Hi all,

I lurk here often but don't usually contribute as I am not a very
knowledgeable gardener. I am looking for a bit of advice with regard to
rats!

We have two compost heaps side by side at the back of the garden near a
fence. The heaps are made of pallets and are open on the top. I only
ever compost raw fruit and vegetable waste as well as the usual garden
stuff.

Today, we have spotted two rats feeding on the heap. They then
disappeared under the fence but I am not sure if they are living in or
near the heap, or whether they are just visiting for a feed. They must
be living nearby.

The area around the heaps is untidy and needs a good clear out. It is
possible they are living there. Should I have a good clear out and see
what I find? I was going to empty the heaps shortly and spread any
compost that is ready over the garden. I am a bit worried about what
I'll find (a whole nest of them?) and of catching some nasty rat-borne
disease.

What should I do, and how can I make the compost heaps less attractive
for rats in future?

Thanks for listening.
--
Regards
Colette

On 7/3/05 12:28, in article , "Colette A.
O'Brien" wrote:

snip

Today, we have spotted two rats feeding on the heap. They then
disappeared under the fence but I am not sure if they are living in or
near the heap, or whether they are just visiting for a feed. They must
be living nearby.

If you've seen two the potential is that there are many more around or will
be when they breed! I had the same problem in an old garden and within days
saw several more.

The area around the heaps is untidy and needs a good clear out. It is
possible they are living there. Should I have a good clear out and see
what I find? I was going to empty the heaps shortly and spread any
compost that is ready over the garden. I am a bit worried about what
I'll find (a whole nest of them?) and of catching some nasty rat-borne
disease.

If you go the clear out route (which I would) wear sturdy rubber gloves and
wellies. Weil's disease contracted from rat urine is very nasty. If you
think you can kill them yourself, all well and good, if you don't, get
someone in to do the clear out and kill for you. Having a couple of
terriers standing by isn't a bad idea, either! After you've done your clean
up, get the local council to come and put down rat poison in safe 'feeders'
which will protect domestic pets or other wildlife from picking it up. If
they won't, get a contractor who will probably make two visits for safety's
sake. I'd get him to check outhouses and possibly the attic, too. Check the
area regularly for any further infestations.

What should I do, and how can I make the compost heaps less attractive
for rats in future?

I wouldn't make a new heap until you're sure you've got rid of the rats
altogether. And then make sure absolutely nothing meaty or even eggy goes
onto it. That said, rats eat almost anything and I've seen them going up a
fig tree after the fruit! If you can, it might be a good idea to make it in
a different area so that you can keep an eye on the present one, just in
case you don't get all the rats this time.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

"Sacha" wrote in message
k...
On 7/3/05 12:28, in article , "Colette A.
O'Brien" wrote:

snip

Today, we have spotted two rats feeding on the heap. They then
disappeared under the fence but I am not sure if they are living in or
near the heap, or whether they are just visiting for a feed. They must
be living nearby.



If you go the clear out route (which I would) wear sturdy rubber gloves
and
wellies. Weil's disease contracted from rat urine is very nasty. If you
think you can kill them yourself, all well and good, if you don't, get
someone in to do the clear out and kill for you. Having a couple of
terriers standing by isn't a bad idea, either! After you've done your
clean
up, get the local council to come and put down rat poison in safe
'feeders'
which will protect domestic pets or other wildlife from picking it up. If
they won't, get a contractor who will probably make two visits for
safety's
sake. I'd get him to check outhouses and possibly the attic, too. Check
the
area regularly for any further infestations.

What should I do, and how can I make the compost heaps less attractive
for rats in future?

I wouldn't make a new heap until you're sure you've got rid of the rats
altogether. And then make sure absolutely nothing meaty or even eggy goes
onto it. That said, rats eat almost anything and I've seen them going up a
fig tree after the fruit! If you can, it might be a good idea to make it
in
a different area so that you can keep an eye on the present one, just in
case you don't get all the rats this time.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

We discovered the rats had got into our black bin type composter by
burrowing under, but the monkeys had eaten all the worms and left the veg
peelings!! I suspect yours are not living in it at this time of year but
just visiting for "lunch" once you cut of the food supply they will go
elsewhere.
I just went around the edge of ours and inserted slates vertically then laid
a path of bricks around to stop them digging, they have not been back.
In your shoes I would use the compost, tidy the area, then start afresh with
a rat proof compost heap, you can get subsidised ones from the local
councils. Sasha's remarks re gloves are a sensible precaution.

