Getting rid of rats/mice (merged threads)

iheartbristol

No cat.

While I appreciate the humour, my mother is very ill and absolutely terrified but I can't get out of work.

I'd contact environmental health but the council have already come out so doubt they would? I wanted her to get straight on to rentokill personally as they'd probably have been a lot nicer to her than the bloke from the council who didn't actually believe her. We're not worried about getting rid of it for free, it's more about getting rid of it properly.

artbaron

robpw2 wrote: »

you have to get a mallet and hit it every time you see it pop up .. it keeps children amused for ages .. you get points for a direct hit only though

Wouldn't you need to buy at least four extra toilets to make the game worthwhile? I can appreciate the fun involved but the cost is prohibitive IMO.

Just phone a pest control company, that's all you can do. Other than try a drain unblocker which may or may not kill it (or them).

Kiran

Isn't that the title of a UB40 song? lol

Serious answer, one of the plug in sonic reppelers may work. The success level appears to depend on which unit you buy but thats about all you can do if its coming up the toilet bend

iheartbristol

I've told her to ring pest control now, she wants to wait to see if it will come back first.

From what I can make out we shouldn't be putting rat poison down the toilet so it's going to have to be lots and lots of bleach and lots and lots of flushing.

iheartbristol

Kiran wrote: »

Serious answer, one of the plug in sonic reppelers may work. The success level appears to depend on which unit you buy but thats about all you can do if its coming up the toilet bend

Didn't know they existed by fantastic idea. They come up from the railway line because the nighbour puts out bird food and won't stope. Total nightmare. Might let her sleep easier.

iheartbristol

Right, bleach down the drain, lots of flushing and I'm going to get one of those repellers from homebase and take it over. Job done. Thanks.

fannyadams

at the risk of alarming you more a rat can fit through a gap that you can fit a normal pencil through. so putting something heavy on the lid isn't going to stop it getting out the loo.
Also, I really don't think the bleach & flushing will have done much to the rat(s) they are probably long gone by now, but if it has relieved your mum's mind that they are gone then it's worked.
Seriously, the environmental health guys will advise you as to what to do - definately DON'T put rat poison down the loo - give em a call and they can tell you what to do until they get there. although by the sounds of it they (environmental health) have already dealt with the infestation by baiting the sewer.
Sorry I couldn't be more help at this distressing time.
FA
x

Russe11

fannyadams wrote: »

at the risk of alarming you more a rat can fit through a gap that you can fit a normal pencil through.

Don't be so stupid, a mouse maybe, a rat never.

jimpix12

Rats live in large families that can number 200 it wont be just a lone rat. I had a rat problem years ago, pest control is the best way to remove as others have said! And it's free if you're in council housing i believe.

lama_pdx

My sympathies. I can't even imagine the horror your mum must be in. The fact is you can get serious and sometimes fatal diseases from a rat bite so if this were happening in my mum's house I would be going ballistic. A place with rats coming out of the toilets is not habitable.

I would get something in writing from the council about what specific steps they've taken to exterminate the rats. Then I'd also call in a pest control company to assess the situation and take any further measures as necessary.

I'd keep good notes about what's been done and get in touch with a local law centre or CAB, anyone with a good housing solicitor who can advise her on her rights/options if a rat appears again.