On Tue, 5 Jul 2005 11:21:42 +0100, "Derek White"
wrote:

I can't quite get my head around this, because we live in a clean area and
our garden is small but well looked after. We bought some large wooden
oblong plant containers about a year ago, and we have some very pretty
flowers in them that help to decorate the garden. And today, disaster! I
have seen a rat in the garden, which, on closer inspection, appears to have
burrowed down beneath one of these containers. I now feel as though I am an
extra in the film "Night of the Living Dead"! It is quite horrendous to
think it is lurking in my garden. What is the best way to get rid of it. I
would prefer not to use a trap, but I believe there might be poisons or rat
repellents on the market. Any ideas would be gratefully received!
P.S. I have a tortoise and a dog as pets.

Remove all food sources. That includes some contents of the compost
heap, sweeping up under bird feeders, making pet food secure

Secure the compost heap so rats can not get into it.

Remove hiding places. That includes piles of timber, rock, crocks etc
- all those bits that we all keep aside because they could be useful.
Still keep them but get them into tidy stacks that don't offer any
hiding places.

Move stuff around - rats don't like disturbance! As opposed to mice
which will cheerfully investigate new stuff

Poisons are available but as you have pets make sure you get a secure
bait trap (essentially a secure closed box with a rat size entrance
and exit).

Traps are available but take the same care as with poisons

Repellants are available but don't seem to be as effective.

If you have the time, space and eye for it you can always shoot them.
(Actually for just a few pests this is quite a good approach!)

Rats roam for 50m or more so if there has been any disturbance
recently near to you (neighbours doing any building work?) you may see
rats but it may be transient.

And as someone else said - don't worry. Rats are attracted by
environment and food, if you have a garden it will be visited by rats
and in most cases you won't notice them and can ignore them. Deal with
them by all means as you don't want them near the house. My general
rule is I will deal with mice if they get into the house and rats if
they get into the garden.