Although on the funny side, I did, on my neighbours behalf call in the local
ratman, to sort out the compost heaps and he left his little plastic trays
full of poison and the rats ate them, the trays that is. The poison was goe
in hours, and the trays about a day later, though no bodies turned up
anywhere !!!

Duncan

I doubt this applies to anyone, but just a word of caution: Rat poison can
contain phosphorous. This poisons the rat, but stays in the rat's body after
it has died. It's the stuff that you find on the the ends of matches, and it
has been known for rats to crawl under sheds and into reed/thatched rooves and
set them alight should they dry out rather than decompose. It appears that
once the bodies dessicate the phosphorous spontaneously combusts.

Sorry of this sounds allarmist. I don't meant to worry anyone and I doubt it
will affect many people. Very few people suffer house fires from dead rate
poisoned with phosphorous, but it has happened, so please be aware if you live
in a building based on wood construction, or have a thatched roof, or something
similar. Shooting rats might be the best option both for the rats and for you.

Dave.