Rat under my house.
Discussion
I have seen a rat going in and out of a broken airbrick leading to the underfloor void beneath half our house.
Fortunately no signs of ratty being inside the house, but I have bought some mesh to cover the airbrick.
How to ensure I keep him out when I put it up, rather than trap him inside!
Fortunately no signs of ratty being inside the house, but I have bought some mesh to cover the airbrick.
How to ensure I keep him out when I put it up, rather than trap him inside!
I’d chuck some poisoned bait in there before sealing up, so the critter can eat it and die and won’t chew through other things.
Might whiff and you might get some maggots for a few weeks, but not much you can do about where they die unfortunately.
Even better would be to investigate where they are going after they get under your house, maybe call in pest control if the above measure doesn’t work. Maybe they are getting in elsewhere and the broken air brick is just part of a run.
Might whiff and you might get some maggots for a few weeks, but not much you can do about where they die unfortunately.
Even better would be to investigate where they are going after they get under your house, maybe call in pest control if the above measure doesn’t work. Maybe they are getting in elsewhere and the broken air brick is just part of a run.
hidetheelephants said:
In the long term I'd be getting the airbrick replaced, rats can chew through most other materials. b
ds.
Yeah, and that would be long term plan, but have also gone for 1.5mm thick stainless with10mm holes on 15mm pitch, rather than lightweight woven or expanded mesh. So should be fairly substantial! ds.wyson said:
I’d chuck some poisoned bait in there before sealing up, so the critter can eat it and die and won’t chew through other things.
Might whiff and you might get some maggots for a few weeks, but not much you can do about where they die unfortunately.
Might whiff and you might get some maggots for a few weeks, but not much you can do about where they die unfortunately.
Wacky Racer said:
A dead rat gives off a very distinctive putrid smell.
Fortunately, it usually goes after 3 or 4 days when the body decomposes.
Yeah, I am not too worried about that, more about the damage it might do chewing its away out if trapped!Fortunately, it usually goes after 3 or 4 days when the body decomposes.
Fortunately when the house house was rewired and replumbed we did it without lifting the floors, so there is much in the void other than floor joists.
shtu said:
One rat seen = more than one rat exists.
I'd get a pest controller in to help with that, last thing you want is rats setting up shop, they're more intrusive than mice, voles, etc.
I'd get a pest controller in to help with that, last thing you want is rats setting up shop, they're more intrusive than mice, voles, etc.
ARHarh said:
They can breed like nothing on earth, 6 weeks to sexual maturity, 23 day pregnancy and up to 18 pups each time. Get a poison box and put it against your wall, they like to travel along walls. They will be gone in a week or so.
Yeah, I am aware of that, and I guess that is what I would be doing if I had seen them inside the house.Sigh. Any advice on how to go down that route, or is it just a case of ring local firms found via google?
The Three D Mucketeer said:
I have a number of chocolate sauce baited rat traps in the void... not so much for rats but mice , I don't want them chewing cables and pipe insulation ... I inspect them periodically ... I don't use poison because I want to dispose of any corpses .
My neighbour saw one in his garden so I bought some rat traps I think they'd break your finger if they snapped back on you!Baited up with cadburys chocolate buttons and put them along his back fence I got four in two nights nothing been seen since.
dhutch said:
Yeah, I am aware of that, and I guess that is what I would be doing if I had seen them inside the house.
Sigh. Any advice on how to go down that route, or is it just a case of ring local firms found via google?
I suppose what I am actually saying isSigh. Any advice on how to go down that route, or is it just a case of ring local firms found via google?
They're colony animals, you've probably seen several rats, one at a time. Don't do what some will suggest, stuff loads of poison down the hole and seal it up, because a)it'll stink b)you may not apply enough poison, trapping a colony in the void instead.
Hence - get a pro for this one. You can usually find local independent guys who will do a good job, and aren't expensive. Last time I got one out for something I asked him how much he would charge, after some tooth-sucking he came up with "maybe £40". I am properly rural though so he's used to farmer pricing.
I suspect what they'll do is poion in the hole, leave it open, and some bait boxes nearby too. He'll probably be able to work out what their runs are. (as a starter, look for any greasy-looking marks)
It's the time of year for rodents to try and find a winter home, as the fields are harvested.
Once you get it initially sorted, some bait boxes around the perimiter as suggested above, though I tend to put that sort of thing at the garden perimiter rather than encourage them towads the house.
Sonic repellers - pointless waste of money.
Glue traps - just don't, they're hideous things, and outdoors will trap birds etc.
Jobbo said:
Rats generally come from sewers so there may be an issue in your foul pipe - definitely worth getting a professional in, not simply to put down poison but to address where they are coming from and maybe install a flap in your pipe, repair cracks in it etc.
We're in a semi-rural area, all be in not far from urban sprawl, so I expect they are just in and around the garden and the like.As far as I am aware the soil pipes are all in reasonable nick. Most are 100yo ceramic, with 80s PVC replacing the cast iron verticals up the house.
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