Rats at allotments

chrobakx

We have a mice in our garden, because neighbour like birds and feeding them, I'm catching at least one mouse per day, they like walnuts and honey mix.

Apodemus

Fenriz said:

...just get some kitties to control it

As mentioned above any terrier would be better than a legion of cats. In the tropics it's common to rely on "roof snakes" to keep the "roof rats" at bay, so that is perhaps an even better solution

Niv

Apodemus said:

Fenriz said:

...just get some kitties to control it

As mentioned above any terrier would be better than a legion of cats. In the tropics it's common to rely on "roof snakes" to keep the "roof rats" at bay, so that is perhaps an even better solution   


What do they use to control the roof snakes? Reminds me of people suggesting getting a lion to keep cats out the garden

Farway

Niv said:

Apodemus said:

Fenriz said:

...just get some kitties to control it

As mentioned above any terrier would be better than a legion of cats. In the tropics it's common to rely on "roof snakes" to keep the "roof rats" at bay, so that is perhaps an even better solution   


What do they use to control the roof snakes? Reminds me of people suggesting getting a lion to keep cats out the garden

Ah, reminded me of the Cane toads in Australia. Cure turns out worse than the problem

MalMonroe

chrobakx said:

We have a mice in our garden, because neighbour like birds and feeding them, I'm catching at least one mouse per day, they like walnuts and honey mix.

How awful. Mice are just outside, they're not doing any harm. It's when they come inside that you have to worry. So cruel of you luring them and then 'catching them'. There's a wood behind where we live and there are lots of mice of different species and also brown rats. They do no harm whatsoever. We leave them alone, they leave us alone. We also have moles, badgers and foxes. And probably lots of other things that are never seen. It's called nature and it's not clever to kill wild animals.

MalMonroe

Farway said:

Niv said:

Apodemus said:

Fenriz said:

...just get some kitties to control it

As mentioned above any terrier would be better than a legion of cats. In the tropics it's common to rely on "roof snakes" to keep the "roof rats" at bay, so that is perhaps an even better solution   


What do they use to control the roof snakes? Reminds me of people suggesting getting a lion to keep cats out the garden

Ah, reminded me of the Cane toads in Australia. Cure turns out worse than the problem

Yes we lived in Brisbane for a while and I was terrified as cane toads are mostly in Queensland. We never saw one, although they are prolific. Not sure if they did eat up all the beetles, though. Now tree frogs, yes, we saw millions. Same with fire ants and flying bush cockroaches. There are lots of things to kill one in Oz though - cane toads are just added to the list. It's only nature though. We survived. Phew.

Apodemus

Niv said:

What do they use to control the roof snakes? Reminds me of people suggesting getting a lion to keep cats out the garden

When the rats are gone, the roof snakes leave of their own volition.

I once slept on the floor rather than disturb a family of baby mice that had hollowed out the pillow on the bed, then found a baby snake in the sink in the morning - a bit like spiders in the bath, the sides were just too slippy for it to climb out.

I find that wildlife tends to do everything it can to avoid disturbing humans, so a policy of live-and-let-live is best - I accept, though that this happy arrangement seems to have by-passed everything, both human and animal, in Australia!

annetheman

Thanks for this thread! I just got the call that I have been offered an allotment after 2 years on the list! I am 99% sure it will be an absolute state with high weeds, old garbage and tall grasses to clear, and I am certain there will be creatures living in there that I am terrified of, namely rats.
I am calling in a professional to clear the vast majority of the weeds and hiding spots for this reason - it'll cost a bit, true, but if a rat scurries out across my feet while I'm clearing the allotment, I will likely never go there again. phobias suck!