a rat in the house!

Rat poison kills rats by dehydration, rats urinate constantly, so if you give them a diuretic, they die of dehydration. That is why most rat poisons are only dangerous to rodents. The reason they will chew cables is that they think they are pipes with water in them! I have seen many farm buildings with a black alkathene pipe which has been knawed just enough to let out a very fine jet of water, and with constant drinking they can resist the effects of the poison. They seem to know that if they create a large leak, someone comes along and fixes it. Rats hate: Lack of cover, remove all undergrowth, woodpiles, sweep up, dispose of any clutter and rubbish. Get rid of any food or water sources. Rats hate strong smells. Spray any areas where you see droppings or urine with Jeyes fluid solution, spray behind and under sheds and any inaccessible areas where they might be nesting. Cut of their food supply and make life unpleasant for them, and they will move on. Block holes in masonry with whole glass bottles if they are big enough, or broken glass, then point in with strong mortar and protect with metal sheet on both sides till the mortar is rock hard. cover any ventilators with small heavy gauge wire mesh, beware, if the incentive is great enough (chickens and eggs or chickenfeed) they will chew through fine wire like chicken wire! on wodden buildings repair all holes with metal sheet. keep all animal feed in steel bins. If there is nothing to eat, they won't stay long!

Many years ago now, newly married, my wife and I were eating lunch when we saw a rat walking across the patio. I had a 410 shotgun, bit of a toy really. so cartridge in and went after ratty. At point blank range blasted him - hollow in soil and rat blown up about a foot. But he carried on walking. Another cartridge, another blast, and another same result. When at the third time of asking ratty continued to walk after being blown sky high I decided it was costing too much in cartridges and fetched a spade. It didn't survive being chopped by a spade!

Another time, went out at dusk and a rat ran off and hid behind a small pile of bricks. Called cat over, showed her where ratty had disappeared and left her to it. Next morning there was ratty, laid out by the back door, brown bread, cat had earned her keep for another day.

Last New Year we had mice coming in our French house. Bought a couple of traps - little nipper types - and over about 10 days caught 7 mice, usually in pairs. Traps worked a treat. Chucked dead mice over the fence into a field - they were always gone by next day so someone was having a feed. Never had mice before, but we always had a cat before, sadly she had passed away aged 16+ years the previous winter.

Edited By ChrisH on 26/09/2017 20:31:58