What can rats do?

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What can rats do?

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Annemieke

Joined: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 131
Location: Somerset UK

Posted: Mon Sep 21, 15 12:06 pm Post subject: What can rats do?

Don't know where to put this subject really, so here it is, in pets ....

I clean house for a man who isn't very clean, to say the least. He has rats and mice appearing in his kitchen, to give you an impression. Just lately things have been disappearing: dishcloths, a whole tea towel vanished from the bottom step of a ladder where I put them to be washed. Without a trace.
Everyone who helps him is suspect now, but I think it's a big rat who takes them away somewhere, behind the washing machine or the cooker say.
He says this isn't possible: they'd just take bits out, but not disappear a whole tea towel.
Can rats do this?
Thanks!

Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Mon Sep 21, 15 12:47 pm Post subject:

Adult rats are big and strong - yes, no problem.

In terms of nesting rats they tow stuff off and then might chew it up in situ. We once had a rat make a nest in the back of the fridge freezer. In terms of nests - behind cooker, dishwasher, fridge freezer, behind or under kitchen units. It has a very distinctive pong. Once you've smelt a rat, you will know the smell next time. It is distinctive from say rotting bin odour - but you have to identify it with practice. Has a slightly musky/musty overtone to the pong.

Set a trap - if he'll let you.

Annemieke

Joined: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 131
Location: Somerset UK

Posted: Mon Sep 21, 15 1:10 pm Post subject:
Thanks! Would they nest at this particular time of the year?

Annemieke

Joined: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 131
Location: Somerset UK

Posted: Mon Sep 21, 15 1:13 pm Post subject:
We tried traps a while ago to no avail, and he has had poison put down recently, same thing. But it's rats, for he sees them.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46231
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Sep 21, 15 1:59 pm Post subject:
rats will nest whenever they can,nice kitchen,plenty of bedding....

pollyanna

Joined: 03 Nov 2012
Posts: 221

Posted: Mon Sep 21, 15 2:04 pm Post subject:
Rats are moving out of the fields and gardens where they have spent the summer, into places where they have shelter. So yes, now is the time they are making cosy nests.

Mutton

Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1508

Posted: Mon Sep 21, 15 2:53 pm Post subject:

Annemieke wrote:

We tried traps a while ago to no avail, and he has had poison put down recently, same thing. But it's rats, for he sees them.

Need to block access to other food sources...... which will be hard in the circumstances. We once had a rat that ate raw potatoes in the cupboard under the sink. (The cat brought in the rat as a youngster then it got too big for her to touch....)

Also look at Rat Bait - trying to remember the brand - blue dyed corn. It is made super-attractive to them.

gregotyn

Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area

Posted: Thu Sep 24, 15 1:57 pm Post subject:

If he has no pets add some poison, out of the old man's reach, behind the cooker and 'fridge say, inside a covered container,(available commercially or home made out of a plastic container, ideally dark), that the vermin have access to at each end see what happens, alternatively call the council in and explain what appears to be happening. Rats and mice multiply at alarming rates, I think it is several sets of young a year. I have poison down all year, but now is the best time as they are coming in as it gets colder!
A tea towel would be nothing to a large adult rat in weight terms for towing and would be ideal nest material.
I distribute mine in plastic pipes where I can see the runs.

Annemieke

Joined: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 131
Location: Somerset UK

Posted: Thu Sep 24, 15 3:36 pm Post subject:
Consider it done! Thanks.

misty07

Joined: 22 Jan 2010
Posts: 2223
Location: swindon wiltshire

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 15 3:14 pm Post subject:
Peanut butter olive/veg oil choc spread Tabasco sauce and some Jamaica chilli sauce + fenn trap works wonders had 5 in 5 nights now not a thing for a week but I'll be rebaiting tonight

Annemieke

Joined: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 131
Location: Somerset UK

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 15 4:30 pm Post subject:
He doesn't want a trap now and has used poison. The traps are very scary, we have old-fashioned wooden ones which can take your finger off easily. However, if I had rats myself, I would go buy one of the new-fangled plastic traps like you get for mice. They are wonderful and not scary at all. I expect you can get that kind for rats as well.

Annemieke

Joined: 26 Feb 2013
Posts: 131
Location: Somerset UK

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 15 4:29 pm Post subject:

Quote:

Peanut butter olive/veg oil choc spread Tabasco sauce and some Jamaica chilli sauce + fenn trap

Sounds rather different from the old bit of cheese - is it the cookery programmes which we, and our company, watch all the time?

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46231
Location: yes

Posted: Sun Sep 27, 15 6:40 pm Post subject:

Annemieke wrote:

Quote:

Peanut butter olive/veg oil choc spread Tabasco sauce and some Jamaica chilli sauce + fenn trap

Sounds rather different from the old bit of cheese - is it the cookery programmes which we, and our company, watch all the time?

the last item is quite a rare ingredient on cooking shows

very effective at the start of the prep stage though

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