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

In article ,
Charlie Pridham wrote:

We discovered the rats had got into our black bin type composter by
burrowing under, but the monkeys had eaten all the worms and left the veg
peelings!! I suspect yours are not living in it at this time of year but
just visiting for "lunch" once you cut of the food supply they will go
elsewhere.

Cripes. I knew that you were warmer than Cambridge, but I didn't
know that you had feral monkeys.

Anyway, don't worry about the meat/egg/vegetable content unless it
happens to work for you. Rats will eat anything, and are attracted
as much by the worms as anything, and any serious heap has worms.
In my case, I chuck on all meat residue and it has no attactive
effect whatsoever.

The thing that does make the difference is turning the heap over, as
rats don't like the disturbance. Otherwise, get a rat man in to
poison them (our WONDERFUL government will no longer allow effective
rat poisons to be sold to the peasantry).

If you can tell the difference between our politicians, bureaucrats
and rats, you are clearly a skilled taxonomist.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...
Otherwise, get a rat man in to
poison them (our WONDERFUL government will no longer allow effective
rat poisons to be sold to the peasantry).

What makes you say that? I get a very efficient poison from my local ag'
merchant or feed store to put into my bait boxes.

"w.g.s.hamm" fenlandfowl @talktalk.net wrote in message
...

"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...
Otherwise, get a rat man in to
poison them (our WONDERFUL government will no longer allow effective
rat poisons to be sold to the peasantry).

What makes you say that? I get a very efficient poison from my local ag'
merchant or feed store to put into my bait boxes.


Actually with one exception the same bait is available to amateurs as the
council .........its the form of bait you use and the way you use it thats
crucial

Antec who make Tomcat 2 also do a block bait which you can secure and is
much easier to see how much the pests are eating also their farm
applications expert if you phone him is excellent in giving advice

Once i did what he said the rat problem disapeared

its vital to site all compost bins on solid concrete bases not straight onto
soil

Colette A. O'Brien wrote:
:: Hi all,
::
:: I lurk here often but don't usually contribute as I am not a very
:: knowledgeable gardener. I am looking for a bit of advice with
:: regard to rats!
::
:: We have two compost heaps side by side at the back of the garden
:: near a fence. The heaps are made of pallets and are open on the
:: top. I only ever compost raw fruit and vegetable waste as well as
:: the usual garden stuff.
::

It's the fruit and veg they are after, it would be wise to partially compost
these in a sealed plastic bucket which could then be emptied onto the heap
periodically, once they have broken down and stopped being food.

:: Today, we have spotted two rats feeding on the heap. They then
:: disappeared under the fence but I am not sure if they are living
:: in or near the heap, or whether they are just visiting for a feed.
:: They must be living nearby.
::
They are visiting, your heap is the local rodent cafe.
You can clear the heap, kill the rats, put down poison and be as vigilant as
you like, none of it will make a blind bit of difference, as long as there
is food (fruit and veg) on site, it will continue to be used as a port of
call for every passing rat.
Personally, I can't see the problem, they are walking and pi**ing all over
the garden anyway and that includes any vegetables you might be growing, the
only time they become a problem is when they get out of control and with an
unlimited supply of free food they soon will, making a nuisance of
themselves only through their numbers and so I disregard poisoning as an
option and favour the removal of their feed, once this has gone they will
simply go somewhere else.


:: The area around the heaps is untidy and needs a good clear out. It
:: is possible they are living there. Should I have a good clear out
:: and see what I find? I was going to empty the heaps shortly and
:: spread any compost that is ready over the garden. I am a bit
:: worried about what I'll find (a whole nest of them?) and of
:: catching some nasty rat-borne disease.
::
You won't disturb a nest of rats unless the heap is dry and covered, rats
are pretty much like us, they like warm and dry places to live, although
millions of sewer rats don't mind getting wet if they are likely to get a
good meal, their nests are not where water can reach them or dampness affect
their young...if your heap is a dried out, sheltered one, I would suggest
removing the top and drenching with water a few days prior to disturbing it
as a nursing mother has been known to sink teeth *deep* into the flesh in
protecting her litter and will not let go.


:: What should I do, and how can I make the compost heaps less
:: attractive for rats in future?

no food, or if you insist on (fairly fresh) fruit and veg, a sealed
unit....high sides and solid building materials such as paving flags /could/
keep them at bay but unless it's got a lid too rats *will* get in, they are
good climbers and can jump three feet directly upwards.

--

http://www.blueyonder256k.myby.co.uk/