On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 08:43:46 -0700 (PDT), aquachimp
wrote:

On Oct 2, 10:22*pm, lloyd wrote:
Anything we can do to encourage the hedgehogs, but not the rats from
visiting the garden? I have both

We have cats; they don't seem to mind the hedgehogs. In fact, one
evening one of the hedgehogs came in 'for tea' and we ended up with
one big cat and one little hedgehog eating from the same tray.
Shortly thereafter, whilst the bigger cat was sitting to my right
looking for scraps as I ate, the hedgehog was to the left . It was the
strangest thing. Not seen him since though.

I only realised I had hedgehogs when what I thought was a rat did not
scarper when the security light came on. On closer inspection it was a
hog

Now im on the subject for quite some time i have noticed what looked
like long streaks of slimy black poo that had gone hard. Could this be
a hedgehog I wonder? Baffled me for some time that one.

We don't have rats. But,
if we did and the cats were doing nowt about it, then I guess i would
be tempted to try to see if the rats are partial to a bit of hot
stuff;

That did not work, what was it?

On Oct 4, 5:55*pm, lloyd wrote:
On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 08:43:46 -0700 (PDT), aquachimp

wrote:
On Oct 2, 10:22*pm, lloyd wrote:
Anything we can do to encourage the hedgehogs, but not the rats from
visiting the garden? I have both

We have cats; they don't seem to mind the hedgehogs. In fact, one
evening one of the hedgehogs came in 'for tea' and we ended up with
one big cat and one little hedgehog eating from the same tray.
Shortly thereafter, whilst the bigger cat was sitting to my right
looking for scraps as I ate, the hedgehog was to the left . It was the
strangest thing. Not seen him since though.

I only realised I had *hedgehogs when what I thought was a rat did not
scarper when the security light came on. On closer inspection it was a
hog

Now im on the subject for quite some time i have noticed what looked
like long streaks of slimy black poo that had gone hard. Could this be
a hedgehog I wonder?

Amost certainly.

Baffled me for some time that one.

We don't have rats. But,
if we did and the cats were doing nowt about it, then I guess i would
be tempted to try to see if the rats are partial to a bit of hot
stuff;

That did not work, what was it?

"Help, quick – I’ve unscrewed the top on a ticking bomb" by
Jeremy Clarkson in today's Times newspaper (e-edition)

The item he mentions is called "limited-edition Insanity private
reserve"

On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 09:43:29 -0700 (PDT), aquachimp
wrote:

On Oct 4, 5:55*pm, lloyd wrote:
On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 08:43:46 -0700 (PDT), aquachimp

wrote:
On Oct 2, 10:22*pm, lloyd wrote:
Anything we can do to encourage the hedgehogs, but not the rats from
visiting the garden? I have both

We have cats; they don't seem to mind the hedgehogs. In fact, one
evening one of the hedgehogs came in 'for tea' and we ended up with
one big cat and one little hedgehog eating from the same tray.
Shortly thereafter, whilst the bigger cat was sitting to my right
looking for scraps as I ate, the hedgehog was to the left . It was the
strangest thing. Not seen him since though.

I only realised I had *hedgehogs when what I thought was a rat did not
scarper when the security light came on. On closer inspection it was a
hog

Now im on the subject for quite some time i have noticed what looked
like long streaks of slimy black poo that had gone hard. Could this be
a hedgehog I wonder?

Amost certainly.

Baffled me for some time that one.

We don't have rats. But,
if we did and the cats were doing nowt about it, then I guess i would
be tempted to try to see if the rats are partial to a bit of hot
stuff;

That did not work, what was it?

"Help, quick – I’ve unscrewed the top on a ticking bomb" by
Jeremy Clarkson in today's Times newspaper (e-edition)

The item he mentions is called "limited-edition Insanity private
reserve"

LOL great article. I have heard that before about chilli not affecting
birds, but what about hogs I wonder?

On Oct 4, 6:55*pm, lloyd wrote:
On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 09:43:29 -0700 (PDT), aquachimp



wrote:
On Oct 4, 5:55*pm, lloyd wrote:
On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 08:43:46 -0700 (PDT), aquachimp

wrote:
On Oct 2, 10:22*pm, lloyd wrote:
Anything we can do to encourage the hedgehogs, but not the rats from
visiting the garden? I have both

We have cats; they don't seem to mind the hedgehogs. In fact, one
evening one of the hedgehogs came in 'for tea' and we ended up with
one big cat and one little hedgehog eating from the same tray.
Shortly thereafter, whilst the bigger cat was sitting to my right
looking for scraps as I ate, the hedgehog was to the left . It was the
strangest thing. Not seen him since though.

