I have a problem (small at the moment) with rats in my garden. They seem to be nesting underneath some loose patio stones: what looks like the entry to a burrow is fairly clear down there. They have been taking bait voraciously for the last week to ten days from under the patio and under my small shed. I could do with a couple of pieces of advice: first, as I have a fair idea where they are nesting, should I swallow my distaste and try to dig them out (how deep do they burrow?) or leave the poison to do its work? I don't think I would be able to physically kill a rat if I did dig it out of its burrow. Second, I have seen advertisements for ultrasonic devices which claim to clear your property of rodent pests. They sound too good to be true, and I was wondering how effective they really are.
Any advice will be much appreciated.
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1. DO NOT try to dig them out. You may well just scatter them and if you did come
across a litter then you may not be willing to dispatch them.
2. Give your rodenticide time to work.
3. Ultra sonic deterrents are no good at all, (Believe me ) !
4. Pete I would suggest you call in your local independent pest controller, its not going
to cost that much perhaps at most £90 and you will have it sorted.
5. If you let me know where you are I may be able to give you some numbers to
phone
Best Regards
HUGH
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Thanks for the responses. I'm in North London. The rodenticide I am using is Rentokil 'Rat Killer' containing 0.0005% bromadiolone anticoagulant. This evening when I lifted the patio stone to check/renew the bait, there was a rat sitting next to the bait tray. It didn't move, and I killed it. I presume it was so dopey because it was poisoned. We did call a pest control company, who advised us to carry on baiting as long as the bait was taken, but to call them again if necessary (or if the rats came indoors).
These ultrasonic devices, then, must just be designed to part desperate people from their money...seems very cynical.
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I've seen a product called Eradirat: a non toxic rat bait that apparently kills by accumulating undigested cellulose in the animal's digestive system. Anyone have any experience with it?
Is it a good idea to vary the bait I use every couple of weeks or so, or is it best to stick with just one?
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Doing OK Hugh . You are using the right bait and yes your guess is correct the rat was feeling the effects of thepoison. You could lift it up for a week then reapply this is termed pulse baiting it has the advantage of not so much bait down and can encourage the lower ranking rats. I personally don't bother. Eradirat I think is now undergoing testing the problem with it is that it has to be continous feding miss some feeds and it all starts over again.
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1/ Is the entrance hole under the patio clear of dirt being thrown from it, if you imagine a rat digging under your patio, all the dirt removed would be outside, has this happened??
2/ How much bait (in ounces or grams) have you used to date? this will give you some idea of how many rats you may have killed.
3/ Is there an alternative food source i.e. bird food or bin bags that may have attracted the rats in the first place?
4/ Does your sewer run under this patio??
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