As you must realise, I’m a bit of a wildlife geek, but I have a bit of a problem, no, not the pike in the pond, but a rat under the shed.
Living on the edge of the countryside, which is literally over the fence, I’m not surprised that creatures tend to move in.
We have a lovely fox wandering about, plus deer and the birdlife is amazing.
Last year Mr Rat decided to have an easy life and live under the shed where he can sneak out and feed off the seeds that have fallen off the bird table.
Thing is, he is massive, but not one of these tatty old urban scumbags, very sleek and handsome, good advertisement for the perfect rat.
My dogs try and catch him, but they can’t, our Jack Russell spends much of his time barking under the shed, to no avail.
Unfortunately I realise that rat life will accelerate and we could be over run, but I can’t put down poison, it’s evil stuff and he doesn’t deserve it, neither could I possibly contemplate getting out the air rifle either.
Any ideas as to how to remove him, personally, I think he’s very brave to hang about here with a Jack Russell about, old Scooby Doo probably keeps Ratty on his toes and prevents his mates from moving in, I have to admire the little sods cheek, as he’s not doing any harm, and with the constant dog threat, perhaps I should leave him to it, everything deserves a good life, doesn’t it, like it or not, what do you think.
By: sealordlawrence - 30th January 2008 at 23:09
Well Said Peter I think Animals should have the right where ever they are.
Sounds like the human scum peter was taking about, I give a Rat more respect then any yob or scumbag anyday 😡 :diablo: Country Rats are ok its the City one’s you have to watch out for but if they keep there distance and you keep yours you could live happy. The things I dont like is cockroaches now they spread disease just look at some of are hospitals 😉
I save leave the Rat and if it gets taken let it be the foxes.
James
There is no distinction between a country rat and a city rat.
By: Manston Airport - 30th January 2008 at 22:57
I save it for local human scum, animals deserve more respect, thank you very much
Well Said Peter I think Animals should have the right where ever they are.
Rats do not deserve respect, they spread disease and damage property where ever they are
Sounds like the human scum peter was taking about, I give a Rat more respect then any yob or scumbag anyday 😡 :diablo: Country Rats are ok its the City one’s you have to watch out for but if they keep there distance and you keep yours you could live happy. The things I dont like is cockroaches now they spread disease just look at some of are hospitals 😉
I save leave the Rat and if it gets taken let it be the foxes.
James
By: sealordlawrence - 30th January 2008 at 21:23
I already have an air rifle, a powerful one too, but it gathers dust in the corner, I save it for local human scum, animals deserve more respect, thank you very much.
As for the old Jack Russell, he’s lived in the country most of his life and is very adept at catching rabbits, sooner or later he’ll get lucky, he spends most of his time lurking round the shed these days.
Ratty can’t get inside the shed anyway, and I suspect he spends his time wandering between gardens, I had a good look at him through the binoculars the other day, he doesn’t look like some city dwelling piece of vermin to me, he is after all a natural species who just got peed off with trying to avoid the dickheads trying to destroy nature around here, apart from avoiding the dogs, I suspect he has a nice life here, good luck to his resourcefulness.
You may think I’m mad, but I’ve always lived with rats whichever house I’ve had.
The best story was when I lived in a Victorian house in Witham. Next door was a Jack Russell enthusiast who did all sorts of hideous night time animal catching activities with his dog, but he never sussed out the rat living under his shed. It was when I found the thing had moved its abode into my fridge that I got the hump, it took some doing to corner it and despatch it with a spade, hated doing it and it upset me, but my ‘then’ missus was seriously ill in bed at the time and I couldn’t risk it getting upstairs. Daft sod next door didn’t believe me till I chucked it over his fence, one seriously in trouble dog.
If you are shooting humans with an air rifle you need to be locked up.
Rats do not deserve respect, they spread disease and damage property where ever they are. The use of an air rifle is not disrespect anyway.
As for ‘dickheads trying to destroy nature’ well that is a pretty meaningless statement.
By: Pete Truman - 30th January 2008 at 16:59
You need an air rifle (perfectly legal without license in the UK) and a good torch. If he comes out during the day skip the torch. Put down some bird seed, take up a comfortable position then just wait until he arrives. A gentle pull of the trigger and problem solved. You will have one air rifle and probably 499 pellets (they come in tins of 500) left for when his filthy disgusting disease spreading, egg eating, vermin friends return. Alternatively you can use it to extend your diet to Pigeons, Rooks, Rabbits and Squirrels.
I already have an air rifle, a powerful one too, but it gathers dust in the corner, I save it for local human scum, animals deserve more respect, thank you very much.