I only realised I had *hedgehogs when what I thought was a rat did not
scarper when the security light came on. On closer inspection it was a
hog

Now im on the subject for quite some time i have noticed what looked
like long streaks of slimy black poo that had gone hard. Could this be
a hedgehog I wonder?

Amost certainly.

Baffled me for some time that one.

We don't have rats. But,
if we did and the cats were doing nowt about it, then I guess i would
be tempted to try to see if the rats are partial to a bit of hot
stuff;

That did not work, what was it?

"Help, quick – I’ve unscrewed the top on a ticking bomb" by
Jeremy Clarkson in today's Times newspaper (e-edition)

The item he mentions is called "limited-edition Insanity private
reserve"

LOL great article. I have heard that before about chilli not affecting
birds, but what about hogs I wonder?

I wouldn't like to try, but perhaps you can give it out in such a way
that it is the rats tht will get it not the hog; BTW, someone here
once mentioned something to the effect that the hogs can climb. i
don't know if it's true, nor if so, how high compared to a rat.

In article ,
lloyd wrote:
On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 09:43:29 -0700 (PDT), aquachimp
wrote:

"Help, quick – I’ve unscrewed the top on a ticking bomb" by
Jeremy Clarkson in today's Times newspaper (e-edition)

The item he mentions is called "limited-edition Insanity private
reserve"

LOL great article. I have heard that before about chilli not affecting
birds, but what about hogs I wonder?

Road or hedge?


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"lloyd" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 09:43:29 -0700 (PDT), aquachimp
wrote:

On Oct 4, 5:55 pm, lloyd wrote:
On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 08:43:46 -0700 (PDT), aquachimp

wrote:
On Oct 2, 10:22 pm, lloyd wrote:
Anything we can do to encourage the hedgehogs, but not the rats from
visiting the garden? I have both

We have cats; they don't seem to mind the hedgehogs. In fact, one
evening one of the hedgehogs came in 'for tea' and we ended up with
one big cat and one little hedgehog eating from the same tray.
Shortly thereafter, whilst the bigger cat was sitting to my right
looking for scraps as I ate, the hedgehog was to the left . It was the
strangest thing. Not seen him since though.

I only realised I had hedgehogs when what I thought was a rat did not
scarper when the security light came on. On closer inspection it was a
hog

Now im on the subject for quite some time i have noticed what looked
like long streaks of slimy black poo that had gone hard. Could this be
a hedgehog I wonder?

Amost certainly.

Baffled me for some time that one.

We don't have rats. But,
if we did and the cats were doing nowt about it, then I guess i would
be tempted to try to see if the rats are partial to a bit of hot
stuff;

That did not work, what was it?

"Help, quick - I've unscrewed the top on a ticking bomb" by
Jeremy Clarkson in today's Times newspaper (e-edition)

The item he mentions is called "limited-edition Insanity private
reserve"

LOL great article. I have heard that before about chilli not affecting
birds, but what about hogs I wonder?

So, what do you do with it to stop the rats?

Alan

"lloyd" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 18:12:20 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"Derek Turner" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:22:05 +0100, lloyd wrote:

Anything we can do to encourage the hedgehogs, but not the rats from
visiting the garden? I have both

1. Terrier from working lines.
2. Huge cat.


Yes get some terrier men in.for your rats. Mine come about every six
weeks
to sort them out.
I do have a huge cat, but he's a bit of a wuss about tackling the big ones
with the brown chisel teeth. He sorts out the small ones, no problem, but
those big ones, they're a job for the terriers, he claims ;-)
And he's right. some of the big ones even give the terriers a run for
their
money, antiseptic needed to dab their bleeding noses where they've been
well
bitten by a big rat. They don't seem to mind though, it seems to make
them
more determined..

Tina

That sounds completely horrid. Why should anyone want to kill a rat
just because it's a rat, is that a crime for the poor beast to be a
rat? And if you feel you really must kill them why do it in such a
nasty way! I dread to think what you feel we should do with our feral
children.

I should like to discourage them, not wipe them out.

Oh, for goodness sake. I am obliged by law to control rats on my property, I
can either poison them and see them wander around dying for days or get the
terriers in to kill them in a second. Choose one of the above.
What would you prefer?

