Rats at allotments

Lifeofdreams

Hi all

i would love to have an allotment but terrified of rats and I know allotments are a common place for them to be found.  I wondered how do you manage this/deter the rats.  The fear is real and is preventing me doing something I really want to do - grow veg on an allotment.

would really appreciate any tips/feedback.

Thank you. 

elsien

At the risk of further freaking you out, wherever people are there are rats. That includes around shops, houses, gardens and green spaces. I have seen a rat come up from my drain at one point, and I don’t live in a broken down hovel!

Its about not having food sources where they can access it and making anywhere they might nest too uncomfortable so they move on.
At one point I had rats in my compost bin so I now don’t put any food in there (it was only ever vegetable peelings anyway) and I turn it regularly. They’ve not been back.
Plan B - get a terrier dog and send that in first. Not a fan of Jack Russells but they can be very good ratters. 

Davesnave

Lifeofdreams said:

Hi all

i would love to have an allotment but terrified of rats and I know allotments are a common place for them to be found.

How do you know this and what other places do you avoid, because the  locations where rats live are legion?

When I lived in the city and tended an allotment I never saw a rat, but they were easily spotted around the back of the supermarket close to the river.

Here, in the wild countryside, where I've lived for over 12 years, I've still to see a live rat. I've spotted a couple of dead ones and I realise they exist here, but despite the chickens we keep and others nearby also owning horses and other animals, they aren't a problem. I can only conclude we're all responsible people who keep food supplies rat proof, and as Elsien suggests, the number of dogs helps a lot too. Take a suitable dog with you and you'll never see a rat on any allotment you have!

twopenny

I wonder why you feel they are prevalent on allotments?
Have you been told this, is it specifically the allotments near you that have a reputation or is it your fear of them that makes you feel that's where they would be?
If they are around it will be late night when we are all at home. In 70yrs I've only seen two. One among beach rocks at a harbour and another under a bird feeder. Ie where bits of food can be found. So an allotment is the least likely.
Could you perhaps help someone on theirs to have protection and see for yourself. 
A little thought makes me wonder if someone has told you this because allotments are usually in high demand and it's a way to get themselves or a friend closer to the top of the list.

nannygladys

When I took over my allotment I found a dead rat in the shed but it hadn't been properly worked for a couple years. We had a site inspection at end of August this year and some plot holders complained of rats so the council have now put rat boxes down. Since that first one in the shed I haven't seen anymore and I've been there over five years, but they're the only animal to take your crops, squirrels help themselves to my sweetcorn and pigeons like peas and beans and the birds love the soft fruit whilst snails and slugs can decimate just about anything, but I work on the premise that they have to live and as long as there is enough for me and my family I'm ok with it.
Nannyg

Thrugelmir

Remember once clearing out a barn. As the barn became progressively emptier. All we could hear was scratching. The owner gave us each a shovel and said just hit them when they make a run for it. As we started to move the final batch of hay bales. Rats suddenly went in in every direction. Must have been at least 50 , a hundred even. Too many to count.  Until then never realised rats could climb vertical breeze block walls. 

Recently saw rats in our local park. Too much bread had been left for the ducks. A great food source. 

Never far away although you cannot see them. 

Carrot007

Yeah as people say rats are everywhere. Not very fond of people and will run away (except the pet ones that are very nice and affectionate, maybe try one to help?), so not much of a problem.

One of my cats caught one once. No not a massive one! But he was a small cat and it was a good size for him to do that. Was supriased. Was right there watching it too!

LippyDoodle

Lifeofdreams said:

Hi all

i would love to have an allotment but terrified of rats and I know allotments are a common place for them to be found.  I wondered how do you manage this/deter the rats.  The fear is real and is preventing me doing something I really want to do - grow veg on an allotment.

would really appreciate any tips/feedback.

Thank you. 

I feel for you I really do. I'm terrified of spiders  and just like I'm repeatedly told "they are are more scared of you" which I doubt  the same thing goes for rats but I know that won't help you. 

You might never see one during the day especially if the allotments are busy. If you do, just stamp your foot, bang something or take a step towards them and they will run off. They are not going to run to you that's for sure. Some can get brave but even then they won't get close to you. I get them in my garden sometimes.

If you know of someone who has a pet rat, ask if they can help you by letting you be in the same room as the rat and gradually get closer to the cage. My mum was terrified of them until I had a one. To start with she couldn't be in the same room with it but after a while she would go to the cage and talk to her. She ended up with the rat on her shoulder! Good luck! 

Lifeofdreams

Dear all

Thank you so much for your replies.  I need to get over my fear or give up the idea of having g an allotment which would be a shame.  I have seen rats on a friend’s allotment which has added fuel to my fear!  

Have a good weekend all.

greenbee

Cats won't always take on a rat - at least not fully grown ones. What @Lifeofdreams needs is a terrier or two

I completely understand that a phobia can stop you doing something you want to - I used to deal with rats for my aunt (I have no idea how she managed life as a farmer with it) and she dealt with spiders for me However, as people have said, if the allotments are well-kept there will be no more rats around than there are anywhere else. And making a lot of noise/banging will warn them that you're about and they'll tend to move off. Keep things tidy, but also move them around, store anything edible in metal or glass containers, and make sure there are no nice places for them to nest and you shouldn't have any encounters. 

thriftwizard

There have been rats on our allotments from time to time; we border on open countryside & there's not much we can do to stop incursions. But I've never seen one, only the damage they did to my sweetcorn a couple of years ago. Dogs are not allowed on site. But there are foxes, who will go after rats, and best of all, there's a little weasel; they will certainly take rats, and I've not seen any evidence at all of rats since he or she turned up. I'm more concerned about rabbits; they may look cute but they'll eat almost any newly-sprouted plants they can get at.