with the top down , yes officer I am releasing these back into the wild honest

 

[Bampz]

If you can see two I bet there are a few more hidding under the decking , an old neighbour of mine had rats once and they were coming into my garden to eat the bird food , called out council and the guy said bloody decking worse thing ever rats love it , so he put stuff down to get rid , a couple years later we both took up the decking and underneath you could see where they had made runs and little tunnels to get from garden to garden ,

 

[mrscalex]

What a great excuse for a 100 mile round trip with the top down , yes officer I am releasing these back into the wild honest

For those who don't mind furry things in the back of the car maybe. Personally the closer it is the better for me as I'll worry they'll get out in the car. In fairness they look quite sweet - like a big mouse. Who knows what infections they are carrying though.

 

[mrscalex]

If you can see two I bet there are a few more hidding under the decking , an old neighbour of mine had rats once and they were coming into my garden to eat the bird food , called out council and the guy said bloody decking worse thing ever rats love it , so he put stuff down to get rid , a couple years later we both took up the decking and underneath you could see where they had made runs and little tunnels to get from garden to garden ,

I can well imagine. I've bought 2 traps and will hopefully catch 2 at a time so when I release them they will have a friend in their new location.

 

[t-tony]

I would kill any rat I come across, disease carrying vermin.

Tony.

 

[mrscalex]

I would kill any rat I come across, disease carrying vermin.

Tony.

I may regret trying to take them alive but I don't like killing things even insects. But if I did I'd have the problem of what to do with the corpse.

 

[t-tony]

Do you own a spade Rob?

Tony.

 

[mrscalex]

Do you own a spade Rob?

Tony.

Yes Tony. But I only own a postage size stamp piece of grass about 10'x10' right outside my patio doors so it's not going there, especially as it might get dug up by foxes.

 

[mrscalex]

Anyhow, I asked how far away I should release them and that's what I want to do. I've already acknowledged it may prove to be the wrong thing but I'd rather try.

 

[Mazza]

This ‘rodent release to the wild system’ should send them far enough away....

 

[t-tony]

Do they come with a silencer Malc?

Tony.

 

[Althulas]

Recommendations on google suggest at least 5- 10 miles as they can easily cover 2. https://www.orlandorats.com/relocation.html Not a fan of vermin myself.sounds like professional help might be required though.

 

[mrscalex]

Recommendations on google suggest at least 5- 10 miles as they can easily cover 2. Not a fan of vermin myself.

Thank you. Yes that was the conclusion I came to in the end. I also saw it said to try and release more than 1 together but not a large group. I have 2 traps and as long as 2 wander in at the same time I'll do that. But apparently they can get stressed if you leave them in the cage too long so can't afford to wait several hours for the second. Not sure where I'll release them yet.

I hate rats too. But I can't equate that to killing them and having that on my mind.

 

[Olliebeak]

Rats are like Manchester United supporters, you are never more than six foot away from one!

 

[mrscalex]

Rats are like Manchester United supporters, you are never more than six foot away from one!

That is certainly true here. The little b*ggers sit there looking at me through the patio doors. That's rats not MU supporters.

 

[Geoff Crispin]

I would kill any rat I come across, disease carrying vermin.

Tony.

I keep getting them in my garden making a home under slabs round my pond and we see them most nights on our camera watching our hedge hogs. So today I put rat poisen down the hole that I filled in weeks ago and thought that we had got rid of them but as we have to farms is our village that have had sheep and cows they are to be expected. We see one going into hedge hog house for food most nights and running up one of our bird feeders by pond where I think they have made a home which is only about 25ft from our conservatory and dont want them coming in during the day when doors are open

 

[Geoff Crispin]

I think the lack of human activity has encouraged 2 rats to move into town and take up residence under next door's patio decking. In 13 years here I've never seen rodents before. The little devils keep running into my garden. I only have a small suburban garden/property and need to get rid of them for health reasons and because I dare not have my patio doors (no windows) open for fresh air in this heat.

I've ordered a couple of humane traps as I've no wish to kill them. So the question for all you wildlife people is what is a safe distance to release them in case they work out how to get back home again? 0.5 miles, 2 miles etc? And where is the kindest place to release them? I was going to take them to the country park 0.5 mile away.

I hope that they are not near that nice red 3ltr that I was after that you got

 

[mrscalex]

I hope that they are not near that nice red 3ltr that I was after that you got

Nope 100+ miles away as that’s my Swansea car when I’m up there with my other half. Which incidentally I haven’t seen for 3 weeks as the lockdown is keeping me in Swindon. That’s the car I’m missing btw. Joking. I miss the 2 dogs too

 

[Geoff Crispin]

Nope 100+ miles away as that’s my Swansea car when I’m up there with my other half. Which incidentally I haven’t seen for 3 weeks as the lockdown is keeping me in Swindon. That’s the car I’m missing btw. Joking. I miss the 2 dogs too

It’s the car I missed. I have SORN my two