Rat poo!

[Neal 1,862]

I know this may seem like an odd question, but I was wondering how much poo, ie individual stools or whatever the correct word is, the average rat produces in one day.

 

My reason for asking is that, since building work started on a new church in the land behind my house, I've been getting more rats than usual coming into my garden. I'm not usually too worried about them as with a combination of traps and the dogs I can keep them under control. As I said, "I'm not usually worried about them"...until today!

 

You'll know where this one is heading as soon as I start the first sentence. Every spring my wife panics about having rats in the house because of the sound of scratching in the loft above our bedroom. However, whenever I check for her it's always either the sparrows nesting in the back or the starlings at the front...until this morning. I went up as usual, expecting to report back that there was nothing there but immediately noticed some rat droppings by the loft hatch. I had a quick search around and while doing so heard a scurrying noise. The last time this had happened, a starling had become lost between the rafters and the tiles but eventually, by banging along the felt, I'd managed to flush it out. However, on this occasion, my torch lit up a whiskery face in the corner behind the loft insulation.

 

I went out to the shed and brought in and set up both a live catch trap and the old faithful snap-trap. I also did a thorough search of the loft and found and cleared up 28 individual droppings. Anyway, to cut a long story short; half an hour later the rat (not quite a fully grown adult) was dead and on its way to the public rubbish bin on the main road wrapped in two plastic bags.

 

So, my question is: based on the number of droppings ie 28ish, had it been there for a while or had it just made its way in overnight? I've left the traps active and nothing else has stumbled in yet.

 

Many thanks in advance.

[kevin from bristol 95]

28 is not alot it maybe just the one rat , some times you can tell if there are young by the various sizes of the stools i did a rat job with my mate the other day an we were ankle deep in them we found a nest put his bedligton in who dispatched two one ran and one made the mistake of thinking he was safe in some pallets my mate got him with a 9mm shotgun great little tool for rats all in all theres probably up to twenty around the place so as i say 28 ain't much, have you tryed proofing the house ,they must be getting in somewere, if the keep coming back, the building works have got them on the move so there maybe more on the way

[Neal 1,862]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping. It's the first time so I'm hoping it'll stay as a one off but will put some mesh over the end of the drainpipe at the back as that's the only access point I can think of ie up the pipe, into the gutter and into the roof via the sparrows' nest. If it wasn't peeing down with rain I'd sit in the garden and check if the sparrows are still using the nest.

[kevin from bristol 95]

rats are exellent climbers and use trees alot if you have any close to your roof or walls you may want to trym them back a bit but they mainly come in at ground level so that the first port of call i say

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Check all the lintels at ground level as this is where the cavity is sometimes left open .Overhanging trees as said, are a favourite too mate .

[heart of wales 19]

If You heard them initially ,should there be more there You will hear them again,however if it was my loft I would be baiting it as well as a precaution,you only want one to chew through a cable,also check the drains Manholes around the house for droppings,as rats will quite often enter through a broken drain up a cavity.

[Matt 160]

Check any manholes you have, and if necessary test bait them with whole wheat or similar.

 

I've recently completed a job where the rats were using a faulty drainage system to gain entry to the wall cavity, and then the roofspace.

 

Look for droppings on the benching of the manholes, and other debris.

 

If in any doubt, call in a professional. Don't take risks with your health by trying to sort this out yourself.

[Neal 1,862]

Many thanks for all the advice.

 

No trees too close to the house so I'm OK there. I left both traps active all day yesterday and through the night and there's been no sight or sound of anything else. If anthing else occurs I'll definitely take the advice of calling in a professional.

 

Incidentally, when the building work started last summer and we had the initial rat migration, a neighbours cat accounted for some of the young as well as my traps and dogs. When the neighbour phoned up the local council they said there wasn't a lot they could do. Helpful!

[HUnter_zero 58]

I know this may seem like an odd question, but I was wondering how much poo, ie individual stools or whatever the correct word is, the average rat produces in one day.

 

 

 

Rats = 40 per day

Mice = per day

 

The biggest problem you have is to work out how the rat gained access in to your loft. Until you work that one out will end up with more rats. Rats leave a smear mark on all runs they use, other rats simply follow that smear mark (scented oil) as they presume it will lead to warmer climates, water or food. Remember that your home insurance will not cover damage done by rodents, so if the rats gnaw your electrical cables, your home is at risk and not insured.

 

John

Edited May 3, 2010 by HUnter_zero

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Many thanks for all the advice.

 

No trees too close to the house so I'm OK there. I left both traps active all day yesterday and through the night and there's been no sight or sound of anything else. If anthing else occurs I'll definitely take the advice of calling in a professional.

 

Incidentally, when the building work started last summer and we had the initial rat migration, a neighbours cat accounted for some of the young as well as my traps and dogs. When the neighbour phoned up the local council they said there wasn't a lot they could do. Helpful!

 

 

No need to worry,..you have a professional rat catcher near to hand,..but he does require payment in eggs

[kevin from bristol 95]

thats strange was gonna pm you about this chalkwarren as you are there haha mad

[Neal 1,862]

Thanks Chalkwarren.

 

Just brought in three more bantams this weekend so I should have plenty to trade with.

 

It's amazing how many things you think of in hindsight. For example; my neighbours had the back of their house extended over the winter and for a week or so the drain between the two houses was uncovered other than a large board to stop children etc falling in so one could easily have got in then.

 

However, when we had the starling incident late last year I left a handfull of layers pellets in the loft to see if they'd be disturbed. We were up in the loft at Easter and noticed we'd forgetten to clear them up (I can't believe I'm admitting to that). When I went up at the weekend, because of the rat, the pellets had, understandably, been eaten. So it can't have been there for too long which backs up the evidence from the number of droppings. Touch wood.

 

But, as you've all said, I need to make sure that even if it is the first time, that I do everything I can to make sure it's the last.

Edited May 4, 2010 by Neal

[paulk73 151]

also if the house is a semi or a terrace, you might need to look at your neighbours properties aswell. they could be gaining entry 4 or 5 doors down and making their way down the cavitys.

[Neal 1,862]

Thanks Paul. I'd already mentioned it to my neighbour as it's a semi and their loft has been converted.