[Growster...]

I found out this morning that rats and mice cannot stand the smell of tar!

If so, I reckon a dose of a few bits of the drive soaked in oil would be a good addition to the foundations of our shed, which seems to house a dozen or so every year!

Has anyone else heard of this?

(It may not be PC, but a nicer way to get rid than using bait, they'll just pack their bags)!

[azubah]

Sounds logical. Would you like to have a lump of smelly tar in your bedroom or dining room?
Mothballs might work as well, or those smelly air fresheners.

[8doubles]

You can bet your buns that tar has not been tested by the EU for this purpose and this makes it illegal.

Oh i miss the days of creosote and used engine oil which would make your shed last forever if used regularly.

[Growster...]

The EU doesn't know that I once used to work on the roads, and the pavements, and the drainage...

(Used to sell precast concrete concrete for motorways, years ago...)!

Same thing, only different!

I'm only making the rat runs safer to drive along!

[Growster...]

Sounds logical. Would you like to have a lump of smelly tar in your bedroom or dining room?
Mothballs might work as well, or those smelly air fresheners.

Good point as ever, Azubah!

Apparently mice hate mint and rabbits loathe foxgloves and onions too!

Isn't napthalene (mothballs), a fire hazard? My shed has everything on the planet - and more...

[mumofstig]

Stockholm tar (pine tar) was used regularly to treat the wood on Dad's chicken coup - because it repelled the rats 

[azubah]

Naphthalene will burn, but so will tar and sheds.

[Growster...]

Actually, all this comes from a great book I was given - 'The Curious Gardener's Almanac' by Niall Edworthy!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1903919908/?tag=googhydr-21&hvadid=196725423242&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5854376424298643354&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045126&hvtargid=kwd-317080371105&ref=pd_sl_7n7u40lced_e_p28

It is a lovely book of anecdotes etc, and would make a really nice Advent (?) present!

[Elaine G]

Looks interesting.
If you scroll down to 'customers also bought', I was very tempted by 50 ways to kill a slug 

Elaine

[Goosegirl]

Our shed was put on a concrete base with blocks to lift it up off the ground but we used some wire mesh with very small holes and "fenced" the whole base. So far, no rats!

[Tenhens]

Apparently , rats don't like squirrels  , so Mrs Tenhens told me , and also they are not keen on ferrets so if you know someone who keeps them , they may let you have some of their waste.  Tiger urine is also supposed to help which may be of use if you live near to a zoo ,not sure how one would collect it!! Perhaps not the place to go pussy footing about.

[chrissie B]

Well i dont know if it would work but was just reading on a site or home made remadies and it used vinagar as a cat repelent maybe it would work on your rodent , now if your trapping i allways found mars bars and peanut butter foolproof but that was on greek rats andthe dog cought one as well .
Chrissie b

[Elaine G]

We tried chocolate and Mars bars (sob!) but failed to catch any rats. We did however, catch a few (or maybe the same one) hedgehogs. Didn't matter where we put the trap, they found it.

I must say straight away that they were cage traps and the hedgehogs were unharmed. They ate the chocolate and went to sleep. they were reluctant to leave in the morning

Elaine

[Tenhens]

Peanut butter can be used , if you use a cage then be aware of the requirements if you catch a rat.

[chrissie B]

My rats were greek maybe they have a sweet tooth
chrissie b