As for the old Jack Russell, he’s lived in the country most of his life and is very adept at catching rabbits, sooner or later he’ll get lucky, he spends most of his time lurking round the shed these days.
Ratty can’t get inside the shed anyway, and I suspect he spends his time wandering between gardens, I had a good look at him through the binoculars the other day, he doesn’t look like some city dwelling piece of vermin to me, he is after all a natural species who just got peed off with trying to avoid the dickheads trying to destroy nature around here, apart from avoiding the dogs, I suspect he has a nice life here, good luck to his resourcefulness.
You may think I’m mad, but I’ve always lived with rats whichever house I’ve had.
The best story was when I lived in a Victorian house in Witham. Next door was a Jack Russell enthusiast who did all sorts of hideous night time animal catching activities with his dog, but he never sussed out the rat living under his shed. It was when I found the thing had moved its abode into my fridge that I got the hump, it took some doing to corner it and despatch it with a spade, hated doing it and it upset me, but my ‘then’ missus was seriously ill in bed at the time and I couldn’t risk it getting upstairs. Daft sod next door didn’t believe me till I chucked it over his fence, one seriously in trouble dog.
By: laviticus - 30th January 2008 at 13:06
They’re are my next door neighbours..how could they help??
Your neighbours?
Is she a vixen?does he have a big bushy tail…
sorry steve couldnt resist:diablo:
ill get my coat
By: steve rowell - 30th January 2008 at 05:43
Of course the other possibility is to encourage mr or mrs fox to come around more often
They’re are my next door neighbours..how could they help??
By: mike currill - 30th January 2008 at 05:41
Of course the other possibility is to encourage mr or mrs fox to come around more often
By: andrewm - 30th January 2008 at 00:02
We had exactly the same problem. We got a Westie and havent seen a rat since!
By: Ren Frew - 29th January 2008 at 23:44
Hire a crane, lift the shed and watch the ****** make a run for it…;)
By: DazDaMan - 29th January 2008 at 21:32
Or you could do it John Woo stylee….
😀
By: DazDaMan - 29th January 2008 at 21:31
I quite agree about the poison. However after that our local rats have a choice. The cats or the air rifle. No I don’t mean the cat is trusted on his own with an air rifle! Images have started coming to mind!
😀
By: atr42 - 29th January 2008 at 20:21
I quite agree about the poison. However after that our local rats have a choice. The cats or the air rifle. No I don’t mean the cat is trusted on his own with an air rifle! Images have started coming to mind!
By: Drem - 28th January 2008 at 21:47
You could always try your Local Council, very likely they would send somebody round with all the right bits and pieces to get rid of it.
By: J Boyle - 28th January 2008 at 21:38
You have a “natural” and safe, non-toxic solution already.
Perhaps what you need is more experience.
Borrow a Jack Russel from as nearby farmer….he’ll get quick results and teach your surburban dog a thing or two.;)
A farmer friend in Kent had a Russell for almost 20 years…never had much of a rat problem.
By: sealordlawrence - 28th January 2008 at 21:23
You need an air rifle (perfectly legal without license in the UK) and a good torch. If he comes out during the day skip the torch. Put down some bird seed, take up a comfortable position then just wait until he arrives. A gentle pull of the trigger and problem solved. You will have one air rifle and probably 499 pellets (they come in tins of 500) left for when his filthy disgusting disease spreading, egg eating, vermin friends return. Alternatively you can use it to extend your diet to Pigeons, Rooks, Rabbits and Squirrels.
By: Norman D Lands - 28th January 2008 at 19:02
A natural phenomenon .;)
By: Grey Area - 28th January 2008 at 18:43
….You have 1 and they soon breed……
By means of parthogenesis, apparently…… :diablo:
By: Norman D Lands - 28th January 2008 at 18:20
At the end of the day its your choice, i have to say i would get rid of it ! You have 1 and they soon breed, you could be invaided.
By: laviticus - 28th January 2008 at 18:04
Pete, Hes probably under your shed because its dry ,warm and close to a constant food supply.If you remove one of these elements he will most probably move on,so check the shed see if hes feasting on something you have in there ,or may be hes getting in the bins.The wheelie bin type, ive seen rats easley lifting the lid feeding and getting out,unlike the old metal lids which were a bit too heavy for them.
Like you I’m not keen on poison, especialy so close to the countryside. so if hes not causing any damage and too close to the house ,then live and let live.But they do sent mark all the time, and rat urine can be a problem on the old health front, especialy to the kids.
On the other hand i have a 12 bore, but i does play havoc with the old shed walls….:diablo:
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January 28, 2008 at 3:16 pm