Rodents in the countryside
Discussion
Hi All,
We are close to exchange on our new house in the country.
The surveyor mentioned that there is evidence of rodents in the garage and one of the other out buildings.
So how do you manage them?
I want to store my special cars in the garage without the fear that the wiring will get eaten!?
So what do you all, poison/traps/something else?
IceBoy
We are close to exchange on our new house in the country.
The surveyor mentioned that there is evidence of rodents in the garage and one of the other out buildings.
So how do you manage them?
I want to store my special cars in the garage without the fear that the wiring will get eaten!?
So what do you all, poison/traps/something else?
IceBoy
Cats don't work on rats. At least, we have two cats and a couple of neighbours' animals come visit. We also have rats - and left unchecked they get into cars and eat the electrics.
This year I had to get my pickup truck towed to be re-wired (luckily only a couple of hours work). That one was my fault as I left it next to our chicken coup for a couple of months.
Previously they got into my old Lotus Excel, and ate parts of the loom. Due to the fire risk in that sort of car, it needed a full rewire to be safe - and I had to write it off on insurance.
I've found that snappy traps don't work so well - rats are neophobic (don't like new stuff), so they avoid traps for a week or two. Then, they learn quickly and once they've seen a trap go off, they steer clear. I've never, ever managed to get the cage traps to actually catch a rat.
On the other hand, poison in bait stations does work, both to reign in an infestation and to keep them from returning. There are a few online sites that sell kits, and buckets of poison in 1, 3, 5Kg sizes. You just have to keep the bait stations topped up and it'll keep things under control.
In general, rats don't like to share with people, so if you move stuff round and are 'active' in an area, they'll steer clear. Buildings that are shut up most of the time are fair game though. Chickens are magnets for rodent infestation, or any regular source of food. Smaller rodents will go for things like bags of grass seed or material like cardboard or fabric for bedding. Rodents are also very stupid - they ate their way into a bucket of poison and made a nest in it last year. Apparently squirrels are much worse though. Whereas rats just like to eat wires, squirrels will eat or chew anything.
Welcome to the countryside.
This year I had to get my pickup truck towed to be re-wired (luckily only a couple of hours work). That one was my fault as I left it next to our chicken coup for a couple of months.
Previously they got into my old Lotus Excel, and ate parts of the loom. Due to the fire risk in that sort of car, it needed a full rewire to be safe - and I had to write it off on insurance.
I've found that snappy traps don't work so well - rats are neophobic (don't like new stuff), so they avoid traps for a week or two. Then, they learn quickly and once they've seen a trap go off, they steer clear. I've never, ever managed to get the cage traps to actually catch a rat.
On the other hand, poison in bait stations does work, both to reign in an infestation and to keep them from returning. There are a few online sites that sell kits, and buckets of poison in 1, 3, 5Kg sizes. You just have to keep the bait stations topped up and it'll keep things under control.
In general, rats don't like to share with people, so if you move stuff round and are 'active' in an area, they'll steer clear. Buildings that are shut up most of the time are fair game though. Chickens are magnets for rodent infestation, or any regular source of food. Smaller rodents will go for things like bags of grass seed or material like cardboard or fabric for bedding. Rodents are also very stupid - they ate their way into a bucket of poison and made a nest in it last year. Apparently squirrels are much worse though. Whereas rats just like to eat wires, squirrels will eat or chew anything.
Welcome to the countryside.
Ohhh Jeeez,
You are not getting me worried.
The 911 Turbo S & my Golf Mk2 GTI will live in the garage and I need them safe!
I can't afford to have rodents killing my pride and joy cars!
Arrrggghhh.
Poison it will have to be, I guess as well as, making sure there are no holes in the roof, walls etc?!?
HELP.
IceBoy
You are not getting me worried.
The 911 Turbo S & my Golf Mk2 GTI will live in the garage and I need them safe!
I can't afford to have rodents killing my pride and joy cars!
Arrrggghhh.
Poison it will have to be, I guess as well as, making sure there are no holes in the roof, walls etc?!?
HELP.
IceBoy
If it's been empty for a while, or no-one was on the case, they'll have probably widened holes and gaps to fit through, find these and close them up.
I live in the countryside and find they tend to come into buildings in the winter, no sign in the summer usually.
Rats seem not to like people around, mice seem to love the company. I have a couple of electronic tunnel traps that I use to great effect when needed. One of the most effective things you can do is not to let them get to any food, store veg in the fridge, pet food in higher cupboards etc. Lower cupboards in fitted kitchens are like those interconnected hamster castles as far as mice are concerned
I live in the countryside and find they tend to come into buildings in the winter, no sign in the summer usually.