Tina

"lloyd" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 19:25:40 +0100, "mark"
wrote:


"lloyd" wrote in message
. ..
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 18:12:20 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"Derek Turner" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:22:05 +0100, lloyd wrote:

Anything we can do to encourage the hedgehogs, but not the rats from
visiting the garden? I have both

1. Terrier from working lines.
2. Huge cat.


Yes get some terrier men in.for your rats. Mine come about every six
weeks
to sort them out.
I do have a huge cat, but he's a bit of a wuss about tackling the big
ones
with the brown chisel teeth. He sorts out the small ones, no problem,
but
those big ones, they're a job for the terriers, he claims ;-)
And he's right. some of the big ones even give the terriers a run for
their
money, antiseptic needed to dab their bleeding noses where they've been
well
bitten by a big rat. They don't seem to mind though, it seems to make
them
more determined..

Tina

That sounds completely horrid. Why should anyone want to kill a rat
just because it's a rat, is that a crime for the poor beast to be a
rat? And if you feel you really must kill them why do it in such a
nasty way! I dread to think what you feel we should do with our feral
children.


They are not just rats though. They are a danger to health

No more so than many other animals or insects such as hedgehogs,
pigeons, flies, deer.

Yes, they are, they carry Weils disease through their urine and if you pick
it up from them you can kiss your kidneys goodbye. Why do you think the
local council will come out to kill them for you?

Tina

On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 21:46:00 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"lloyd" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 19:25:40 +0100, "mark"
wrote:


"lloyd" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 18:12:20 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"Derek Turner" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:22:05 +0100, lloyd wrote:

Anything we can do to encourage the hedgehogs, but not the rats from
visiting the garden? I have both

1. Terrier from working lines.
2. Huge cat.


Yes get some terrier men in.for your rats. Mine come about every six
weeks
to sort them out.
I do have a huge cat, but he's a bit of a wuss about tackling the big
ones
with the brown chisel teeth. He sorts out the small ones, no problem,
but
those big ones, they're a job for the terriers, he claims ;-)
And he's right. some of the big ones even give the terriers a run for
their
money, antiseptic needed to dab their bleeding noses where they've been
well
bitten by a big rat. They don't seem to mind though, it seems to make
them
more determined..

Tina

That sounds completely horrid. Why should anyone want to kill a rat
just because it's a rat, is that a crime for the poor beast to be a
rat? And if you feel you really must kill them why do it in such a
nasty way! I dread to think what you feel we should do with our feral
children.


They are not just rats though. They are a danger to health

No more so than many other animals or insects such as hedgehogs,
pigeons, flies, deer.

Yes, they are, they carry Weils disease through their urine

No *they* don't. They *can* carry it but then so can many animals
including dogs and cats. Even slaughterhouse workers have been known
to catch it.

and if you pick
it up from them you can kiss your kidneys goodbye.

Rubbish, though it can happen.

Why do you think the
local council will come out to kill them for you?

Old habits die hard and I suppose they need to waste our taxes on
something. The best salesmen in the world are pest control companies.
The most gullible buyers are the public.

On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 21:36:04 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"lloyd" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 18:12:20 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"Derek Turner" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:22:05 +0100, lloyd wrote:

Anything we can do to encourage the hedgehogs, but not the rats from
visiting the garden? I have both

1. Terrier from working lines.
2. Huge cat.


Yes get some terrier men in.for your rats. Mine come about every six
weeks
to sort them out.
I do have a huge cat, but he's a bit of a wuss about tackling the big ones
with the brown chisel teeth. He sorts out the small ones, no problem, but
those big ones, they're a job for the terriers, he claims ;-)
And he's right. some of the big ones even give the terriers a run for
their
money, antiseptic needed to dab their bleeding noses where they've been
well
bitten by a big rat. They don't seem to mind though, it seems to make
them
more determined..

Tina

That sounds completely horrid. Why should anyone want to kill a rat
just because it's a rat, is that a crime for the poor beast to be a
rat? And if you feel you really must kill them why do it in such a
nasty way! I dread to think what you feel we should do with our feral
children.

I should like to discourage them, not wipe them out.

Oh, for goodness sake. I am obliged by law to control rats on my property,

The law requires the control of infestations, not just of rats but
many other creatures. A couple of rats is not an infestation.

I
can either poison them and see them wander around dying for days or get the
terriers in to kill them in a second. Choose one of the above.

I don't need to control the rats I have, neither do the majority of
us. Poison is indiscriminate, cruel and kills many non target species.
Setting dogs on any animal is sheer lunacy and downright weird! Unless
of course you get a kick out of being horrid.

What would you prefer?

Neither.As I said I wanted to deter them not wipe out the entire
species. Rats like lots of wildlife do lots of good in scavenging food
sources that could go on to create worse problems if left alone.
We can't simply go round killing anything we don't like or we'd have
nothing but war throughout the world. Silly me we already have! When
will we learn?

