Hunting Having a bit of an issue with the rats

[colda]

We moved into our little bungalow in late ‘23, the wife put out some bird feeders and we quickly realised there were no shortage of rats around. At the bottom of the garden there is a brook and the neighbour has an aviary, so not too surprising and most importantly this gave me an excuse to buy an air rifle and start an interest that I’ve become more than a bit obsessed with

Never actually got round to shooting any rats but we were no longer feeding them and saw no further activity, until recently

The field at rear, on the other side of the brook, is currently being developed into yet another housing estate, so alongside the joyous ongoing sounds of construction, the rats seems to have decided that they would rather take residence in our place. First evidence was food (bag of oats, packs of noodles) being chewed open and feasted on, everything is now in containers but the little *******s are relentless, eating cleaning products and chewing through wires and plumbing (flexi hose sink waste)

Have setup some cameras and now seeing the little buggers having no respect for the place (not to mention no chance of them paying any rent!), it’s just getting to be depressing, it seems that they are moving through the loft and in wall cavities, there are some traps down but got nothing as yet (although on the first night, rather than going for the peanut butter in the traps, they got the jar to managed to remove the lid)

I’d love to just shoot them but they don’t seem to be very interested in taking any bait at the bottom of the garden

Any advice would be much appreciated before the looming mental breakdown takes hold

 

[colda]

Just to add, would rather avoid using poison as we have a dog, and also the idea of a dead rat rotting in an inaccessible corner of the loft doesn’t sound appealing

 

[Nobodys Hero]

I think with problems like that the only option is to get a professional involved, rentokill or similar.

 

[That hurts]

You need to find out where they are getting in for a start and block any access point(s)

 

[Gummage]

Get all foodstuffs into rat proof containers, preferably in high\wall mounted cupboard and disinfect all cupboards and storage areas.
Be completely aware of rat carried diseases such as leptospirosis, and that they can remain contagious for a considerable time.
Rat infestation in the house is bad news, and a high risk of fire and health issues.
If the house is rented, or council, you have recourse to get the owner to sort it out.

 

[Gummage]

Is it an old property, brick built or timber?

 

[Mrs. H]

I completely get the poison issue as we've had the same here, but if they're physically inside your home there can be little other option. Bait comes in two main forms; the blocks which you can pop on kebab type skewers inside a bait box, the theory being they'll eat them there. However, if the block, or part of the block comes free they can take it away with them; which is where the worry comes in that it can be dropped and another animal finds it.
Second form is grain, literally grain. Dyed blue, red or purple and laced with the poison. They'll eat that in situ as its bitesized. If you have access to where they are and your pets don't (lofts, inside cupboards, eaves spaces etc) I'd recommend putting down some of the grain type along with traps. We had them running up the cavity walls here so they were in the loft and the ceiling spaces. I bought a couple of the cheap indoor Ring cameras and popped those where we had access so I could monitor what was going on.
A professional is an option; I would hope you'd have more luck than me there. I had two companies come out who were as much help as a chocolate teapot. Both said they couldn't go into the loft as it wasn't professionally boarded so their only solution was to remove some of the downlights and throw bait sachets into the ceiling voids. -For £300 +VAT I can do that myself! Our epicentre is an access point into the eaves crawl space where we have all the services coming. Largest part is approx 1m sq and I've got 11 traps (3 different types) plus grain bait down in there along with a camera to monitor.

 

[colda]

You need to find out where they are getting in for a start and block any access point(s)

Working on that, it’s looking like they are coming up the wall cavity in the utility room, we recently had the flat roof replaced and as such the ceiling hasn’t been done yet leaving the top of the walls exposed and clear access into the loft, will be going a bit mad with expanding foam very soon

 

[colda]

Get all foodstuffs into rat proof containers, preferably in high\wall mounted cupboard and disinfect all cupboards and storage areas.
Be completely aware of rat carried diseases such as leptospirosis, and that they can remain contagious for a considerable time.
Rat infestation in the house is bad news, and a high risk of fire and health issues.
If the house is rented, or council, you have recourse to get the owner to sort it out.

Done all that (everything touched has been binned), house is owned by us

 

[colda]

Is it an old property, brick built or timber?