Rats seem not to like people around, mice seem to love the company. I have a couple of electronic tunnel traps that I use to great effect when needed. One of the most effective things you can do is not to let them get to any food, store veg in the fridge, pet food in higher cupboards etc. Lower cupboards in fitted kitchens are like those interconnected hamster castles as far as mice are concerned
IceBoy said:
Ohhh Jeeez,
You are not getting me worried.
The 911 Turbo S & my Golf Mk2 GTI will live in the garage and I need them safe!
I can't afford to have rodents killing my pride and joy cars!
Arrrggghhh.
Poison it will have to be, I guess as well as, making sure there are no holes in the roof, walls etc?!?
HELP.
IceBoy
You won't stop them getting in, but if there isn't a food source it shouldn't be a problem. But if you are that bothered then like i said, just get a contract with a pest controller.You are not getting me worried.
The 911 Turbo S & my Golf Mk2 GTI will live in the garage and I need them safe!
I can't afford to have rodents killing my pride and joy cars!
Arrrggghhh.
Poison it will have to be, I guess as well as, making sure there are no holes in the roof, walls etc?!?
HELP.
IceBoy
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 31st July 11:23
Tuna said:
.... Welcome to the countryside.
Indeed 
Do be completely prepared to accept that sharing your property with furry friends is inevitable at some point. If there is a Mrs in your life, especially make her aware of this, it will safe potential 'freaking out' later 
. Mice are no problem, avail yourself of decent traps (bait with Mars bar!) and you'll soon have them under control. Rats are more of a pain, as they just about everywhere the absolute key is to not encourage them in the first place, so they look elsewhere for 'easy pickings'. Don't leave food on the ground for birds, avoid vulnerable types of compost heap (and don't put food waste on them) and avoid (if possible) keeping any form of poultry or lifestock- the feed will be irresistible to vermin. If Roland and his mates do turn up, poison and bait boxes is the first 'wave' (look for local agri-supply places e.g. Mole Country Stores) failing that a pest controller is an option (as above) or it's a fantastic excuse to buy an air rifle
. It doesn't matter if you like cats,you need a cat.It doesn't have to be a pet,it has to be a pest controller.Give it shelter,water and enough food to keep it at your place and you won't have a mouse problem.
Rats,just poison them with one that dehydrates them so they don't smell.Ram it into holes etc. so the cat can't get them.
Rats,just poison them with one that dehydrates them so they don't smell.Ram it into holes etc. so the cat can't get them.
I'm not a fan of poison, aside from it being a horrible death, some might crawl off somewhere inaccessible and decompose slowly, had this at a former work-place once, the unmistakeable aroma of rotting rat lasted weeks before they presumably dehydrated.
I use this sort of thing: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REUSABLE-ELECTRONIC-MOUS...
They die instantly and don't wander off anywhere. Place it behind a board or something along a run baited with peanut butter. Rats get used to them, so move it around each day, mice aren't so clever.
Air rifles work well too, and terriers. House next door was empty for a while and rats set up under their conservatory, they used to come over to steal food from the bird table climbing through tree braches to get there. The dog would sit guard and sound the alarm when she saw a rat, I'd run out and knock it out of the tree with a broom handle and the dog would kill it with a swift bite to the back of the neck - she always looked a bit pissed off that there wasn't much of a fight. Had to take her to the vet once as she ate one swallowing its head whole, she was only a small dog (but greedy).
I use this sort of thing: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REUSABLE-ELECTRONIC-MOUS...
They die instantly and don't wander off anywhere. Place it behind a board or something along a run baited with peanut butter. Rats get used to them, so move it around each day, mice aren't so clever.
Air rifles work well too, and terriers. House next door was empty for a while and rats set up under their conservatory, they used to come over to steal food from the bird table climbing through tree braches to get there. The dog would sit guard and sound the alarm when she saw a rat, I'd run out and knock it out of the tree with a broom handle and the dog would kill it with a swift bite to the back of the neck - she always looked a bit pissed off that there wasn't much of a fight. Had to take her to the vet once as she ate one swallowing its head whole, she was only a small dog (but greedy).
Ultrasound thing? or put some nutella and or peanut butter on a bit of board and stick it in the freezer then get an air rifle and put the baited board fairly near there regular run(creatures of habit) and as it will take them a bit of time to nibble the frozen stuff, shoot them
Ray
I have an electronic trap, the type that electrocutes them, never caught anything
Ray
I have an electronic trap, the type that electrocutes them, never caught anything
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