"lloyd" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 21:46:00 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"lloyd" wrote in message
. ..
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 19:25:40 +0100, "mark"
wrote:


"lloyd" wrote in message
m...
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 18:12:20 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"Derek Turner" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:22:05 +0100, lloyd wrote:

Anything we can do to encourage the hedgehogs, but not the rats
from
visiting the garden? I have both

1. Terrier from working lines.
2. Huge cat.


Yes get some terrier men in.for your rats. Mine come about every six
weeks
to sort them out.
I do have a huge cat, but he's a bit of a wuss about tackling the big
ones
with the brown chisel teeth. He sorts out the small ones, no problem,
but
those big ones, they're a job for the terriers, he claims ;-)
And he's right. some of the big ones even give the terriers a run for
their
money, antiseptic needed to dab their bleeding noses where they've
been
well
bitten by a big rat. They don't seem to mind though, it seems to make
them
more determined..

Tina

That sounds completely horrid. Why should anyone want to kill a rat
just because it's a rat, is that a crime for the poor beast to be a
rat? And if you feel you really must kill them why do it in such a
nasty way! I dread to think what you feel we should do with our feral
children.


They are not just rats though. They are a danger to health

No more so than many other animals or insects such as hedgehogs,
pigeons, flies, deer.

Yes, they are, they carry Weils disease through their urine

No *they* don't. They *can* carry it but then so can many animals
including dogs and cats. Even slaughterhouse workers have been known
to catch it.

and if you pick
it up from them you can kiss your kidneys goodbye.

Rubbish, though it can happen.

Why do you think the
local council will come out to kill them for you?

Old habits die hard and I suppose they need to waste our taxes on
something. The best salesmen in the world are pest control companies.
The most gullible buyers are the public.


Are you serious? Whether you like rats or not (and I have a sneaking regard
for them as they are so clever) the council come out to kill them because
they are a danger to public health, not to waste your taxes!
I don't favour the poisoning method they use, I prefer the "gone in a
second" method of the terriers.

On Mon, 5 Oct 2009 21:19:38 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"lloyd" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 21:46:00 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"lloyd" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 19:25:40 +0100, "mark"
wrote:


"lloyd" wrote in message
om...
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 18:12:20 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"Derek Turner" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:22:05 +0100, lloyd wrote:

Anything we can do to encourage the hedgehogs, but not the rats
from
visiting the garden? I have both

1. Terrier from working lines.
2. Huge cat.


Yes get some terrier men in.for your rats. Mine come about every six
weeks
to sort them out.
I do have a huge cat, but he's a bit of a wuss about tackling the big
ones
with the brown chisel teeth. He sorts out the small ones, no problem,
but
those big ones, they're a job for the terriers, he claims ;-)
And he's right. some of the big ones even give the terriers a run for
their
money, antiseptic needed to dab their bleeding noses where they've
been
well
bitten by a big rat. They don't seem to mind though, it seems to make
them
more determined..

Tina

That sounds completely horrid. Why should anyone want to kill a rat
just because it's a rat, is that a crime for the poor beast to be a
rat? And if you feel you really must kill them why do it in such a
nasty way! I dread to think what you feel we should do with our feral
children.


They are not just rats though. They are a danger to health

No more so than many other animals or insects such as hedgehogs,
pigeons, flies, deer.

Yes, they are, they carry Weils disease through their urine

No *they* don't. They *can* carry it but then so can many animals
including dogs and cats. Even slaughterhouse workers have been known
to catch it.

and if you pick
it up from them you can kiss your kidneys goodbye.

Rubbish, though it can happen.

Why do you think the
local council will come out to kill them for you?

Old habits die hard and I suppose they need to waste our taxes on
something. The best salesmen in the world are pest control companies.
The most gullible buyers are the public.


Are you serious?

Of course I am.

Whether you like rats or not (and I have a sneaking regard
for them as they are so clever)

Granted.

the council come out to kill them because
they are a danger to public health, not to waste your taxes!

When was the last time our councils ever paid for anything that
benefits the residents!

I suspect somewhere along the line road builders and pest control are
paying out huge backhander's in order to fleece the gullible.

Rats are no more or less dirty than most other wildlife, and much less
than things that grow in our soils. You seem to have snipped the bit
about the law and infestations, I'm sure an error on your part but
worth mentioning we are talking about neither in most cases here.

I don't favour the poisoning method they use, I prefer the "gone in a
second" method of the terriers.

You logic is flawed. If the rats are so dangerous and dirty why would
we let our dogs risk catching what we don't want to catch? Apart from
it's terribly cruel especially against an animal that did nothing
wrong.

