"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...

In article ,
"cpemma" writes:
| "Nat" wrote in message
| ...
| Is this generally held to be a problem? They seem to live under it
| rather
| than in it, and I only see them when my terrier decides to stir them
| up for
| fun. Compost is about 30m from the house.
| Nat
|
| I suspect we've got one too. A small hole appeared in the soil next to
| the bin, re-appeared after I filled it in. Bit big for a mouse, too
| small for a hedgehog.
|
| Will rats eat slugs?

Yes, but the concerns about disease are more serious. It is worth
getting them dealt with - despite the difficulties placed in our
way by Whitehall.

They are typically attracted by the shelter and the worms, and not
what is put on the compost, so pretty well the only effective ways
are turning the heap over and poison.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren,
University of Cambridge Computing Service,
New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England.
Email:
Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679

I would love to know exactly how common Weill's disease is, I mean how many
cases are there a year. We have rats in our compost heap and we have Red
Kites constantly hovering overhead, since the red kites are opportunistic
carrion feeders more than hunters I suspect they'd like nothing more than to
pick up a nicely poisoned rat, which is the main reason I have stopped using
them.

Also since rats are so prevalent having poisoned off the occupants in the
past they are never more than a couple of weeks away from a new set moving
in. They are there primarily because of the huge number of worms in the
compost, which is an excellent source of food for them.

Generally speaking they'll not be much bother to you, if you can put up with
the idea of them being around.

I think regularly turning the heap, like once a week should be enough to
convince them to take up house elsewhere, then they'll move in under your
shed, and live off any old garbage you leave in there, what's the old stats
"You're never more than 10 feet from a rat in the UK".

Duncan