Garage - Rats

spurdog1

thanks to all the contributions. For a starter i'll be removing all from the garage at the weekend (bit warmer). But a secure metal box might help.

chilswelluk

Emmia said:

Releasing vermin (rats) is illegal, and fundamentally makes them someone else's problem.

That general statement is incorrect.  It is only illegal to release the black rat, (not very common across the country). Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act prohibits the release into the wild any animal which is of a kind that is not ordinarily resident in and is not a regular visitor to GB in a wild state or is included in Part 1 of Schedule 9. Currently, of the rat species it is only the black rat that is subject to this.

chilswelluk

There is absolutely no need to kill the rat.  I have had rat problems and this is what I did to cure the problem for good:

1) I purchased a night vision motion detection camera and set it up in the location.  this is what I got:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C5HV2YWF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

This showed me how they were getting in.  If they are coming in through the drains get  drain blocker.  Otherwise seal holes etc with copper wire or concrete.

2) Once you are sure they are no longer getting in put traps down.  I used humane traps.  Make sure they are large traps, as I have found some of the smaller traps they are not confident to go into.  The traps with two open doors work really well as it gives them a sense of security.  Some of the infrared ones are also good (as they don't have to physically trigger a mechanism.  This is an excellent trap but expensive:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KPH9V84/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A23YXUO0RG3FFE&psc=1

This is much cheaper and also a very good trap:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354881671929

3) Don't bother trying to catch a rat with one trap.  Put a few out (In the size of a typical garage I put about 8 traps out.  It really maximizes the chances.

4) You have to get the bait right.  I read that peanut butter / chocolate is good, but I had no luck with that.  I found licorice all sorts the best with a sprinkle of oats around the trap to entice  them in. 

5) Peppermint oil I had no luck with.

6)  I then released the rats in question with no harm done. 

But the most important thing is find out how they are getting in.  Otherwise you will have a continuing problem.  You don't have to live with rats.  Stop them getting in.

chilswelluk

prettyandfluffy said:

Humane traps are a waste of time and money because you don't have just one rat, you have a nest somewhere.

Your quote about humane traps being a waste of time is incorrect.  I cured my rat problem with humane traps.  You can get multi catch humane traps and you can buy multiple traps.  Even if you are using kill traps you still need more than one trap.  Watch professional pest control videos and if using traps they put down massive amounts of traps.

In addition, its all a waste of time, unless you find out how they are getting in. Thats why I setup night vision cameras.  You can also get tracking powder.  I have now been rat free for 2 years.  All done humanely.

Emmia

chilswelluk said:

prettyandfluffy said:

Humane traps are a waste of time and money because you don't have just one rat, you have a nest somewhere.

Your quote about humane traps being a waste of time is incorrect.  I cured my rat problem with humane traps.  You can get multi catch humane traps and you can buy multiple traps.  Even if you are using kill traps you still need more than one trap.  Watch professional pest control videos and if using traps they put down massive amounts of traps.

In addition, its all a waste of time, unless you find out how they are getting in. Thats why I setup night vision cameras.  You can also get tracking powder.  I have now been rat free for 2 years.  All done humanely.

You moved the rats to be someone else's problem, you may feel better about this, but personally I'm in favour of deterrence via the removal of all things that might be food, blocking holes and then a snappity snap trap, poison or whatever.

chilswelluk

Emmia said:

You moved the rats to be someone else's problem, you may feel better about this, but personally I'm in favour of deterrence via the removal of all things that might be food, blocking holes and then a snappity snap trap, poison or whatever.

No I let them out on my property after I had made sure I had blocked all their entry points.  Thats why a night vision motion detection camera was useful, as it showed me where they were getting in.  You can also get tracking powder.  If they are getting in though the drains, an endoscope camera is useful.  I cured my rat problem with zero need to kill them.

Again, if you don't stop them getting in, its all a waste of time as the problem will go away and come back again.  Stop them getting in is fundamental.

spurdog1

chilswelluk said:

There is absolutely no need to kill the rat.  I have had rat problems and this is what I did to cure the problem for good:

1) I purchased a night vision motion detection camera and set it up in the location.  this is what I got:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C5HV2YWF?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

This showed me how they were getting in.  If they are coming in through the drains get  drain blocker.  Otherwise seal holes etc with copper wire or concrete.

2) Once you are sure they are no longer getting in put traps down.  I used humane traps.  Make sure they are large traps, as I have found some of the smaller traps they are not confident to go into.  The traps with two open doors work really well as it gives them a sense of security.  Some of the infrared ones are also good (as they don't have to physically trigger a mechanism.  This is an excellent trap but expensive:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KPH9V84/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A23YXUO0RG3FFE&psc=1

This is much cheaper and also a very good trap:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354881671929

3) Don't bother trying to catch a rat with one trap.  Put a few out (In the size of a typical garage I put about 8 traps out.  It really maximizes the chances.

4) You have to get the bait right.  I read that peanut butter / chocolate is good, but I had no luck with that.  I found licorice all sorts the best with a sprinkle of oats around the trap to entice  them in. 

5) Peppermint oil I had no luck with.

6)  I then released the rats in question with no harm done. 

But the most important thing is find out how they are getting in.  Otherwise you will have a continuing problem.  You don't have to live with rats.  Stop them getting in.

what a great report, thank you for taking so much time.

Emmia

chilswelluk said:

Emmia said:

You moved the rats to be someone else's problem, you may feel better about this, but personally I'm in favour of deterrence via the removal of all things that might be food, blocking holes and then a snappity snap trap, poison or whatever.

No I let them out on my property after I had made sure I had blocked all their entry points.  Thats why a night vision motion detection camera was useful, as it showed me where they were getting in.  You can also get tracking powder.  If they are getting in though the drains, an endoscope camera is useful.  I cured my rat problem with zero need to kill them.

Again, if you don't stop them getting in, its all a waste of time as the problem will go away and come back again.  Stop them getting in is fundamental.

Not all of us live in properties with acres of land that freed rats can merrily play in. I live in a flat which (unlike most) has a small private garden, if I released rats into my garden, they'd be back inside as soon as I opened my backdoor - night vision goggles to identify the entry point are pointless, if the entry point is your front or rear door... 

Flats with no gardens can still get rats, what do you propose is done with any humanely trapped - release them into the local park? Or are you offering to pop round and re-home them all?

Rosa_Damascena

This thread is getting a little tense. Can we see the silver lining? A rat in the garage is infinitely preferable to one in mi kitchen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVFuZXT3qsc&t=150s&ab_channel=UB40.

chilswelluk

Emmia said:

night vision goggles to identify the entry point are pointless, if the entry point is your front or rear door... 

You just need a correctly framed / fitted doors.  I don't have any gaps around my doors that a rat could get through. If I did I would be rectifying the problem.