1960’s brick built bungalow

 

[colda]

I completely get the poison issue as we've had the same here, but if they're physically inside your home there can be little other option. Bait comes in two main forms; the blocks which you can pop on kebab type skewers inside a bait box, the theory being they'll eat them there. However, if the block, or part of the block comes free they can take it away with them; which is where the worry comes in that it can be dropped and another animal finds it.
Second form is grain, literally grain. Dyed blue, red or purple and laced with the poison. They'll eat that in situ as its bitesized. If you have access to where they are and your pets don't (lofts, inside cupboards, eaves spaces etc) I'd recommend putting down some of the grain type along with traps. We had them running up the cavity walls here so they were in the loft and the ceiling spaces. I bought a couple of the cheap indoor Ring cameras and popped those where we had access so I could monitor what was going on.
A professional is an option; I would hope you'd have more luck than me there. I had two companies come out who were as much help as a chocolate teapot. Both said they couldn't go into the loft as it wasn't professionally boarded so their only solution was to remove some of the downlights and throw bait sachets into the ceiling voids. -For £300 +VAT I can do that myself! Our epicentre is an access point into the eaves crawl space where we have all the services coming. Largest part is approx 1m sq and I've got 11 traps (3 different types) plus grain bait down in there along with a camera to monitor.

Someone at work (who used to work in a garden centre) has recommended using glue traps, looking into them it does seem that they would work well (have identified some clear paths where they would be placed) but there is some grey areas regarding legality (and cruelty issues)

I’ve been watching some Pest Interceptors videos, there’s a question where they are coming from, the videos say they are always from the sewers but neighbours say they are from the brook

To my limited knowledge, it seems the ones I’m seeing are on the small side, indeed if I hadn't seen them I would have thought the problem was mice from the size of the droppings, as such I’m thinking that possibly the access is limited such that the bigger, older ones can’t get in

 

[Gummage]

1960’s brick built bungalow

That should make things easier, try to find where services and drainage enter the property and block with concrete and wire.
Secure all fixed floor level cupboard backs, and use grain poison, behind if possible.
The roof space will need attention too, and any under floor cavities, lift a floor board and get some poison down there.
Rats don't like pungent smells such as bleach, lemon or peppermint essential oil, useful for cupboards.

 

[OldStock]

Here I had a single rat going through the loft, once I narrowed down it's point of entry, a service hole exposed by sinking ground I was able to seal that up with stones and rodent resistant silicon, that is a neighbours house (housing association) so I wanted a fix that would not get them in trouble.
I also shot 262 on the field 60 yards away, that may have reduced the population somewhat.

 

[Mrs. H]

Rat dropping are pretty big, a bit like date stones. Mice are more like black artificial sweeteners size. The bald tails are always the giveaway when looking at them. They weren't coming in via the sewers here either, just straight up the walls or into gaps that led to the cavities. I'm not sure about the glue traps either, presumably you'd need to despatch them once caught?
Check your air bricks and vents too; the original air bricks here had quite large 1" holes so we put mesh across them all.

 

[colda]

That should make things easier, try to find where services and drainage enter the property and block with concrete and wire.
Secure all fixed floor level cupboard backs, and use grain poison, behind if possible.
The roof space will need attention too, and any under floor cavities, lift a floor board and get some poison down there.
Rats don't like pungent smells such as bleach, lemon or peppermint essential oil, useful for cupboards.

Services are on the front/side of the house but no sign of any activity around there, appreciate that the access point might be underground though

No floorboards, all concrete

This weekend will involve pulling off all the kitchen plinths and looking for access points

 

[OldStock]

BTW.
Glue traps are not legal for use by the public, in England since 2024.

 

[Gummage]

Someone at work (who used to work in a garden centre) has recommended using glue traps, looking into them it does seem that they would work well (have identified some clear paths where they would be placed) but there is some grey areas regarding legality (and cruelty issues)

I’ve been watching some Pest Interceptors videos, there’s a question where they are coming from, the videos say they are always from the sewers but neighbours say they are from the brook

To my limited knowledge, it seems the ones I’m seeing are on the small side, indeed if I hadn't seen them I would have thought the problem was mice from the size of the droppings, as such I’m thinking that possibly the access is limited such that the bigger, older ones can’t get in

They will gain access from anywhere they can, from eves to drains, it is worth fitting mesh to gutter downpipe unions for instance.
Glue traps are illegal for domestic users, and can only be used by licensed pest control.

 

[colda]

Rat dropping are pretty big, a bit like date stones. Mice are more like black artificial sweeteners size. The bald tails are always the giveaway when looking at them. They weren't coming in via the sewers here either, just straight up the walls or into gaps that led to the cavities. I'm not sure about the glue traps either, presumably you'd need to despatch them once caught?
Check your air bricks and vents too; the original air bricks here had quite large 1" holes so we put mesh across them all.

Certainly more like mouse droppings but they are pretty big mice

 

[colda]

BTW.
Glue traps are not legal for use by the public, in England since 2024.

Yep, but still easily available from the regular online suppliers, but of course, any actions I decide on will be duly respectful to the law

 

[Gummage]

Sounds like access will be services entering the property, I would dig for drains etc and get concrete at entry points, also where services come up through the floor internally, and through any walls, kitchen and bathrooms.
Also entry of rainwater pipes to gutter,

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