Grey squirrels I can live with. There's only one that visits, and performs neat acrobatics in order to plunder some of the larger bird seed. But rats...no way. I have been trying to zap one which has obviously taken up residence under the shed. It's a cunning little beggar. I say little, but from nose to end of tail it has to be a good 12". Three or four times over the last couple of weeks I've put down rat poison in a plastic coffee jar lid. And every time I look to see if any has been taken, the lid and all its contents has disappeared. So I should imagine that underneath the shed there are now about four jar lids - but what of the poison? I'm befuddled as to what to do. Surely, at least, he's got belly ache by now. :-?
I always worry when I hear of people putting down rat poison I'm afraid Pete. How can you be sure that it's the rat that's taking the bait? It could just as easily be a neighbours cat, wild birds or even the squirrels. I think I'd be more inclined to put down a rat-trap to see if you can catch the little blighter. We put humane mouse traps in our garden shed to catch the fieldmice that come go in out of the cold. We then re-locate them well away from here. Maybe you could try one because then you'd be absolutely sure of what you'd caught?
About 10 years ago, our neighbor put out rat poison in his barn to control them. One of our cats got ahold of one of the dead rats and ate it. We lost the cat about a week later.
Yes, I think a trap is the way. I know that no cats come into the garden, but the squirrel is still around. I'll have to wait first to see if ratty reappears again.
Good luck Pete. Rats aren't the most pleasant things to have around as they are the carriers of some nasty diseases.
Good luck on eliminating the rat! I concur about the dangers of the poison having unintended targets, we lost a cat that way too. Here's hoping there won't be a need for more efforts.
I totally agree about the live-trap. But, rats, *shudder* so glad there aren't any out here on the open prairie. I mean, I know they are basically squirrels with bad P.R., but still... ugh. I've got some rather nasty mice in my wellhouse, and will have to gut the place next year, replace all the insulation with something less mouse-friendly, and seal it properly. They are drawn in by the rabbit and chicken feed I keep out there, though I try very hard not to spill any.
