animal tunnels in compost

Thanks to everyone for replies...think I'll dig out/re-mix the compost (I've got some ash from a garden burner to add) and if anything jumps out I'll post a message. Don't like the idea of a rat and will hold off the kitchen waste for a while
PS not sure if this message goes to individuals or just is added to bottom of list.

I have killed 5 rats in my garden this year - just imagine if they had been allowed to live and breed !!!!!

we would probably have 100 or more around by now !!!!!!

don't like to kill any living creature but if left unchecked pests will takeover

I get fed up of cats in my garden but to be fair to them they are managing the mouse and rat problem. The rat in my bin was cleared away by the drowning the bin contents in lots of cold water, no chemicals or traps required.  I didn't dare poke it down though til I was sure it was gone   

Kitchen bin waste in compost should be ok. I make lots of lovely compost by this method. I like it best as there are no weed seeds in it and it seems to be ready much quicker than garden compostibles.  A mouse in your bin is a boon but if you do get a rat try flushing it out of its bed. They don't like a cold, wet bed 

As you say in an urban area there is a constant source of nutrients, so I respectfully suggest that a gardener killing 5 rats is merely going to create a space for other rats to move into, so you would make no difference to the population at all.

Surely the best way in an urban environment would be for humans to stop consuming so much food that they end up putting abundant amounts of cooked food scraps out for the rat population every bin day. It's not the rat's fault that we are such gluttons, they are just exploiting rich pickings which we provide.


 

Quote from: barley on December 12, 2013, 20:44

I have killed 5 rats in my garden this year - just imagine if they had been allowed to live and breed !!!!!

we would probably have 100 or more around by now !!!!!!

don't like to kill any living creature but if left unchecked pests will takeover

They would find a natural balance depending on the food sources available and predators. Best bet is not to leave potential food around for them and they'll move on. The problem is usually with people less careful and those who leave bread out for the birds on the floor

Agreed that man providing food is often the problem but natural balance is not as nice it sounds, nature is very good at boom then bust . Starvation and disease is very natural and less pleasant than some (poison excluded) human control.

I favour nippering the problem in the bud !

I had a rats nest in my compost heap once which i uncovered whilst shovelling it
into my barrow to put on the beds. There were a handful of pink babies which i had
to despatch with my shovel, not nice I know but once uncovered they were out in the open
so would probably die anyway. I hate killing any animal but sometimes there's no choice.
I found that they tend to move in if you cover the heap as i did with a tarp, it keeps out the rain
and keeps in the heat which is what we want but unfortunately makes ideal living/breeding
conditions for the rats.
         I also found that an occasional soaking with cold water discourages them along with
an occasional turning of the heap (bear in mind i have had several v large rats jump out at me using these
methods so tuck your trousers in and spade at the ready. lol.) .