Long tail question

leni

We've had decking in our back garden for 4 years and this year we've noticed we have long tails (rats) under it.
Last winter we bought a trap and it was set of a few times but the snapper bent and so they never got trapped and always got away.
Yesturday we bought another different model and have caught 2 up to now. Can we put them in the bin?

We also bought some poison and that says you have to burn or bury them because they carry dieseases - is this just because they eaten the poison or are you not ment to depose of long tails in our bins?

sorry for the icky post

whatatwit

I think you should maybe try a phone call to enviromental health.

victory

I agree, would they not need to be incinerated? xx

leni

I dunno, we're put the 2 we've caught in a sealable bucket, but it's beginning to smell! Council offices closed at present so I'll call tomorrow morning!

leni

think I better call the council, caught another, thats 3 in less than 24 hours!

whatatwit

Do you have a compost bin, I have heard of them nesting in those.
How often are you checking the trap? *shudders*

leni

I checked it when I got home at 6pm and their was one, and again at 9pm and we'd got another, will cheque at 11pm before we go to bed and again in morning! Their only small ones, all the same size so we've defo got a family breeding! Their under the decking and we have a pond and a field behind us so probably not gonna be easy to get rid!

maryb

I always give the compost bin a good kick and then stand back for 10 seconds before opening it but thank God, since I started being really strict about what I put in - NO cooked food including cooked vegeytables - we haven't had a problem with rats in the compost. They are all over the place though and I've had to stop feeding the birds since the day I had guests round for Sunday lunch and there was a rat on the bird table munching away not two feet from the kitchen window and totally indifferent when I thumped on the window!!!
I know where they nest in the summer - we have a high wall at the back of the garden covered in Virginia Creeper and they run along the thick stems. I don't know where they go in winter though - but they are increasing in numbers since the council outsourced the ratcatching service and it takes weeks to get them to come round. Also Bromley disapproves of wheelie bins so everyone puts out Black bin liners and what the foxes don't get the rats do.
I had a good long chat with the ratcatcher when he came round to deal with a wasps' nest and I went out next day and bought a wheelie bin - he said that when the neighbouring borough introduced wheelie bins they solved their rat and mice problem overnight - looks like they moved house to our borough instead

eeeeeuuurrrggghhh

janeawej

Your rat trap sounds great! I have not had much luck with mine the b*****s seem to be able to take the bait and escape unharmed!! and I tied the bait down with an elastic band!!!!! what sort of trap do you have? jane

leni

It's a plastic one from B&Q £3, it's nailed to the shed floor because they nicked the mouse traps last year, with dead mice in and all lol!

The wooden one we had last year was poo and bent when it caught one and was useless after that!

mrs_baggins

until fairly recently I worked for env health. if you have the odd rat we have always recommended double bagging it and putting it in the bin! I think all councils have an obligation to treat for rats free of charge so phone them. They will come out and put poison down and should make repeat visits until the poison isnt taken any longer