"Sue" wrote in message
...
I've either seen one rat three times or three different ones this
afternoon.
One of my neighbours said that they've had them before. They had
come up
from the river and were nesting under a shed further down the road.

Any advice? I suppose I'd better start by clearing away the area
with
bricks, paving slabs and roof tiles stored in it as that's where I
saw it /
them twice right under the bird feeder. Do I have to stop feeding
the birds?
Not keen on that idea.

Sue (who doesn't really mind seeing them from the house but is a bit
of a
girlie when it comes to getting involved!)

Google on
BBC - Science & Nature - Wildfacts - Water vole, water rat

Inter alia, they say
......... Water vole, water rat Arvicola terrestris Water voles are the
largest British
vole and are often mistaken for a rat.......

So first make sure you are talking about rats and not water rats

Franz