[Caralou]

I have a huge rat in the garden again. The cats stood watching him and then walked off  I realised when I opened the feed store to find a huge pile of droppings in there that were clearly Mr Ratty poops - I still cant find how he got into the store and no gaps or holes to have come in through. I think this time I may have to resort to a trap for the first time despite having 7 cats who usually do the job for me! Although, he's a very cute little rat when I saw him - am I the only who ends up feeling guilty when they trap them   

[Flowerpower136]

Yes you are.

I feel a deep sense of satisfaction, and am in a contest with my neighbour re who can trap the most.  Sadly he is winning by a long way, extra annoying because I gave him the corn to bait his traps with.

We've got them in the raised dry stone base of our shed which forms part of the boundary of chuck enclosure.  Blasted things have tunneled into the chucks poo bin aswell.  I've got traps all over the place (safe in boxes) but not having much success.

[poppies]

We have had to start using traps this year as although they are taking the poison they keep on coming , this morning one of the popholes had been gnawed -so tonight he will be getting a little snack of sultana's and chocolate spread.

I dont feel guilty about the rats but did when I found two little mice dround  in a bucket this morning

[too many girls]

i would shut the 7 cats in the feed store and yell through the door "your not coming out till you've got him" lazy so and so's

[LittleRedHen]

 :happy: It's not a good sign when the cats can't be asked to go after a rat!  We keep our feed in metal trash cans with metal lids.  It sounds as though you are going to have to go the rat trap route.  If you can't envision it, just remember ~The Plague~.   

[Caralou]

I think it was just so cold they wanted to go back in the house, and it was feeding time so they were more interested in food bowls than chasing Mr Ratty. I always find if I dont put food out a night for them they hunt so tonight they wont be getting any biscuits down and they can go hunting for me (they have plenty of food in the morning so this isnt being cruel, just gentle encouragement  ).

[themagicaltoad1]

Our bait box came with a poison called eradibait and they don't touch it. Can anyone recommend a poison that they will take as they are now avoiding the snap trap as well?

[Aunt Sally]

Thank goodness we've never had rats (hope it's not famous last words)  we do keep a trap set (in a box) for the mice that live under our shed though.

[grumpydad]

i have had mice and rats under the shed for years, as we have an old watercourse at the bottom of the garden, so have always baited under the shed for years, but have always changed the type of bait twice a year to try to stop them becoming resistant to one strain.

we are on tomcat bait blocks at the moment and they seem to be great.

keep baiting at this time of year when it gets cold as they will move under cover more readily

[tomsbirds]

Hi I have posted on another thread I beleive it was called "whats digging in" but I had a very severe rat problem when I first took over my allotment.I offered lots of advice as to how I caught loads of the little bu**ers.

[scrappydoo]

  Hi All
       I fink we is posh where we lives cos the rats is very discerning, I is been puttin out a trap we 'as just bought, in the run the last two nights, O.K. I didn't have the baits I'd seen recommended but monday nights menu consisted of "Bread with Choc pudding & custard" & it was still there tuesday morning, Tuesday's evenings menu was fresh uncooked  chi**en , & yep it was still there this morning so tonight I'm gonna try as recommended peanut butter if not it's gonna be a twelve bore sandwich

Best Regards

Steve

[Foxy]

They are rather partial to snickers bars as well. It does take a long time up to a week sometimes for a rat to trust a trap if that makes sense, rats are very clever and suspicious of anything new.
Spotted our first rat tunnel today...

[joyfull]

We have loads of rat tunnels they come in from the fields, the beck and from the bank leading to the road. Have put bait blocks under the feed bins under old heavy wooden boxes and in plastic piping. So far the little b*ggers have eaten through 20 blocks and there is still the odd rat around 
Have only found one dead one so I am assuming that they are going back to their nests to die - although I do check every morning just in case.

[Arnfields]

They are rather partial to snickers bars as well. It does take a long time up to a week sometimes for a rat to trust a trap if that makes sense, rats are very clever and suspicious of anything new.
Spotted our first rat tunnel today...

We seem to have had success with cooked ham and placing the trap in the 'doorway' to the tunnel - well 'A' tunnel - there are several!  Most satisfying finding a full trap or two in the mornings!

[death of rats]

Inject high velocity lead in the head or upper torso and the problem goes away. Then the next one , then the next one and i am sure you will never run out of rats.