I think we may have to agree to disagree on this one.

On Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:25:40 +0100, mark wrote:

That sounds completely horrid. Why should anyone want to kill a rat
just because it's a rat, is that a crime for the poor beast to be a
rat? And if you feel you really must kill them why do it in such a
nasty way! I dread to think what you feel we should do with our feral
children.


They are not just rats though. They are a danger to health and that is
why local authority pest control officers will come and get rid of them
for free.

Yes, but where's the fun in that? much more entertaining to watch a good
terrier doing what it was bred for. Next you'll be telling me that hounds
shouldn't kill foxes. Tchh!

"lloyd" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 5 Oct 2009 21:19:38 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"lloyd" wrote in message
. ..
On Sun, 4 Oct 2009 21:46:00 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"lloyd" wrote in message
m...
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 19:25:40 +0100, "mark"
wrote:


"lloyd" wrote in message
news:ec4fc51168aad917h8oapp3oid74dfq4qt@4ax. com...
On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 18:12:20 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"Derek Turner" wrote in message
. ..
On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:22:05 +0100, lloyd wrote:

Anything we can do to encourage the hedgehogs, but not the rats
from
visiting the garden? I have both

1. Terrier from working lines.
2. Huge cat.


Yes get some terrier men in.for your rats. Mine come about every
six
weeks
to sort them out.
I do have a huge cat, but he's a bit of a wuss about tackling the
big
ones
with the brown chisel teeth. He sorts out the small ones, no
problem,
but
those big ones, they're a job for the terriers, he claims ;-)
And he's right. some of the big ones even give the terriers a run
for
their
money, antiseptic needed to dab their bleeding noses where they've
been
well
bitten by a big rat. They don't seem to mind though, it seems to
make
them
more determined..

Tina

That sounds completely horrid. Why should anyone want to kill a rat
just because it's a rat, is that a crime for the poor beast to be a
rat? And if you feel you really must kill them why do it in such a
nasty way! I dread to think what you feel we should do with our
feral
children.


They are not just rats though. They are a danger to health

No more so than many other animals or insects such as hedgehogs,
pigeons, flies, deer.

Yes, they are, they carry Weils disease through their urine

No *they* don't. They *can* carry it but then so can many animals
including dogs and cats. Even slaughterhouse workers have been known
to catch it.

and if you pick
it up from them you can kiss your kidneys goodbye.

Rubbish, though it can happen.

Why do you think the
local council will come out to kill them for you?

Old habits die hard and I suppose they need to waste our taxes on
something. The best salesmen in the world are pest control companies.
The most gullible buyers are the public.


Are you serious?

Of course I am.

Whether you like rats or not (and I have a sneaking regard
for them as they are so clever)

Granted.

the council come out to kill them because
they are a danger to public health, not to waste your taxes!

When was the last time our councils ever paid for anything that
benefits the residents!

I suspect somewhere along the line road builders and pest control are
paying out huge backhander's in order to fleece the gullible.

Rats are no more or less dirty than most other wildlife, and much less
than things that grow in our soils. You seem to have snipped the bit
about the law and infestations, I'm sure an error on your part but
worth mentioning we are talking about neither in most cases here.

I don't favour the poisoning method they use, I prefer the "gone in a
second" method of the terriers.

You logic is flawed. If the rats are so dangerous and dirty why would
we let our dogs risk catching what we don't want to catch? Apart from
it's terribly cruel especially against an animal that did nothing
wrong.

I think we may have to agree to disagree on this one.

Yes, my opinion is that I have to control them by law, so I choose the
terriers rather than poison. Your opinion is that you like them, so we will
agree to disagree on this.

T

"Derek Turner" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:25:40 +0100, mark wrote:

That sounds completely horrid. Why should anyone want to kill a rat
just because it's a rat, is that a crime for the poor beast to be a
rat? And if you feel you really must kill them why do it in such a
nasty way! I dread to think what you feel we should do with our feral
children.


They are not just rats though. They are a danger to health and that is
why local authority pest control officers will come and get rid of them
for free.

Yes, but where's the fun in that? much more entertaining to watch a good
terrier doing what it was bred for. Next you'll be telling me that hounds
shouldn't kill foxes. Tchh!

Derek, the choice is poison when they lie around dying for days, or terriers
when they are gone in a second.
I resent the fact that you think I find it "fun" I don't. I have poultry -
and therefore rats. I will be in trouble with my local council if I do not
control them. Perhaps you can suggest a better method? I'm all ears for
your suggestions.

Tina