2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[fantasticjudyann]

What is the best way to get rid of rats? I have got them tunnelling under the WIR which is on earth but has a mesh floor so they can't actually get in. We have tried poison but they still come back. Has anybody got a successful method to get rid of the horrid things?

[heth1986]

Hi judyann,

 

You can get large traps online that are bigger, stronger versions of the traditional 'snap' mouse traps. I've been reasonably successful with strategically placed peanut butter baited ones... If they're not actually getting into the run then I guess you could leave them out 24/7 if it's safe to do so? It takes them a few days to get used to the traps as they don't like change but generally, they can't resist a bit of peanut butter.

 

For the larger couple of rats that I had, my OH had to resort ot an air rifle. It wasn't nice, but did the trick.

 

Rats aren't meant to like the smell of ammonia, citronella, lavender or citrus. So used teabags soaked in a bit of oil may help to deter them.

 

Otherwise, I guess just make sure that you are scrupulously clean, fill in any tunnels with rocks etc, and keep at it! You'll win eventually!

 

Good luck!

[atsw]

Another vote for the heavy duty rat traps from me. We have slabs under our run, but before that they would attempt to tunnel. I used chocolate spread as bait (like we do for mice). We also stopped putting food waste in the nearby compost heap once the council started providing 'food recycling bins'. That made a huge difference, the rats stopped living in the heap itself almost right away.

 

Andrew